NARRATIVES OF BIRTH AND THE POSTPARTUM - ANALYSIS OF THE FOCUS GROUP RESPONSES OF NEW MOTHERS

Focus groups were conducted to encourage and examine women's frank dis cussions of the events surrounding their experiences of labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Transcripts of the tape-recorded narratives of 41 new mothers were analyzed and five themes were identified: loss of autonomy and control; unexpected physical pain of childbirth; unex pected emotional reactions; financial pressures; and the effects of su pport during labor and birth. Participants' perceptions shed light on and supplemented previous questionnaire and interview research on thes e topics. The survey results suggest ways to help improve women's birt h experiences.