Hadland, Mariann, Holland, Sari, Smyth, Wendy, and Nagle, Cate (2024) Women and midwives’ experiences of an audio-visual enhanced hospital birth environment: An interview study. Women and Birth, 37 (6). 101830.

Preview

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (537kB) | Preview

Abstract

Problem: Most hospital birth environments remain clinical in appearance and are not attuned to the neurohormonal processes that orchestrate labour and birth. Hospital environments are therefore not aligned with the innate needs of a woman to feel safe and secure in the place where she gives birth.

Background: Research has suggested that audio-visual effects such as nature images and sounds may help promote physiological labour in women at low risk of complications. This study aimed to explore the experiences of women labouring in a hospital birth environment enhanced with audio-visual technology, regardless of pregnancy complexity and use of interventions. Experiences of midwives providing one-to-one midwifery care in this environment were also explored.

Methods: Transcripts of semi-structured interviews conducted with thirty-two women and six midwives were analysed thematically.

Findings: Universally, women reported that access to audio-visual imagery and soundtracks in the birth environment positively influenced their experience of labour. Nature images and sounds during labour helped create serenity and calmness within the woman and her surroundings, allowing her to relax and focus inwards. Midwives used this technology to create a calm and psychologically safe environment for women giving birth in the hospital. Projecting nature images and sounds became a medium for midwives to create ambience and instil calmness in the clinical environment. Midwives also reported observing positive impacts on the behaviours of other clinicians entering the room.

Conclusion: Audio-visual enhancement of the hospital birth environment was found to enhance women’s birth experiences and support midwives providing woman-centred care.

Item ID:	85185
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1878-1799
Keywords:	Birth environment, Birth experience, Physiological labour, Midwifery practice, Qualitative methods
Copyright Information:	© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2025 02:01
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4204 Midwifery > 420402 Models of care and place of birth @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200306 Midwifery @ 100%
	More Statistics