Midwives’ experiences of facilitating normal birth in an obstetric-led unit: a feminist perspective

Objectiveto explore midwives’ experiences of facilitating normal birth in an obstetric-led unit.Designa feminist approach using semi-structured interviews focusing on midwives’ perceptions of normal birth and their ability to facilitate this birth option in an obstetric-led unit.SettingIreland.Participationa purposeful sample of 10 midwives with 6–30 years of midwifery experience. All participants had worked for a minimum of 6 years in a labour ward setting, and had been in their current setting for the previous 2 years.Findingsthe midwives’ narratives related to the following four concepts of patriarchy: ‘hierarchical thinking’, ‘power and prestige’, ‘a logic of domination’ and ‘either/or thinking’ (dualisms). Two themes, ‘hierarchical thinking’ and ‘either/or thinking’, (dualisms) along with their subthemes are presented in this paper.Key conclusions and implications for practicethis study identified some of the reasons why midwives find it difficult to facilitate normal birth in an obstetric unit setting, and identified a need for further research in this area. Midwifery education and supportive management structures are required if midwives are to become confident practitioners of normal birth.