Enhancing women's confidence for physiologic birth: Maternity care providers' perspectives

•Maternity care providers overwhelmingly support a physiologic approach to labor and birth.•There may be a difference between the theoretical support for physiologic birth and actively preparing a woman.•Midwives were most likely to report spending time during antenatal visits discussing preparation for birth.•The US health care system was identified as an impediment to supporting physiologic birth.

ObjectiveThe aim of this research study was to explore MCP's beliefs and attitudes about physiologic birth and to identify components of antenatal care that providers believe may impact a woman's confidence for physiologic labor and birth.MethodsThis qualitative descriptive study included maternity care providers (N=31) in the Midwestern United States. Providers participated in semi-structured interviews to describe their beliefs about physiologic birth, their role in providing information to women and specific care practices to promote women's confidence for physiologic birth.FindingsSix themes emerged including: positive beliefs about physiologic birth, trusted relationship with provider, woman centered care, education and knowledge, barriers to confidence, and antenatal practices to enhance confidence. Variations in beliefs occurred amongst providers with different training (i.e., physicians and midwives).ConclusionMaternity care providers, including midwives, family physicians and obstetrician-gynecologists, overwhelmingly support a physiologic approach to labor and birth. These providers had a number of suggestions about how antenatal care could be enhanced in an effort to increase women's confidence during the antenatal period. Supporting physiologic birth is imperative for providers who wish to enhance outcomes for mothers and babies.