Women’s experiences of breech birth and disciplinary power
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Volume
77
Issue
7
First Page
3116
Last Page
3131
PubMed ID
33759224
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
RAS ID
35649
Funders
Australian Government Research Training Program
Abstract
Aims:
To explore women's experiences of breech pregnancy and birth to identify areas in practice for improvement.
Design:
A descriptive exploratory study was conducted involving 20 women who had experienced a breech birth between 2013 and 2018.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were examined using a free-form ‘circling and parking’ style of analysis. Foucault's concepts of power/knowledge were utilized to describe existing power relations.
Results:
Women experienced varying degrees of disciplinary power throughout their experiences. Knowledge was used as a means of enforcing disciplinary power by some clinicians and by women to ‘arm’ themselves and ‘fight’ to regain what they perceived as a loss of power and autonomy. Midwives were seen as navigators of a restrictive, medicalized healthcare system.
Conclusion:
By better understanding the power dynamics which exist as well as the stages women go through when experiencing a breech presentation, there remains the potential to identify areas in practice which need improving, and aid clinicians in better supporting women through what can be a very difficult time.
DOI
10.1111/jan.14832
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Morris, S., Geraghty, S., & Sundin, D. (2021). Women’s experiences of breech birth and disciplinary power. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(7), 3116-3131.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14832