title: The theater of birth: scenes from women's scripts.
abstract: An analogy between theater and birth is drawn from analyses of women's birth stories to describe birth from a fresh perspective. Birth and theater are compared using the theatrical production elements: setting, casting, props, set, behind the scenes, script, and roles. Selected examples from women's birth stories highlight each element. Nurses' roles are significant during labor and birth, but nurses' abilities to fulfill these roles are threatened. This analogy promotes rethinking of nursing actions in the theater of birth. Implications for clinical practice are provided, including altering the birth environment, offering choices, and maintaining the woman's role as star.
authors.affiliation: Marquette University, College of Nursing, Nurse-Midwifrey Program, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: VandeVusse
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Harrod
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003696:Delivery Rooms; D004324:Drama; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States