Midwives' experience of the encounter with women and their pain during childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
to describe midwives' experience of the encounter with women and their pain during childbirth.


METHODS
qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected via tape-recorded interviews.


METHODS
Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden in 2000.


METHODS
nine experienced midwives between 12 and 28 years of midwifery practice.


RESULTS
the essential structure was described as a striving to become an 'anchored companion'. 'To be a companion' was to be available to the woman, to listen to and see her situation mirrored in her body, and to share the responsibility of childbirth. To be 'anchored' was to show respect for the limits of the woman's ability as well as one's own professional limits. Five constituents can further describe the essential structure: listening to the woman; giving the woman an opportunity to participate and to be responsible; a trusting relationship; the body expresses the woman's situation; and to follow the woman through the process of childbirth.


CONCLUSIONS
the basis for maternity care should give an opportunity for midwives to be anchored companions. This could be done by emphasising listening to the woman, participation, responsibility, a trusting relationship and a clear understanding of the professional limits and the limits of the woman's ability.
Borås University College of Health Sciences, S-50190 Borås, Sweden.
Ingela
I
Lundgren
Karin
K
Dahlberg
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden