Every labor is unique: but "call when your contractions are 3 minutes apart".
OBJECTIVE
To explore women's perceptions of transitioning to the birth facility when in labor.


METHODS
Qualitative.


METHODS
Twenty-four nulliparous women were interviewed following their birth experiences.


RESULTS
Pain was identified as the primary reason for transitioning to the hospital. Once arriving at the hospital, women often felt pressure to "get it right" and not make multiple trips. Three themes were identified: (a) Don't trust your body, trust us; (b) This is not right; and (c) This is too labor!


CONCLUSIONS
The implications for nursing involve increased recognition of the range of normal experiences and acknowledgment that pain is a primary basis for women coming to the hospital as opposed to cervical dilation. Reevaluating the instruction the healthcare providers give to women is warranted.
Low
Lisa Kane
LK
School of Nursing and Women's Studies Program, University of Michigan, USA. kanelow@umich.edu
Moffat
Amy
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010343:Patient Admission; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D035502:Trust; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology