title: Stressful childbirth situations: a qualitative study of midwives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to explore clinical life-threatening childbirth situations, which midwives perceive as extremely stressful, and to identify how midwives cope with those experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 18 midwives employed in 6 labor and delivery units in Israeli hospitals. Individual semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted wherein participants were asked to describe an extremely stressful situation that they had experienced, their significant feelings associated with the event, their coping strategies, and their support systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thematic content analysis revealed 2 themes, with each consisting of 4 categories. The first theme focused on reactions to stressful childbirth situations and their impact on midwives. Categories were: functioning professionally in an unexpected reality, emotional reactions, physical reactions, and long-term effects. The second theme related to coping with stressful situations, focusing on coping difficulties, and suggestions for change. Categories were: midwives' coping difficulties, their colleagues' reactions, their feelings about supervisory staff support, and their suggestions for meeting expressed needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stressful childbirth situations can have a long-term impact on midwives' professional and personal identities. Midwives need to feel supported and valued in order to deal with emotional stress. Incorporating clinical supervision by experienced midwives can serve as a supportive framework for other midwives.
authors: Ofra
authors: O
authors: Halperin
authors: Hadass
authors: H
authors: Goldblatt
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Noble
authors: Iris
authors: I
authors: Raz
authors: Irit
authors: I
authors: Zvulunov
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Liebergall Wischnitzer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007557:Israel; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult