title: Promoting a normal birth and a positive birth experience - Norwegian women's perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of a woman's internal factors and factors in her environment that are important for a normal birth and a positive birth experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  a qualitative approach was selected for data collection, and the data presented are derived from in-depth interviews. Twelve healthy first time Norwegian mothers, aged 22-34, with a normal childbirth and a positive birth experience were interviewed five to six weeks after giving birth. All participants had given birth at a maternity unit, where 4000 births take place per year. The transcribed interviews were analysed through systematic text condensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the findings included two main themes: safe environment and emotional strength. Stability in everyday life and close relationships provided the women with the safe environment they needed. The women had a positive attitude to childbirth and they had all previously developed coping strategies. They highlighted that these acquired coping strategies contributed to higher emotional strength and a positive birth experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the women experienced that a safe environment and network contributed to a sense of trust and emotional strength, which were positive factors promoting a normal birth and a positive birth experience. The women had a positive attitude towards the birth and used acquired coping strategies to deal with it, which in turn led to a positive birth experience. The natural vision the women had in connection with childbirth was part of their antenatal preparation, which also contributed to a positive experience of childbirth.
authors.affiliation: Sør-Trøndelag University College, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery Education, Mauritz Hansens gate 2, 7004 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: Ingvild.aune@hist.no.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aune
authors.affiliation: Molde Hospital, Parkvegen 84, 6407 Molde, Norway.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marit Torvik
authors.affiliation: St. Olavs University Hospital, Department of Women's Health, Olav Kyrres gt. 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Siv-Tonje
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Selboe
authors.affiliation: St. Olavs University Hospital, Department of Women's Health, Olav Kyrres gt. 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Ann-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Skogås
authors.affiliation: St. Olavs University Hospital, Department of Women's Health, Olav Kyrres gt. 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Janicke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Persen
authors.affiliation: St. Olavs University Hospital, Department of Women's Health, Olav Kyrres gt. 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Unn
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dahlberg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008880:Midwifery; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Birth experience; Normal childbirth; Salutogenesis; Sense of Coherence; Women׳s views