Mothers' Perceptions of Labor Support.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe mothers' perceptions of labor support during childbirth.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational survey design was used. Data were collected using the Bryanton Adaptation of Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (BANSILQ) completed by new mothers (n = 260) in the postnatal ward in a Finnish university hospital. Nonparametric methods were used for data analysis.


RESULTS
Mothers perceived emotional assistance to be most important. From the list of midwives' labor support behaviors provided in the survey, the following were considered most helpful: giving praise, treating on an individual basis, and answering questions truthfully and understandably.


CONCLUSIONS
Emotional, tangible, and informational labor support enhanced the mothers' birth experiences. Labor support should be provided when caring for every mother during childbirth. An evidence-based model of labor support should be used for nursing and midwifery education and clinical practice.
Pirkko Nikula is a Midwife, Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital, Finland. The author can be reached via e-mail at pike.nikula@gmail.com Helena Laukkala is a Lecturer, Department of Research Methodology, University of Lapland, Finland. Tarja Pölkki is an Adjunct Professor, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
Pirkko
P
Nikula
Helena
H
Laukkala
Tarja
T
Pölkki
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D008880:Midwifery; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult