title: Participation in siblings׳ birth at home from children׳s viewpoint.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  partners often participate in childbirth, and the effects on both partners have been intensively investigated, but children׳s participation is rare in western countries and less studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore and construct a comprehensive structure of meaning of Finnish children׳s experiences of participating in birth of a sibling at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  a phenomenological study based on analysis of open-interview transcripts by Colaizzi׳s approach and drawings.
  
  
  METHODS
  seven children aged five to 17 years who participated in birth of a sibling at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the children׳s experience of participating in a sibling׳s birth was multifaceted. Their feelings varied from joy to worry, they helped their mother and learned from the experience. They chose to participate. They experienced overwhelmingly strong and positive feelings, but were also worried about the well-being of other family members during the birth. Further, younger children were frustrated, especially if the birth took a long time and they were not allowed to do all they wanted, such as going to a birthing pool. It was important for the children to be able to help their mother and support younger siblings. They learned a lot about childbirth from their participation and information given by the adults. The children regarded home as safe, cosy and a better place to give birth than a hospital. The older children also regarded a home birth as a possible choice for them in the future. They celebrated the baby׳s arrival and remembered the birth day as being joyful and happy. Participation in the sibling׳s birth made relationships between the children closer and warmer. Children felt hurt when people outside the family were suspicious when told that the baby was born at home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the children׳s experience of participating in a sibling׳s birth at home included varying feelings, learning from their experience and helping mother. The findings could be utilised in parent education if they are going to have their children with them during the childbirth.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, FI-33014, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: jouhki.maija-riitta.j@student.uta.fi.
authors.forename: Maija-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jouhki
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, FI-33014, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: Tarja.Suominen@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suominen
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences and Humanities, FI-33014, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: Kirsi.Peltonen@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Nursing Science, FI-33014, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Pirkanmaa Hospital District, General Administration, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: Paivi.Astedt-Kurki@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Åstedt-Kurki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006700:Home Childbirth; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Childbirth; Children; Home birth; Phenomenological method; Qualitative research; Siblings