THE ATTITUDE OF LITHUANIAN MIDWIVES ABOUT MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS USED DURING NORMAL CHILDBIRTH

Abstract

The aim. To reveal the attitude of Lithuanian midwives to medical interventions applied during normal childbirth. Research methods. Qualitative research method, semi-structured interview was used. qualitative research method, semi-structured interview, was used. 13 Lithuanian midwives who worked in maternity hospitals at the time of the study participated in the study. The research results were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. Research results. Midwives named and compared normal birth with physiological birth, which also fully corresponds to the midwife’s professional qualifications. Informants refer to a normal birth as one that begins spontaneously, there is a low probability of interventions, complications and completion of the instrumental birth, the newborn is born healthy, through the natural birth canal, and there are no complications after birth, neither for the newborn nor for the woman. It also includes medical interventions such as amniotomy, episiotomy, epidural analgesia and the use of oxytocin for normal birth. Conclusions. From the point of view of midwives, the psychological preparation of midwives and mothers for childbirth, the establishment of mutual connection and trust is very important, as this can determine the course of childbirth, the frequency of medical instruments used and the experience of childbirth.