Table 3.

Themes and categories

Overarching theme	HCPs loss of beneficial power in decision-making on mode of birth
Theme one	HCPs reconceptualize decision-making processes of mode of birth to make women’s voices matter	Temporality
		Before: Doctor-centred decision-making
		Now: towards a patient-centred decision-making
		Spatiality
		Changes from inside: change in HCPs attitudes
		Changes from outside: changes in legislation and women’s attitudes
Theme two	HCPs feel powerless against women’s request to choose mode of birth	HCPs frustration when women ask for a CS or birth plan HCPs intent on controlling the process HCPs feel their voice is not heard
Theme three	HCPs struggle to redirect women’s decision regarding mode of birth	HCPs choose not to redirect women’s decision HCPs have difficulty redirecting when there is a window to do so Sometimes it is too late to redirect