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. 2023 Sep 28;23:214. doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-02016-1

Table 2.

Overarching theme 1 - perspectives on the birth: results of antenatal and postnatal inductive coding

Antenatal Postnatal
Themes Antenatal code To summarise comments such as: Themes Postnatal code To summarise comments such as:
“Be good” Delivery should be good / safe The delivery itself should “be good,” go well, be safe, includes thoughts of worry or anxiety surrounding the delivery “Be good”
Everything should go well Includes mother and both baby and mother. Everything, all should be “good,” go well, be safe. Baby and mum should be good / healthy / safe Everything was good Everything went well, delivery was good / safe, baby and I are healthy
Mode of birth Prefer NVD Wants / prefers NVD. NVD is good, NVD is better. Don’t want CS. Mode of birth Satisfaction with mode of birth – NVD Happy had NVD, prefer normal, want normal
Dissatisfaction with mode of birth – NVD Wanted CS
Prefer CS Wants / prefers / would choose CS. Don’t want NVD Satisfaction with mode of birth – CS Happy had CS, wanted CS, CS is better
Dissatisfaction with mode of birth – CS It would have been better if I had a normal delivery; wanted NVD, had CS
Prefer quick delivery Wants labour and delivery to be quick / fast. Includes 2 statements of “quick and normal delivery” Prefer quick delivery Long labour / better if quicker, references to time of delivery
No mode of birth preferences No mode of birth preferences, happy for normal birth or CS Equivocal re mode of birth OK with CS, if better for baby
Reason for CS Several statements about why CS may be done, not including preferences etc. Reason for CS Several statements about why CS was done, not including preferences etc., includes doctors tried for NVD but CS was done
Pain Scared / fear / afraid due to pain Pain
Bear the pain I cannot tolerate pain, I cannot bear the pain, will try to bear the pain, I am ready to bear the pain, will bear the pain Pain during birth Pain during delivery includes lots of pain
Postnatal pain Includes pain now (postnatal)
General pain comments Pain general comments General pain comments Pain general comment, includes comments of small pain during or before birth
Anticipating labour and birth Knowledge I don’t know much delivery / pain / both. Include both what women do and do not know. Includes knowledge of problems associated with delivery types Anticipating labour and birth Knowledge I don’t know much about delivery / pain / both. Include both what women do and do not know. Includes knowledge of problems associated with delivery types
Preparedness Anticipating labour and birth, focus on preparedness, ready to do whatever has to be done (Tx, Mx, Dr), excluding pain
Medication Opinions regarding the use of medication in their care Medication References to medication
Was scared / fear / afraid / worried / anxious prior to birth Comments regarding worry, anxiety and fear expressed in the past tense prior to birth
“Traas” Difficulty / trouble Comments using the words difficulty or trouble referring to the birth “traas”
Treatment by staff Staff are good / take care References to the treatment of staff

Key: NVD - Normal Vaginal Delivery CS - Caesarean Section Tx - Treatment Mx - Medication Dr - Doctor