Table 3.

Thematic tree and excerpts from participant responses

Domains	Themes	Codes	Excerpts	Frequency
Preferences regarding prenatal care and providers	Agency and choice	Giving choices/options	“I want a provider who gives options, discusses pro and cons, and listens to me and my concerns. I learned from my sister about options and didn't realize I could say no before. That I don’t have to be induced, or I can say no to a membrane sweep.” (P18)	20
		Power/Agency/Control	“Previous male doctor; ‘I'm the doctor and you need to listen to me’; did not go over very well and cut that relationship off and switched providers never looking back.” (P8)	14
		Flexibility in scheduling	“Flexibility about my time and what works for me.” (P5) “The time of day I can make appointments and the location.” (P9)	4
	Emphasis on maternal and child health and wellbeing	Addressing mental health	“They just do a basic check-up. If they checked on my mental health that would help. For example, ask questions about how I have been sleeping, coping with things or stress?” (P2)	3
		Genuine interest	“..my prenatal appointments are just hi, lets listen to baby's heart.” (P3) “…to feel like a priority…” (P22)	15
		Time	“…To not feel rushed and to feel like a priority…” (P22) “…I do not want a rushed labor I also want my voice to be heard…” (P6)	3
		Baby check-ups	“I like the fact that they always check about my baby.” (P5)	6
	Familiar and Experienced	Familiar/Continuity of care	“knows my husband's name, asks me about my symptoms, makes sure my bloodwork is done; on track with my blood pressure due to my preeclampsia history” (P11)	8
		Rapport	“A familiar provider that we already have a bond.” (P19)	4
		Professional experience	“…in addition to their training. Number of years of experience in training was also very important to me…” (P6)	4
	Personally Engaging	Encourages questions	“She encourages me to think of questions that I will like to ask and bring them to the appointments.” (P25)	3
		Collaborative	“ I don’t want a provider that is pushy and rigid”. (P18) “…asks me my goals for the day…” (P27)	6
		Good listener	“Listening to what I'm saying and my opinion and not be dismissed.” (P10)	5
	Emotionally safe and supportive	Supportive	“I want someone who wants to give me a natural vaginal delivery and knows how to support me through it, because that is what I want” (P6)	3
		Comforting	“Assurance that everything will be okay, especially if I’m not doing well right now, to assure me that it's not last hope and that everything will be okay” (P25)	9
		Non-judgmental	“I had the experience with my first baby where the provider said, ‘You should be used to this by now’… regarding a cervical exam. I was surprised she said this and still remember it to this day. She shouldn't have said that.” (P1)	11
		Respectful	“…respecting my body and the things that are happening with my body…respecting how I feel about certain things and my body…” (P14)	3
		Validating	“…Validating, not dismissing…” (P14)	4
	Provision of information and resources	Providing explanations	“I appreciate being informed about everything is happening. Explain why she is doing what she is doing and how it correlates to the pregnancy.” (P14)	10
		Universal access to information and resources	“I would like to receive general information and then I can pick and choose what I need. Once my specific needs are identified then the provider can provide more directed care”. (P26)	33
		Nutritional support	“WIC, not sure if I make too much to qualify?”. (P27)	5
		Basic needs	“Help with different coupons. Show me where to go to buy coupons for diapers and food and other baby supplies.” (P20)	9
		Transportation support	“transportation and financial issues are sometimes an issue”. (P8)	2
		Perinatal classes	“Prenatal classes (including those outside of UI health with more flexible hours), mental health resources, access to webinars for moms who cannot make it to prenatal classes”. (P9)	10
		Maternal and child health services	“…help finding resources like doulas, midwives…” (P3)	13
		Mental health support	“Classes like this for reducing stress in pregnancy. If I am a stressed out working mom, who happens to be in the counseling field, I am sure there are others out there who are also stressed out and in need of skills” (P9)	9
	Concordant care	Racial identification	“Having a black midwife was very important to me.” (P6)	1
		Lived experience with pregnancy and childbirth	“I wanted someone who had kids. I believe that them having their own experience helps to provide more insight”. (P6)	1
Preferences in addressing trauma	Variable value of addressing trauma	Demonstrates caring	“I feel they should ask in the beginning because it does relate to my mental health”. (P2)	3
		Tailoring care	“Understanding the way they grow up will help you to match the appropriate care”. (P14)	7
		Intergenerational trauma	“When you are discussing care and discussion of a child in general will help you approach certain situations”. (P14)	2
		Mistrust	“I can't assess how genuine they are so I would like them so I don't want them to ask”. (P12)	4
	Variable approaches to asking about trauma	Verbal discussion	“I prefer to talk more personally to another person and for them to gather a full understanding. I prefer to talk it out more”. (P8)	12
		Questionnaire	“The questionnaire may be better rather than the flow of conversation where they may feel less comfortable to be less open and honest”. (P14)	12
		Universal approach	“Targeting will limit who is helped”. (P14)	8
	Sensitive and empathetic inquiry and response	Asking sensitively	“Start with a question. Felt safe at home. Felt that it was an important question”. (P18)	2
		Explain importance	“Preface it with I am going to ask and there are studies that show why it is important; afterwards what did your experiences teach you and do you want to do anything differently? Explain how it relates to them today”. (P19)	2
		Respond Sensitively/without judgement	“be open minded about what you say, and be mindful about what you say in response”. (P24)	4
		Respond with empathy not sympathy	“Caring and helpful and showing they are there to care for me and be an advocate for me”. (P9) “No particular way. I like things to be natural. You have experience and expertise that I don’t have. If there is anything you have to say that could benefit myself and my child, then say it.” (P19)	4