Perception of postpartum women about the experience of the phenomenon of natural childbirth

Abstract

Objective: To describe women's perceptions of the experience of natural childbirth in a highly complex maternity hospital. Methods: This was an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study based on the theoretical-philosophical framework of Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology of experience. Data collection took place in a highly complex maternity hospital in the northern region of the state of Ceará, with 15 postpartum women, through semi-structured interviews. Results: When reporting on labor and delivery, women emphasize pain as the perceived object and, later, distance themselves from the sensations of immediate effect and recognize it as a singular and permanent experience. In line with Merleau-Ponty's phenomena, it was noted that the sense and meaning of the nature of phenomenology was awakened in the postpartum women, enabling paths where they perceived and valued the experiences of childbirth. Conclusion: It was possible to understand what it means for women to experience a humanized birth, where they presented similar reactions and behaviors, since birth is a life event culturally surrounded by a lot of fear, especially of the pain of contractions.