'The System is Not Set up for the Benefit of Women': Women's Experiences of Decision-Making During Pregnancy and Birth in Ireland. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huschke, Susann
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 32:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 330
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: childbirth -- reproduction -- decision making -- power -- empowerment -- feminism -- gender -- pregnancy -- doctor-patient -- nurse-patient -- communication -- informed choice autonomy; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/10497323211055461
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

In this article, I draw on in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 women, conducted in 2019/2020, focusing on their involvement in decision-making during pregnancy and birth. The study is located in Ireland, where comparably progressive national policies regarding informed choice in labour and birth clash with the day-to-day reality of a heavily medicalised, paternalistic maternity care system. I represent the subjective experiences of a diverse group of women through in-depth interview excerpts. In my analysis, I move beyond describing what is happening in the Irish maternity system to discussing why this is happening – relating the findings of the research to the international literature on authoritative knowledge, technocratic hospital cultures and risk-based discourses around birth. In the last section of the article, I offer concrete, empirically grounded and innovative recommendations how to enhance women's involvement in decision-making.