%0 Journal Article
%T To challenge oneself as a childbearing woman¡ªthe lived experience of vaginal birth after caesarean section in Sweden
%A Christina Nilsson
%A Ida Lyckestam Thelin
%A Ingela Lundgren
%J International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2019.1605784
%X ABSTRACT Purpose: There is a need to gain deeper knowledge about women¡¯s experience of vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC). Considerable research has been conducted on VBAC; however, only a few qualitative studies focus on women¡¯s experiences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of VBAC among women resident in Sweden, a country with a high VBAC rate. Method: This studywas performed in accordance with a phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach. Interviews were conducted with nine women in an urban region of Sweden one year after their VBAC birth. Results: The essential meaning of the studied phenomenon is ¡°to challenge oneself as a childbearing woman¡±, which is further described by its four constituents: ¡°striving for support from professionals¡±, ¡°desiring the experience¡±, ¡°contrasting and comparing memories of two different births¡± and ¡°being part of the birthing culture¡±. Conclusions: The experience of VBAC meant regained trust in the ability to give birth vaginally. The women lacked follow-up and support after the caesarean section (CS), during the subsequent pregnancy and the forthcoming VBAC. Enhanced support could be a key factor in helping women meeting the challenge and feel confident about giving birth vaginally despite their previous experiences of CS. Abbreviations: VBAC: vaginal birth after caesarean section; CS: caesarean sectio
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2019.1605784