References

Braun V, Clarke V. Thematic analysis: a practical guide.London: Sage Publications Ltd; 2022

Brown SJS, Furber CM. Women's experiences of cervical ripening as inpatients on an antenatal ward. Sex Reprod Healthc.. 2015; 6:(4)219-225 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2015.06.003

Care Quality Commission. 2019 survey of women's experiences of maternity care. 2019. https://tinyurl.com/mud9r92k (accessed 31 July 2023)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Natality public-use data 2016–2018, on CDC WONDER online database. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/ycke24a7 (accessed 31 July 2023)

Coates R, Cupples G, Scamell A, McCourt C. Women's experiences of induction of labour: qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. Midwifery. 2019; 69:17-28 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.013

Coates D, Goodfellow A, Sinclair L. Induction of labour: experiences of care and decision-making of women and clinicians. Women Birth. 2020; 33:(1)e1-e14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.06.002

Coates D, Thirukumar P, Henry A. The experiences of shared decision-making of women who had an induction of labour. Patient Educ Counsel.. 2021; 104:(3)489-495 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.08.020

Cullen S, Doherty J, Brosnan M. Women's views on the visiting restrictions during COVID-19 in an Irish maternity hospital. Br J Midwifery. 2021; 29:(4)216-214 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2021.29.4.216

Dong S, Khan M, Hashimi F, Chamy C, D'Souza R. Inpatient versus outpatient induction of labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020; 20 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03060-1

Dupont C, Blanc-Petitjean P, Cortet M, Gaucher L, Salomé M. Dissatisfaction of women with induction of labour according to parity: results of a population-based cohort study. Midwifery. 2020; 84 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102663

Edwards PJ, Roberts I, Clarke MJ Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.. 2009; https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.MR000008.pub4

Hamm RF, Srinivas SK, Levine LD. Risk factors and racial disparities related to low maternal birth satisfaction with labor induction: a prospective, cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019; 19 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2658-z

Harkness M, Yuill C, Cheyne H Induction of labour during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of impact on practice in the UK. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021; 21 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03781-x

Harkness M, Yuill C, Cheyne H Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units. BMJ Open. 2023; 13:(5) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071703

You and your Baby. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/ycyryxfd (accessed 31 July 2023)

Hedegaard M, Lidegaard Ø, Skovlund CW, Morch LS, Hedegaard M. Reduction in stillbirths at term after new birth induction paradigm: results of a national intervention. Br Med J Open. 2014; 4:(8) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005785

Hermus MA, Verhoeven CJ, Mol BW, de Wolf GS, Fieldeldeij CA. Comparison of induction of labour and expectant management in postterm pregnancy: a matched cohort study. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2009; 54:351-356 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2008.12.011

Hildingsson I, Karlström A, Nystedt A. Women's experiences of induction of labour–findings from a Swedish regional study. Austr N Z J Obstet Gynaecol.. 2011; 51:(2)151-157 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2010.01262.x

Inversetti A, Fumagalli S, Nespoli A Childbirth experience and practice changing during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. 2021; 8:(6)3627-3634 https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.913

Jay A, Thomas H, Brooks F. In labor or in limbo? The experiences of women undergoing induction of labor in hospital: findings of a qualitative study. Birth. 2018; 45:(1)64-70 https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12310

Karavadra B, Stockl A, Prosser-Snelling E, Simpson P, Morris E. Women's perceptions of COVID-19 and their healthcare experiences: a qualitative thematic analysis of a national survey of pregnant women in the United Kingdom. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020; 20 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03283-2

Keulen JKJ, Nieuwkerk PT, Kortekaas JC What women want and why. Women's preferences for induction of labour or expectant management in late-term pregnancy. Women Birth. 2021; 34:(3)250-256 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.03.010

King N. Doing template analysis. In: Symon G, Cassell C (eds). London: Sage; 2012

Lou S, Carstensen K, Hvidman L “I guess baby was just too comfy in there…”: a qualitative study of women's experiences of elective late-term induction of labour. Women Birth. 2021; 34:(3)242-249 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.03.012

Martin CR, Hollins Martin C, Redshaw M. The birth satisfaction scale-revised Indicator (BSS-RI). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017; 17:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1459-5

Marconi AM. Recent advances in the induction of labor. 2019; 8 https://doi.org/10.12688%2Ff1000research.17587.1

Middleton P, Shepherd E, Morris J, Crowther CA, Gomersall JC. Induction of labour at or beyond 37 weeks' gestation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.. 2020; 7 https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004945.pub5

Ministry of Health. Induction of labour in Aotearoa New Zealand: a clinical practice guideline 2019. 2021. https://tinyurl.com/ypk475kr (accessed 31 July 2023)

Mishanina E, Rogozinska E, Thatthi T, Uddin-Khan R, Khan KS, Meads C. Use of labour induction and risk of cesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can Med Ass J.. 2014; 186:(9)665-673 https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.130925

Pots, pans, passion: Britons clap their support for NHS workers again. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/dxndw8uu (accessed 31 July 2023)

Moore JE, Kane Low L, Titler MG, Dalton VK, Sampselle CM. Moving toward patient-centred care: women's decisions, perceptions and experiences of the induction of labor process. Birth. 2014; 41:(2)138-146 https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12080

Murtagh M, Folan M. Women's experiences of induction of labour for post-date pregnancy. Br J Midwifery. 2014; 22:(2)105-110 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2014.22.2.105

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Inducing labour. 2021. https://tinyurl.com/mr28svtx (accessed 31 July 2023)

NHS maternity statistics, England 2021-22. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/2xv3wmp4 (accessed 31 July 2023)

Panda S, O'Malley D, Barry P, Vallejo N, Smith V. Women's views and experiences of maternity care during COVID-19 in Ireland: a qualitative descriptive study. Midwifery. 2021; 103 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103092

Patient Information Forum, Norgine Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Maternity decisions induction survey. 2021. https://tinyurl.com/3f3taade (accessed 31 July 2023)

The Black maternity experiences survey. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/yd4nckfd (accessed 31 July 2023)

Rahman S, Kripalani S, Keegan E An educational video's impact on the induction of labor experience: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol.. 2022; 4:(1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100495

Renfrew MJ, Cheyne H, Craig J Sustaining quality midwifery care in a pandemic and beyond. Midwifery. 2020; 88 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102759

Riley V, Ellis N, Mackay L, Taylor J. The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on women's pregnancy and postpartum experience in England: a qualitative exploration. Midwifery. 2021; 101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103061

Robertson K, Hardingham I, D'Arcy R, Reddy A, Clacey J. Delay in the induction of labour process: a retrospective cohort study and computer simulation of maternity unit workload. BMJ Open. 2021; 11 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045577

Seven out of 10 midwives experience abuse from women and partners during pandemic, says RCM. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/2v53xabj (accessed 31 July 2023)

Seijmonsbergen-Schermers AE, van den Akker T, Rydahl E Variations in use of childbirth interventions in 13 high-income countries: a multinational cross-sectional study. PLoS Medicine. 2020; 17:(5) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003103

Sharp AN, Stock SJ, Alfirevic Z. Outpatient induction of labour in the UK: a survey of practice. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Bio.. 2021; 204:21-23 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.06.023

Singer E, Couper MP. Some methodological uses of responses to open questions and other verbatim comments in quantitative surveys. Methods Data Analysis. 2017; 11:(2)115-134 https://doi.org/10.12758/mda.2017.01

Thomson G, Balaam M, Nowland Harris R Companionship for women/birthing people using antenatal and intrapartum care in England during COVID-19: a mixed-methods analysis of national and organisational responses and perspectives. BMJ Open. 2022; 12 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051965

Vogel JP, Betrán AP, Vindevoghel N Use of the Robson classification to assess caesarean section trends in 21 countries: a secondary analysis of two WHO multicountry surveys. Lancet Glob Health. 2015; 3:(5)e260-e270 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(15)70094-X

World Health Organization. WHO recommendations: induction of labour at or beyond term. 2018. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/277233/9789241550413-eng.pdf (accessed 31 July 2023)

Women's experiences of induction of labour during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

02 October 2023
Research
02 October 2023
Volume 31 · Issue 10

Abstract

Background/Aims

Induction of labour is an increasingly common intervention. This study's aim was to explore women's experiences of induction, in particular of decision making and choice.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out with women who were induced with live, term infant(s) in two urban trusts. Their experiences were assessed using a postal survey that included the birth satisfaction scale and open questions on women's experiences. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to test for associations between aspects of the induction process and women's characteristics (age, parity, ethnic group). Qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Results

Half (52.9%) of the respondents reported waiting to start induction. The majority felt sufficiently involved in decision making (62.1%) and choice (59.6%). Most reported having enough information about the reason for (82%) and process of (83%) induction. The qualitative themes were emotional response, communication, feeling unheard, quality of care and the negative impact of COVID-19 policies.

Conclusions

Women's overall experiences were positive. Improvements should focus on reducing delays to induction.

Induction of labour is a common global intervention (Vogel et al, 2015; World Health Organization, 2018; Seijmonsbergen-Schermers et al, 2020), with many countries reporting increasing rates of induction (Hedegaard et al, 2014; Marconi, 2019; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Ministry of Health, 2021). Data for England suggest that 33% of women underwent induction of labour in 2021/2022 compared to 22% in 2011/2012 (NHS Digital, 2022).

Induction is undertaken for various reasons, the most common being post-maturity and pre-labour membrane rupture (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2021). Compared with awaiting spontaneous labour, induction at or beyond term, especially post-41 weeks is associated with fewer perinatal deaths, a probable reduction in caesarean sections and fewer neonatal intensive care admissions (Mishanina et al, 2014; Middleton et al, 2020). For some women, induction of labour is planned from the beginning of pregnancy, while for others, it is in rapid response to an acute situation.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Midwifery and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for midwives. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to our clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Analgesia
Birth experiences
Decision making
Informed choice
Women's perspectives