Table 3 Table of Paper Characteristics (below)

Carolan M

2007

Australia

Health literacy and the information needs and dilemmas of first-time mothers over 35 years

To highlight information based dilemmas for women over 35.

1:2:1 interviews

35 weeks, 10–14 days postnatal and 6–8 months postpartum 3 focus groups

22 first time mothers > 35 years, antenatal/

postnatal

19 Women

Thematic content analysis

+ +

Study design and methodologically appropriate.

Useful insight into area of interest. Elements of analysis unreported.

Mothers were given large amounts of clinical information, despite common perceptions of empowerment these women often found the amount of information overwhelming.

Dahlen H, Barclay L, Homer, C 2008

Australia

Preparing for the First Birth: Mother’s Experiences at Home and in Hospital in Australia,

To explore experiences of first-time mothers who had given birth in Australia.

In depth interviews postnatally.

19 women

19–37

interviews lasting 20 mins – 3 h

17 primip, 2 multip

Interviews

From 6 to 26 weeks

(mean 15 wks)

Postnatal

Grounded theory

One category from the overall analysis ‘preparing for birth’ was the content of this article.

+ +

Study design and methodology appropriate.

Women cite that the period of preparation for birth has significant influence on and being an important part of their entire birth experience. Women who planned home births felt more prepared and better supported than those planning hospital births.

Fenwick J, Staff L, Gamble J, Creedy D, Bayes S 2010

Australia

Why do women request a caesarean in a normal healthy first pregnancy?

To describe Australian women’s request for cesarean section in the absence of medical indicators in their first pregnancy.

An explorative descriptive approach

interview guide based on previous work

14 women 1:2:1 interviews

45–60 min

postnatal had caesarean in the last 5 years

Thematic analysis

+

Methodologically cogent

Data not particularly rich.

Fear, safety, control and devaluing the female body and vaginal birth were contributing factors to women’s decision for caesarean birth.

Fenwick J, Hauck Y, Downie J, Butt J 2005

Australia

The childbirth expectations of a self-selected cohort of Western Australian women

To explore/describe women’s expectations of labour and birth and to identify influencing factors

qualitative study using an explorative descriptive design and techniques associated with constant comparison.

202 women pregnant or birthed

within the last 12 months.

19–45 yrs.

mainly middle class

Thematic analysis

+

Data not particularly rich

Analysis, remained at the descriptive level

Particularly influential on women’s expectations of childbirth were private and public discourses of birth exemplified by books magazines and stories from mothers and sisters.

Flemming S, Vandermause R, Shaw M 2014

USA

First-time mothers preparing for birth in an electronic world: internet and mobile phone technology

Uncover the meaning of how mothers self prepare with electronic media

sequential mix of two qualitative designs:

focus groups of professional for preliminary study

1:2:1 interviews for secondary

All low income

7 first time mothers

1:2:1 postnatal interviews 45 mins to 2 h

field notes

mostly unplanned birth (6/7)

primary hermeneutic (interpretive) design one-to-one in-depth interviews from a purposive sample (n = 7) of young first-time mothers (FTMs)

hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenological approach

+ +

Rich description of data

Methodologically appropriate and coherent.

FTMs were preparing for birth ‘what ifs’ with electronic media based on what is ‘known’ about birthing. Mothers became educated but also this increased levels of fear and anxiety.

Freeze R 2008 USA

Born free: Unassisted childbirth in North America.

To explore reasons women, choose to have unassisted birth.

Exploring why women make this choice; the knowledge sources they privilege; how they understand the concepts of safety, risk, and responsibility, and their complex and sometimes contradictory relationship with midwifery.

interviews and personal correspondence, surveys, and archives of internet discussion groups and forums.

Internet was the primary means of gathering participants.

Telephone interviews

30–90 min

4 professionals interviewed

followed the discussions on many UC and birth-related Yahoo groups

read over 100,000 posts

sixty-one survey responses

17 telephone interviews

mostly middle class

Thematic Analysis? – not clearly stated but approach was documented as thematic

+ +

Methodologically appropriate, very rich use of data

The process of freebirth is complex and an understanding of why women free birth is needed to identify why some women are driven away from certain models of care offered by professionals. The study highlights the abuses and limitations of current paradigms of care UC bridges the gap drawing from professional practices but acknowledging women’s need for autonomy in the birthing process.

Lagan B, Sinclair M & Kernohan G 2011 UK

What Is the Impact of the Internet on Decision-Making in Pregnancy? A Global Study

To build on studies to explore women’s experiences and perceptions of using the internet for pregnancy related information and influences this has on decision making.

Interpretative qualitative

Thirteen asynchronous online focus groups across five countries

Pilot study tested first

92 women who had accessed the Internet for pregnancy-related information over a 3-month period.

Framework analysis

+ +

Methodologically appropriate

Insightful regarding stories

The internet has a marked impact on women’s decision making across the entirety of their pregnancy, highlighting a great need for information.

Miller A 2009 USA

‘Midwife to myself’: Birth narratives among women choosing unassisted homebirth

Detailed women’s narratives created by women choosing to birth unassisted

127 unassisted homebirth stories sourced from Yahoo and google

10 face to face in depth interviews to check findings coherence

10 participants

Grounded theory

Constant comparison

+ +

Strong insights into internet and us of books

Methodologically appropriate but some lack of detail in analysis

Women rely on both medical and midwifery models and wider understandings from unassisted childbirth circles to formulate agency around birth. They reference formal models of care whilst seeking to liberate themselves from it.

Munro S, Kornelson J & Hutton E 2009 Canada

Decision-making in Patient-Initiated Elective Cesarean Delivery: The Influence of Birth Stories

Exploring birth stories and cultural knowledge that women use to inform decisions for elective cesarean without medical indication.

Explorative in depth interviews with 17 women

One branch of the total research findings are represented. 7 sites 2003–2005

17 primiparous women

interviewed by 2 researchers

30–90 min

Grounded theory

Constant comparison

+

Methodologically appropriate

Some insights but limited in terms of data richness and analysis

Women drew heavily from social and cultural knowledge in forming their decisions to birth by caesarean.

Regan M, McElroy KG, Moore K 2013 USA

Choice? Factors That Influence Women’s Decision Making for Childbirth

Filling the gap in knowledge investigating factors that influence women’s decisions about birth

Mixed method

13 focus groups over 12 months

49 primiparous women 21–36 yrs. majority white

Consensual Qualitative Research method

++

Methodologically appropriate

Insightful and rich data about sources of information

Four major categories were found but only birth stories and attending a birth have lasing effect on influencing birth choices

Rodger D Skuse A, Wilmore M, S. Humphreys S Dalton J Flabouris M & Clifton V.L 2013 Australia

Pregnant women’s use of information and communications technologies to access pregnancy-related health information in South Australia.

Examines how pregnant women living in South Australia use information and communication technologies (ICTs), principally Internet and mobile phones, to access pregnancy-related information.

35 semistructured interviews conducted as part of the larger ‘Health-e Baby’ project, a qualitative study

35 women aged between 19 and 40 yrs.

unstated

+

methodologically limited –no discussion of analysis data richness limited some useful insights

Shows that ICTs have great potential for health promotion communication high levels of access not easy to predict personal choices pregnant women make for mode of communications they access, prefer & trust

Seibold C 2003 Australia

Young single women’s experiences of pregnancy, adjustment, decision-making and ongoing identity construction.

To examine young pregnant women’s experiences of embodiment, identity construction decision making and how these are influenced.

Explorative descriptive study using feminist principles

5 women

17–23 yrs.

interviews both antenatal and postnatal

telephone interview at six months post birth.

Women also kept diaries

Techniques of grounded theory were used

+ +

methodologically appropriate

rich data

All women welcomed the physical changes of pregnancy. Acceptance of pregnancy was assisted by supportive families, friends and sympathetic healthcare professionals, as well as exposure to opinions via classes, information and educational opportunity.

Song F, West J, Lundy L, Dahmen N 2012 USA

WOMEN, PREGNANCY, AND HEALTH INFORMATION ONLINE:

The Making of Informed Patients and Ideal Mothers

To explore how white middle class women use the internet during experiences of conception, pregnancy and childbirth to ascertain how internet usage challenges, and medical paradigms shape women to make decisions

Part of a descriptive study on the information-seeking habits of women in five areas of early mother- hood: conception and fertility; pregnancy; labor and delivery; child’s feeding and nutrition; child’s health and safety products.

32 mothers

interviewed November 2008 and March 2009

24 to 36 years

all but one Caucasian

1/3 multiparous women

complex and un-complex health experiences

Grounded Theory

Feminist approach

+

Level of analysis unreported in places, methodologically appropriate

Internet enables socially privileged women to perform an informed patient role ad demonstrate their competencies as mothers.

Weston C, Anderson J 2014 UK

Internet use in Pregnancy

Perceived Value of internet in pregnancy from the view points of midwives, pregnant women and postnatal women.

Thirteen midwives, seven antenatal women and six postnatal women

three focus groups and seven in-depth interviews.

Appropriate internet use was valued by all groups

+

Useful despite methodological weaknesses useful discussion of ‘apps’ although analysis appears on a surface level

Appropriate internet usage during pregnancy was positively valued by all groups. Greater collaboration between midwives and pregnant women is required to enable access to consistent, verified internet information which can be used appropriately and confidently.