Examining the birth experiences of women with and without prenatal education: a qualitative study

This qualitative study examines the intrapartum experiences of nulliparous Turkish women who participated childbirth education classes (CEC) and only engaged in routine prenatal care (RPC). Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with RPC (n=17) and CEC group (n=14) on the postpartum seventh day. All interviews were electronically recorded and interpreted using thematic analysis. The CEC group reported that was implemented the less intrapartum intervention, greater satisfaction, fewer distractions, greater participation in active decision-making, and a greater tendency to use non-pharmacological methods. In contrast, the RPC group mostly reported passive participation, difficulty in pain and contraction control, and greater dissatisfaction.