Table 3 Proportion of participants who provided a response in each additional category (n=146)
Category | Example Responses | Freq | (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Postnatal care and support | Does the hospital provide support for new mothers once at home? | 18 | (12.3%) |
What kind of information is provided (i.e. contact details) if we run into trouble once we are at home (i.e. breastfeeding issues)? | |||
Staff knowledge of community support services for mothers once they leave hospital? | |||
Policies and practices related to medical intervention | What is the facility’s C-section rate? | 17 | (11.6%) |
Does this hospital allow vaginal delivery for breech births? | |||
Are there any time periods of labour after which I will need to have intervention? | |||
Access to water and water immersion | Is it possible to labour in a tub or shower? | 15 | (10.3%) |
Is there a bath available in the birthing room for during labour? | |||
Do you have the facilities, and trained staff, to allow women to have a water birth? | |||
Infant feeding policies and practices | Is there a IBCLC on staff - can I access them during my stay? | 14 | (9.6%) |
Will this hospital support mothers if they choose not to breastfeed? | |||
Is this hospital BFHI accredited? | |||
Continuity of care or carer | If I have a long labour, will the same midwife stay with me to the end? | 14 | (9.6%) |
Will I see the same doctor for every visit? | |||
Can I access my midwife team in the few days following birth? | |||
Choices regarding care providers | What are the guidelines for obstetrician attending birth vs midwife only? | 14 | (9.6%) |
Does my preferred private obstetrician practise here? | |||
Are the staff open to and familiar with alternative methods of birth support? ie. independent midwives, doulas? | |||
Length of stay and discharge processes | Can I leave as soon as possible after giving birth if I feel confident enough and medically cleared to do so? | 12 | (8.2%) |
Can I choose to stay in hospital longer if I feel I am not ready to go home? | |||
What do we need to do before we can leave (e.g. hearing test, Hep B vaccination, wash baby etc) | |||
Birth environment and facilities | What labour aids are available from the hospital e.g. fitness balls, aromatherapy burners, CD player, visualisation tools, etc? | 11 | (7.5%) |
Can I have the lights dimmed for a vaginal birth and my own music playing? | |||
Will I have to share a bathroom with another person? | |||
Policies and practices related to the postnatal hospital stay | Can I keep the baby in bed with me? | 10 | (6.8%) |
Can I choose to put my baby into the nursery if I feel I need it? | |||
Is supervision available for baby while showering/toilet if bathroom is separate to beds? | |||
Antenatal information and support | Can my midwife visit me at home for any appointments? | 10 | (6.8%) |
Ability to contact the hospital before the birth if there are any questions or concerns? | |||
If ante-natal class is unavailable, where else can I go? | |||
Facilities and processes for emergency situations | What emergency facilities are available, e.g. operating theatres for if emergency caesarean is necessary | 9 | (6.2%) |
If my baby needs a transfer, can I go with them? | |||
Are staff experienced in looking after high risk women or does the facility cater mainly to low risk women | |||
Quality of interpersonal care and respect for individual preferences | Will the hospital staff be understanding of my religious beliefs in regards to childbirth? | 9 | (6.2%) |
Are staff culturally trained? | |||
If nursing staff are compassionate, caring and professional? | |||
Available methods of pain relief | Do you have items available to help with pain e.g. beanbag, ball, shower, bath, Tens machine? | 8 | (5.5%) |
Do you do 'walking' epidurals? | |||
Are the staff open to and familiar with alternative methods of pain management? | |||
Policies and processes about people in the birth room | Can I have my children present at the birth? | 7 | (4.8%) |
Is there a limit to how many support people I can have with me during the birth? | |||
Can I limit the number of staff present in my birth room? | |||
Access to psychosocial support | Grief/crisis counselling for you and partner? | 5 | (3.4%) |
Support services for mothers, e.g. post natal depression, stillbirth? | |||
What kind of support does the hospital provide if the mother feels as though they are not coping? | |||
Costs | What fees/costs might we expect (approximately) for different aspects of care? | 5 | (3.4%) |
Out of pocket costs - even for public – e.g. scans, antenatal classes etc, car parking, TV connection? | |||
How much is the cost of parking? is there weekly parking available? | |||
Other | Are there vegetarian/vegan food options? | 22 | (15.1%) |
Is there an exclusion policy? (health/previous births?) | |||
Is a gown/clothing provided to give birth in or do I need to bring my own? |