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Table 2 Examples of sorting process of positive, negative, and ambiguous evaluations

From: Reproducing normative femininity: Women’s evaluations of their birth experiences analysed by means of word frequency and thematic analysis

Different types of evaluations

Sorting category

We were both incredibly well received and attended to by staff who were amazingly dedicated, present, and perceptive. I got exactly the support I needed (pain relief, encouragement, tips and advice) when I needed it – many times without even asking for it. Right now, I don’t feel there’s anything I would have wanted differently. Thank you!

Exclusively positive evaluation

Good: That I had a quick birth.

To be improved: I would have wanted to have a midwife present in the labour room the whole time, since I could have started pushing earlier if she had been there.

The same woman leaving one positive and one negative comment a

The birth was quite fine really, everybody was nice, the pain relief ok, it was quick and easy, but I still have memories from my last birth fresh in mind (which wasn’t quite as good), which I think colours my experience a little.

Ambiguous evaluation

Negative: There was no time for pain relief.

Exclusively negative evaluation

  1. a During the analysis the first sentence was sorted into positive evaluations, and the second into negative evaluations