Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital
Abstract Background In the United Kingdom, induction of labour rates are rapidly rising, and around a third of pregnant women undergo the procedure. The first stage, cervical ripening, traditionally carried out in hospital, is increasingly offered outpatient – or ‘at home’. The current induction of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06936-8 |
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| author | Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Helen Cheyne Boo Charkin Monica Ferreira Eloise Price Amarnath Bhide Mairead Black Kathleen Boyd Neelam Heera-Shergill Neena Modi John Norrie Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah J. Stock Rosemary Townsend Linda J. Williams Christine McCourt |
| author_facet | Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Helen Cheyne Boo Charkin Monica Ferreira Eloise Price Amarnath Bhide Mairead Black Kathleen Boyd Neelam Heera-Shergill Neena Modi John Norrie Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah J. Stock Rosemary Townsend Linda J. Williams Christine McCourt |
| author_sort | Cassandra Yuill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In the United Kingdom, induction of labour rates are rapidly rising, and around a third of pregnant women undergo the procedure. The first stage, cervical ripening, traditionally carried out in hospital, is increasingly offered outpatient – or ‘at home’. The current induction of labour rates place considerable demand on maternity services and impact women’s experiences of care, and at home cervical ripening has been suggested as potential solution for alleviating these. However, there is a lack of evidence on both women’s and birth partners’ experiences and acceptability of at home cervical ripening informing its practice. Methods We undertook a qualitative study of women and their birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital. Semi-structured interviews explored experiences, acceptability and consequences of cervical ripening. Results We identified six key themes: ‘Information and choice’; ‘Physical and sensorial environments’; ‘Pain’; ‘Uncertainty’; ‘Care during induction’; ‘Lasting effects’. Women and birth partners experienced limited choice about cervical ripening. Many reported that shared hospital spaces contributed to negative experiences, while home environments were comforting. Women were unprepared for cervical ripening-associated pain, and delays and uncertainty during induction caused anxiety. Supportive care contributed to more positive experiences; however, some reported difficult or traumatic experiences related to induction. Conclusions Most participants were positive about home cervical ripening, yet our study highlights the lack of information and genuine choice regarding cervical ripening and induction. Privacy, presence of birth partners and supportive care contributed to more positive experiences among women. Home cervical ripening may be acceptable to some women and birth partners in the context of informed choice and personalised care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09eaf0b82a7144468c3fc51e5c8ada66 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-09eaf0b82a7144468c3fc51e5c8ada662025-02-02T12:46:40ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-01-0125111010.1186/s12884-024-06936-8Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospitalCassandra Yuill0Mairi Harkness1Helen Cheyne2Boo Charkin3Monica Ferreira4Eloise Price5Amarnath Bhide6Mairead Black7Kathleen Boyd8Neelam Heera-Shergill9Neena Modi10John Norrie11Dharmintra Pasupathy12Julia Sanders13Sarah J. Stock14Rosemary Townsend15Linda J. Williams16Christine McCourt17Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City St George’s, University of LondonNursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMHAP-RU), University of StirlingNursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMHAP-RU), University of StirlingCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City St George’s, University of LondonCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City St George’s, University of LondonCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City St George’s, University of LondonDepartment in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, St George’s HospitalSchool of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of AberdeenSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of GlasgowCysters (CIO)Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College LondonEdinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of EdinburghReproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySchool of Healthcare Sciences, University of CardiffCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of EdinburghCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of EdinburghEdinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of EdinburghCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City St George’s, University of LondonAbstract Background In the United Kingdom, induction of labour rates are rapidly rising, and around a third of pregnant women undergo the procedure. The first stage, cervical ripening, traditionally carried out in hospital, is increasingly offered outpatient – or ‘at home’. The current induction of labour rates place considerable demand on maternity services and impact women’s experiences of care, and at home cervical ripening has been suggested as potential solution for alleviating these. However, there is a lack of evidence on both women’s and birth partners’ experiences and acceptability of at home cervical ripening informing its practice. Methods We undertook a qualitative study of women and their birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital. Semi-structured interviews explored experiences, acceptability and consequences of cervical ripening. Results We identified six key themes: ‘Information and choice’; ‘Physical and sensorial environments’; ‘Pain’; ‘Uncertainty’; ‘Care during induction’; ‘Lasting effects’. Women and birth partners experienced limited choice about cervical ripening. Many reported that shared hospital spaces contributed to negative experiences, while home environments were comforting. Women were unprepared for cervical ripening-associated pain, and delays and uncertainty during induction caused anxiety. Supportive care contributed to more positive experiences; however, some reported difficult or traumatic experiences related to induction. Conclusions Most participants were positive about home cervical ripening, yet our study highlights the lack of information and genuine choice regarding cervical ripening and induction. Privacy, presence of birth partners and supportive care contributed to more positive experiences among women. Home cervical ripening may be acceptable to some women and birth partners in the context of informed choice and personalised care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06936-8Home cervical ripeningInduction of labourOutpatient induction of labourInformed choiceExperienceAcceptability |
| spellingShingle | Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Helen Cheyne Boo Charkin Monica Ferreira Eloise Price Amarnath Bhide Mairead Black Kathleen Boyd Neelam Heera-Shergill Neena Modi John Norrie Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah J. Stock Rosemary Townsend Linda J. Williams Christine McCourt Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Home cervical ripening Induction of labour Outpatient induction of labour Informed choice Experience Acceptability |
| title | Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| title_full | Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| title_fullStr | Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| title_short | Women and birth partners’ experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| title_sort | women and birth partners experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital |
| topic | Home cervical ripening Induction of labour Outpatient induction of labour Informed choice Experience Acceptability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06936-8 |
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