Place of childbirth influences feelings of satisfaction and control in first-time mothers

Differences in birth satisfaction and mother-infant interaction were examined in relation to having a baby at home or in a hospital. A total sample of 17 home and 44 hospital birth mothers completed a series of questionnaires, interviews, and behavioral observations at several timepoints in relation to the birth: 9th month of pregnancy; 3rd post-partum day; and 1 and 3 months post partum. The data indicated that birth satisfaction was higher in home than in hospital birth women. Moreover, differences associated with place of birth — feelings of control, amount of immediate contact with the baby, and, in some analyses, intervention (e.g., anesthetics) — were the major predictors of satisfaction. Additional analyses suggested that the women who expressed negative feelings about intervention procedures prior to the birth and who actually experienced these procedures contributed to the reduced feelings of control and satisfaction found in the hospital group. Finally, birthing variables were also related to wo...