A comparative study on child birth experience of mothers at tertiary care hospital

Background: Women's childbirth experience can profoundly impact their overall well-being and health. Evaluating maternal satisfaction with childbirth services is essential for assessing the quality of healthcare. Childbirth satisfaction is multifaceted, influenced by antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum factors. Midwives play a pivotal role in guiding women's birthing choices. Aim was to assess the impact of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum interventions on maternal satisfaction in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 126 women divided into two groups: Group A (Booked) and Group B (Unbooked). Group A received comprehensive care, including antenatal exercises, breastfeeding counselling, education on alternative birthing positions, and non-pharmacological pain management during labor, leading to deliveries in alternative positions. Group B received standard antenatal care, delivered in the conventional lithotomy position, and used pharmacological pain management.Results: Midwife-led counselling during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum phases positively influenced childbirth experiences. Group A showed lower postpartum pain scores, quicker initiation of breastfeeding, reduced episiotomy needs, shorter second-stage labour, and higher antepartum satisfaction compared to Group B.Conclusions: Among healthy pregnant women, midwife-led care, including antenatal counselling, alternative birthing positions, exercises, and non-pharmacological pain management, correlated with shorter labor duration, decreased pain levels, higher satisfaction, reduced episiotomy rates, earlier breastfeeding initiation, and better APGAR scores. This underscores the positive impact of midwives in delivering patient-centered care and enhancing overall care quality.