'An Undesired Life Event': A retrospective interview study of Swedish women’s experiences of Caesarean Section in the 1970s and 1980s.'

Background Giving birth is a transformative event. Memories of the birth often remain in a woman’s mind for the rest of her life. Key aspects of a mother's overall birth experience include concerns about the safety and health of the baby, and the first contact the mother has with her child. To the best of our knowledge, research has not yet been published relating to the ways in which women undergoing caesarean sections in the 1970s and 1980s experienced the birth of their baby and whether or not their mode of delivery has affected their reproductive health and their relationship to their child. Objective To describe women’s experience of undergoing a caesarean section in the 1970s and 1980s in Sweden. Design A qualitative method using semi-structured questions and content analysis. Participants Twenty-two women were interviewed who underwent caesarean section during the 1970s and 1980s in Sweden. Results The overarching theme surrounding women’s experience of having undergone a caesarean section 30–40 years ago is that it is described as “undesired life event”. Four categories were established: vaginal birth as the norm; a total loss of control; acceptance and contact with the child. Conclusion Undergoing a caesarean section during the 1970s and 1980s was considered to be an undesired life events. The interlocuters who participated in this study had little knowledge about operative childbirth and were poorly prepared for a complicated birth and postpartum care. The women did not suffer any long-term physiological harm yet were harmed psychologically until they came to terms with their negative experience and reached acceptance of it.