Experiences of Impacted Foetal Head: Findings from a Pragmatic Focus Group Study of Mothers and Midwives

Annette L. Briley, Sergio A. Silverio (), Andrew H. Shennan and Graham Tydeman
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Annette L. Briley: Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Sergio A. Silverio: Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Andrew H. Shennan: Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Graham Tydeman: Maternity Services, Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife, Kirkcaldy KY2 5AH, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Introduction: We aimed to explore the lived experiences of caesarean birth complicated by impaction of the foetal head, for mothers and midwives. Methods: A pragmatic, qualitative, focus group study of mixed-participants was conducted, face-to-face. They were postpartum women (n = 4), midwives (n = 4), and a postpartum midwife (n = 1) who had experience of either providing care for impacted foetal head, and/or had experienced it during their own labour, in Fife, United Kingdom. Data were transcribed and were analysed using template analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged through analysis: (i) current knowledge of impacted foetal head; (ii) current management of impacted foetal head; and (iii) experiences and outcomes of impacted foetal head. Each theme was made up of various initial codes when data were analysed inductively. Finally, each theme could be overlaid onto the three core principles of the Tydeman Tube: (1) to improve outcomes for mother and baby in the second stage of labour; (2) to reduce the risk of trauma to mother and baby in complicated births; and (3) to increase respectful care for women in labour; thus allowing for a neat analytic template. Conclusion: A lack of consensus regarding definition, management, and training were highlighted by the midwives. Women anticipated caesarean birth in late labour as straightforward and were therefore unaware of this potential complication. Women and midwives would welcome any new device to facilitate delivery of the impacted foetal head (IFH) as long as it is fully evaluated prior to widespread introduction. Women were not averse to being part of this evaluation process.

Keywords: maternity care; midwives; labour; birth; impacted foetal head; complications of labour; complications in birth; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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