Women's Experiences of Following Advice to Stay at Home in Early Labour

The aim was to explore women's experiences of staying at home following advice from an obstetric triage unit. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eight women who contacted a triage unit in early labour and were advised to remain at home; interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: reassurance (the need to have labour validated by health professionals); uncertainty about early labour; pressure from women's families to go to hospital; and seeking permission to come in. The overall theme reflected women's sense that advice to stay at home was a professional rather than a woman-centred response to early labour. Advice from midwives to stay at home in early labour may be insufficient to reassure women who lack trust in their own ability to interpret what is happening in labour, and who depend on health professionals. Until women's own faith in their ability to labour and give birth can be restored, women may feel obliged to stay at home in early labour, rather than feeling comfortable to do so.