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Care during pregnancy and child birth in Sweden: Perspectives of lesbian women

Author

Summary, in English

Objective: to explore the views and experiences of care of lesbian women during pregnancy and childbirth. Design, setting and participants: a qualitative study of 18 lesbian women in southern Sweden. Findings: valid text units were formed through categorisation into four main categories: recognition of sexual orientation; openness; relationships within the homosexual family; and different encounters and attitudes within the health-care system. The interviewed women were positive about their care during pregnancy and childbirth. However, as in studies regarding women's experiences of care in general, lesbian women raised concerns about postnatal care, parent education and the structure of the patient records with no place for the female partner. Key conclusions and implications for practice: confirmation of parenthood was important, especially for the co-parent. The participants in this study felt that when they were open about their sexuality, this was met with an openness that they felt was confirming about their homsexuality. It is important for health-care providers not to make assumptions about women's sexuality. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

682-690

Publication/Series

Midwifery

Volume

25

Issue

6

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Nursing

Keywords

  • Confinement
  • Pregnancy
  • Parent education
  • Lesbian
  • Homosexual

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1532-3099