Ritual companionship: reconceptualising the mother-midwife relationship

This presentation will discuss the findings of a narrative research study undertaken during a PhD candidature. The aim of the study was to explore midwifery practice during birth, and birth stories were gathered from mothers and midwives during in-depth interviews. The participants had either experienced or attended an uncomplicated vaginal birth, and were encouraged to share their story of this experience. Ten mothers and ten midwives were interviewed and narratives were created from the interview transcripts and analysed to identify common themes. Van Gennep’s theory of ‘rites of passage’ was applied as an explanatory frameworkto further illuminate the narrative of midwifery practice during birth. The key findings centre on women’s experience of birth as a rite of passage and midwifery practice as ritual companionship. This presentation will focus on the relationship between women and midwives, using the concept of ‘ritual companionship’ to explore actions and interactions. How midwifery practice reflects and transmits cultural messages, and influences women’s experience of birth will be discussed. Recommendations for midwifery practice, midwifery education and further research arising from these findings will be presented