Meanings expressed by the chaperone about their inclusion during the childbirth assisted by nurse midwives

Abstract

Objectives: to describe the characteristics of the parturient’s chaperone at the obstetric center at a maternity hospital of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and comprehend the meaning attributed by them to their presence during the childbirth assisted by nurse midwives. Method: qualitative approach and descriptive character. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 31 chaperones, after experiencing the childbirth assisted by a nurse midwife. The collected data was systematically organized and subjected to content analysis. Results: the chaperone's involvement in the childbirth is guaranteed to the parturients; their choice involved the interests of family members, especially their partners, in sharing this moment. The provided assistance by nurse midwives is identified as a facilitator for the inclusion of family members, integrating their presence to the provision of care aimed at comfort and pain relief during labor. Conclusion: the interaction between nurse midwives and chaperones provided the participants with comfort and security with natural labor, feelings of gratitude and satisfaction.