"Inspiring mothers' self-entrustment to midwives." midwives' and mothers' perceptions of effective communication in the maternity ward: a qualitative study.

backgroundEffective communication between midwives and mothers is an essential part of positive birth outcomes. Mothers and midwives are both important for building a communication environment during childbirth. This study was conducted to explore midwives' and mothers' perspectives on effective communication in the maternity ward.

methodsThis study is a part of a mixed-methods study. A qualitative inductive content analysis study using in-depth interviews with 10 midwives and 11 mothers was performed in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, between July and October 2023. The data were analyzed via inductive content analysis techniques.

resultsThe qualitative content analysis identified a core concept: mothers' self-entrustment to midwives, reflecting their growing confidence and reliance on midwives through effective communication in maternity care. This concept is underpinned by three main categories: (1) Creating a safe space; midwives ensure physical and emotional security through empathy, privacy, and non-judgmental communication; (2) Establishing spiritual oneness; a deep emotional connection fostering unity and holistic support; and (3) Building trust; rooted in midwives' competence, honesty, and reliability. These main categories, further elaborated through eight categories, outline specific behaviors and interactions that enhance midwife-mother communication.

conclusionsThis study demonstrated that effective midwife-mother communication, achieved by ensuring a safe environment, fostering emotional connection, and demonstrating reliability, facilitates maternal self-entrustment; a process where mothers progressively develop confidence in and reliance on their midwives. These key components form a practical framework for enhancing maternity care interactions and strengthening therapeutic relationships.