Listening to the voices of healthcare providers involved in the design of a new birthing room: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Birth is a process encompassing neurohormonal, physiological, and psychological elements, primarily controlled by oxytocinergic mechanisms. Neurohormonal processes can be negatively impacted by external environments, particularly unknown and stressful rooms that trigger the sympathetic nervous system, suppressing endogenous oxytocin release. This suppression can weaken or even halt labor contractions. Alternative birthing rooms can alleviate stress from traditional clinical settings, encourage natural childbirth, and allow healthcare providers to better observe and respond to the experiences and needs of mothers. An interpretative phenomenological qualitative approach was conducted in a government hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 15 participants. The sample consisted of physicians, and midwives, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted for data analysis. One core category ‘Supportive Birth Environment for Natural Childbirth’ with four themes emerged from data analysis. The four themes are: living the contradiction: when physical space constrains professional values; advancing privacy via the new design; Impact of birthing environment design on the professional practices and responsibilities of midwives; and practical suggestions and strategic recommendations. All participants demonstrated awareness of the potential advantages of the new birthing rooms design as perceived by healthcare providers in supporting maternal well-being. They also noted observations of maternal responses, which can help contribute to a positive experience during their hospital stay. However, additional efforts are required to deliver messages to the decision-makers and responsible authorities at the Ministry of Health to foster their understanding of the importance of redesigning the birthing room at the national and international levels.