Swedish midwives' experiences of collegial midwifery assistance during the second stage of labour : a qualitative study

Background: There has been an increased focus on clinical practice that may reduce severe perineal trauma due to awareness of the associated morbidity. Knowledge regarding the best practice to reduce these injuries is limited. Collegial midwifery assistance during the second stage of labour that involves an additional midwife being present has recently been implemented into many Swedish birth units with the aim of reducing severe perineal trauma. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate midwives’ experiences and views of this practice. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore midwives’ experiences of collegial midwifery assistance during the second stage of labour. Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken with five focus groups conducted with 37 midwives who were part of a multisite randomised controlled trial. The data was analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Four key themes were generated: (i) “challenging the professional role”; (ii) “a balancing act between different roles”; (iii) “not just why and how - but who”; (iv) “a potential arena for learning”. Conclusion: This practice enabled valuable collegial support and learning. The midwives’ experiences were multifaceted and influenced by several factors, including norms and culture in the birth units as well as personal relationships and the midwives’ views on their role and childbirth. Staffing should be adapted in clinical practice to optimise the conditions for collegial support and learning while avoiding unintended consequences.