Intentionality of women's actions in labor: a study in social phenomenology

a study in Alfred Schütz's social phenomenology, developed with 15 puerperal women admitted to a university hospital in southern Brazil. Data were collected through phenomenological interviews and analyzed according to the adopted framework and the comparison with scientific productions.

Results:

the actions intended to receive physical and emotional support from their companions, from pregnancy, for a peaceful delivery with less pain, fast and without interventions. The intention was to do the right things for the child's well-being and, after delivery, to be painless and active to take care of their children.

Final considerations:

women's actions have intentionality arising from their knowledge, which is guided by the social relationships established in the world of life.

Descriptores:
Labor, Obstetric; Women; Personal Autonomy; Qualitative Research; Nursing

They expect to receive physical and emotional support from their companion	Code
[...]at the time I wanted it to be him [...] for him to see what the process is like, because many men don't know it. It is easy to get home with the baby in her arms [...] it is good for them, the parents, to participate. [...] helped by holding my hand. (P1) Yes, I said that he would stay with me all the time. Poor him, because he was with me all the time, so I started to feel a lot of pain, I started to get very nervous. He kept looking at me that made me nervous, I asked him to leave.(P3) The presence of my boyfriend was also essential, he was there beside me, giving me strength. [...] stood by my side, holding my hand, every moment saying that it was not to give up, that it was to keep pushing, that it was already coming. (P4) He wanted it [...] he helped me by doing a back massage to relieve it a little [...] this is already a comfort. I was afraid of winning alone [...] , but he can stay with me that gives me a relief, a sense of security, that you can count on someone at that time. (P10)	(P7); (P8) (P9); (P11) (P13)
*They want a peaceful delivery, with less pain, fast and without interventions*	Code
At home, I took a hot shower to help induce labor and relax. [...] I was about 20 min under the shower with water hitting my back, relax a lot. (P1) During pregnancy, every day I looked for something new to be researching and finding out about. [...] to find out, if something happens outside of that, you know how to handle the situation, what you have to do or stop doing, then you keep updating yourself, otherwise you will be left behind. I was informed by the anxiety of arriving at the moment [...] , as much as I have my experience of 5 daughters, today the world evolves very fast. (P3) I've always done Pilates, weight training, I've always been prepared for normal birth. [...] thought it would be easier, because of the preparation before, but at the time it's not quite what I imagined [...] I started pilates because of my pregnancy. (P8) I read it, I looked in articles and my doctor also said that if I was feeling good, I could walk, do the squat exercises in the chair. (P15)	(P2); (P5) (P4); (P6) (P7); (P9) (P10) (P12) (P11) (P14) (P13) (P15)
*They intend to do the right things so that, after birth, they are pain-free and active to care for their children*	Code
There are mothers who arrive very anxious to deliver, see the baby, arrive at the hospital very early, [...] sometimes it is not time, [...] but with 2cm, 3cm, there the mother does not feel pain, they end up putting in the serum. (P1) They said "ah, but you will be calm, you already had 5 children", - you could have 10 don't change [...] . I felt bad, ashamed, for always having this myth, I said I feel ashamed. [...] the doctor taught me.(P3) I had not yet felt anything of contraction, [...] I did not know the quantity, how was the strength I had to make. [...] I wanted to talk to him [doctor] at the time of delivery, he said no, to be faster you know, it was taking too long, I had to help if she wasn't going to be born. (P4) I arrived here not knowing anything. [...] I didn't even know how to do [...] they spoke to help me push [...] . When they spoke, I always helped. (P11)	(P2); (P5) (P6); (P7) (P8); (P9) (P10) (P12) (P13) (P14) (P15)

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[1] Corresponding author: Stela Maris de Mello Padoin E-mail: stela.padoin@ufsm.br