Do birthplans empower women? A study of their views

Too, Sooi-Ken RN, RM, MTD, BEd(Hons), MSc

Date of acceptance: March 15 1996.
Sooi-Ken Too RN, RM, MTD, BEd(Hons), MSc, is Senior Lecturer, Midwifery and Women's Health, Redwood College of Health Studies, South Bank University, London.
This article has been subject to double-blind review.

Nursing Standard 10(31):p 33-37, April 24, 1996.

The use of birthplans has become a common practice in many maternity units to improve continuity of care and enable women to gain control over the experience of childbirth.In this study, semi-structured interviews were employed to explore the perception of empowerment from the women's point of view. Next week, the author highlights the midwives' experience of using birthplans.