Women's Perceptions on the Use of Video Technology in Early Labor: Being Able to See.

Introduction: Delaying admission to the birth setting until active labor has commenced has known benefits. However, women and their partners often struggle to stay home in early labor. Research on telephone triage during early labor at home has illuminated significant disadvantages with this model of care, contributing to women feeling dissatisfied with the early birth experience. Research conducted with midwives on the potential benefits of using video technology suggests it might be a helpful strategy for early labor support. This study examined women's perspectives on the potential use of this technology.

Methods: Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 23 English-speaking women who experienced spontaneous labor within the last year. The recordings were transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to interpret women's perceptions.

Results: The women identified potential advantages of video technology in early labor connected to the major theme of being able to see, which could enable closer human connections between the intrapartum care provider, the woman, and her partner, as well as better assessments of labor. This human connection was integral to enhancing empathy and building confidence. Concerns about using video calls during early labor at home focused on privacy issues and the need to practice beforehand. Concerns about privacy depended upon having a prior relationship with the intrapartum care provider and women being able to decide if they wanted to use the technology.

Discussion: One way of optimizing the experience of staying home in early labor and overall satisfaction with the birth experience may be with video technology, which could offer enhancements over traditional telephone triage.