Resources and challenges for midwives supporting women in the latent phase of labor: A qualitative study from Germany

Description

Caro Jeltsch, Sabine Rivière, and Oda von Rahden explored in 2026 how midwives in Germany support women during the early, latent phase of labour. This phase brings irregular contractions and slow cervical change, and it can last hours or days. Thirteen midwives gave detailed interviews between mid-2024 and early 2025. Their accounts were sorted through qualitative content analysis.

Midwives described too few outpatient options and uncertainty about where the latent phase ends and active labour begins. Hospital barriers included staff shortages, limited space, and payment rules that reward other care. Tension also arose between guideline advice and what women themselves felt they needed. Participants welcomed ideas such as midwife-led outpatient care, dedicated clinic rooms, and better antenatal education. The authors call for structural and financial reform to make early labour care match women's needs.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13235157