The power of place

Objective: to describe the power that 'place' holds over the postnatal-care experiences of women. Design: a study informed by phenomenology within a feminist framework was undertaken to examine the experiences of women electing early postnatal discharge. Three extended conversations with each woman participating in the study were audiotaped and transcribed. journal notes made by the researcher added to the audiotaped data. Thematic analysis revealed major structures of experience. Setting: data were obtained from conversations with women in their respective homes. Participants: five women, parity 1-3, living in the Sydney metropolitan area and birthing in their local hospitals participated in the study. Findings: four major constructs of experience were revealed through analysis and include spatiality, corporeality, temporality and relationality. In this paper, components of spatiality expressed through the power place exerts in matters of physical environment, control, confidence, safety, time, talk and the heart of the matter are presented. Key conclusions: the experiences of women entering the foreign place of hospital to birth their children were those of alienation and disempowerment while the familiar territory of home offered stronger feelings of security and support. Impications for practice: failing to recognise the impact of place on the experiences of postnatal women reduces the likelihood that midwives will be able to offer sensitive and appropriate care. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.