Fear of causing harm
Participants at all levels expressed fear of complications, junior
trainees especially felt nervous and anxious due to the fear of causing
harm.
“That you can… hurt somebody, that you have the potential
to hurt a baby and ..hurt a mother and cause long term issues with both
of them…” [HST3].
“…in particular trauma to the baby rather than the mother.
The mother tends to be easier to repair but trauma to the baby tends to
frighten me.” [BST3].
“…in the back of your mind there is always the possibility
of something happening to the baby, after all your doing an instrumental
delivery which has possible complications…” [HST2]
Complications most commonly feared by junior trainees were perineal
trauma and cephalohematoma, more senior trainees added the complications
of shoulder dystocia and post-partum haemorrhage.
Consultant obstetricians felt that the risk of complications was their
major worry when performing an operative vaginal delivery.
“The risk of complications maternal or fetal….” [Consultant]
Along with physical complications, consultant obstetricians also spoke
about psychological trauma as a complication they wished to avoid.
“I hope to deliver a healthy baby and healthy mother and a happy
mom as well you don’t want the experience to be traumatic for the mom
and her partner.” [Consultant].