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].