“Well, I wouldn’t be nervous about [getting antibiotics before
cord clamping] and if my child got [asthma, allergies, or atopic
eczema], the reason might as well be something else [than the
antibiotics]. I would still choose to get it before.” (P5)
One woman argued that she would prioritize her baby over herself but at
the same time still choose to have the antibiotics before cord clamping.
It remained unclear what her motivation for choosing antibiotic
treatment before cord clamping was, as the contradictory statement was
not discovered before the analysis was made.
In general, seven of the fourteen women spontaneously expressed great
trust in the healthcare professionals even if the local practices may
have differed from their preference.
Information concerning antibiotics
should be
obligatory
To some extent, all the women found it important to get information on
prophylactic antibiotics during caesarean delivery and the possible
side-effects the treatment may cause. Two out of the four women, who
were scheduled for caesarean delivery and had attended an information
meeting prior to the interview, even expressed how they did not feel
they had the sufficient information concerning the antibiotic treatment.
However, some mentioned how it can be overwhelming as a first-time
mother to get too much information and that they trusted the healthcare
professionals.
Offspring vs. maternal
risk
The reasons for favouring prophylactic antibiotics either before or
after cord clamping were strongly associated with concerns for the baby
but some of the women prioritised their own health.
Considerations of the
baby
Most of the women were more concerned with the health of their baby
rather than their own. The considerations were both about short-term and
long-term complications. Four of the women had asthma, allergies, or
eczema themselves or an afflicted child from a previous pregnancy and
felt that it was important to them not to increase the risk for their
unborn baby: