"I did it": a phenomenological study of women's experiences of midwife-supported vaginal birth after cesarean sections in South Korea.

PURPOSE: This study explored the meaning of women's choices regarding mode of birth and the birth experiences of women in the Republic of Korea who had a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) within the previous 3 months.

METHODS

This descriptive phenomenological study used Colaizzi's framework. Nine postpartum women who had experienced midwife-supported VBAC at three obstetric hospitals in Seoul were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from March 1, 2025, to May 7, 2026. Each participant completed a videoconference interview, and two participants completed an additional telephone interview. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method, including extraction of significant statements, formulation of meanings, organization into themes, and member checking of the essential structure.

RESULTS

Three categories and 12 theme clusters were identified: "Trauma and lasting impressions of cesarean delivery," "Motives and barriers affecting VBAC decisions," and "Supportive relationships and transformation of the birth experience." Respect for autonomy, a positive birth environment, and family support helped transform birth from an experience of alienation to one of participation. The statement "I did it" expressed a sense of accomplishment and recovery of the agency participants felt they had lost during previous births.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that, for these participants, VBAC involved more than a choice of mode of birth; it was experienced as a process of rewriting the birth narrative and recovering agency and self-efficacy. These findings may inform midwives and nurses seeking to understand and support the psychosocial experiences of women pursuing VBAC.