Background. Studies of caesarean-delivered women indicated a trend toward normalisation of the caesarean birth experience.
Escalating caesarean birth rates mandate continued study of contemporary caesarean-delivered women.
Design. Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) descriptive research design.
Methods. Nursing students collected data from 233 culturally diverse caesarean-delivered women in urban areas of the
Midwestern and Northeastern USA between 2002–2004. The focal stimulus was the planned or unplanned caesarean birth;
contextual stimuli were cultural identity and parity. Adaptation was measured by open-ended interview questions, fixed choice
questionnaires about postpartum concerns and learning needs and nurse assessment of post-discharge problems. Potential
interventions were identified using the Omaha System Intervention Scheme