Design Factors Related to Postpartum Environments: Preferences for Sense-Sensitive Spaces

Abstract

Despite recent design improvements following person-centred care in hospital settings and birthing environments (Verderber, 2010; Stichler, 2007), the key elements for a restorative hospital postpartum environment are not known. Building design can affect psychological-emotional and physiological wellbeing of women who have hospital births (Foureur, et al., 2010). In postpartum spaces women are increasingly faced with noise and multiple disruptions from healthcare providers (Boehm, & Morast, 2009), triggering lack of sleep and rest, due to not having a single room (Eberhard et al., 2000). This situation also contributes in shaping midwifery practice by creating cognitive and emotional responses, for midwives who work in such spaces (Hammond, et al., 2014; Hammond, et al., 2013).