Theme and associated meaning units from the documentary and interview data
| Themes | Meaning units | |
| Documentary data | Interview data | |
| Postcode lottery of care | Different policies used in local situations | Trust dictates rationale for decision-making |
| Tensions between national and local policy and practise | Differences between trusts resulting in geographical variations | |
| Confusion and stress around rules | Concern over transparency, clarity and rationale for decision-making | Confusion with rules leads to frustration |
| Confusions between staff about the rules | ||
| Unintended consequences | The need for companions as they improve well-being and outcomes for women/birthing people (and the negative impact of not having companions) | Lack of companionship created a distressing and frightening experience for women/birthing people |
| The unintended consequences of lack of/restrictions on companions | Lack of support for women/birthing people from companions | |
| The presence of companions supports staff | Increased work burden for staff | |
| The need to provide alternative support for women/birthing people if companion not present | Being alone when getting bad news at the scan | |
| Need for flexibility | Need for consideration of women/birthing people who are identified to be particularly vulnerable, marginalised or need extra support (eg, due to ethnicity, language issues and baby loss) | Maternity services should be an exception |
| The need to look at situations on a case-by-case basis to support personalised care | Rules should be applied flexibly to meet the needs of vulnerable women/birthing people | |
| Importance of being flexible with rules when babies die | ||
| Acceptable time for support | The use of virtual means to replace physical companionship in antenatal scans | Ultrasound—rigidity and lack of flexibility |
| Concerns over lack of companionship in early labour and for women/birthing people who are induced and need for support at this time | Knowing when to bring the companion in with active labour—impacts of being in prolonged labour alone | |
| Concerns over women/birthing people only allowed support in ‘active’ labour and how this is determined | Issues around companionship at the time of induction | |
| Loss of human rights for gain in infection control | The balance between risk of transmission and the risks to women/birthing people | Expectation that women’s/birthing people’s rights around childbirth needed to be sacrificed for safety |
| The assertion of women’s/birthing people’s (and companions) human rights as the basis of companionship | Limited focus on safety, centred on infection control | |