Experience of the Early Phase of Labour Among Women in Nepal

The experience of the early phase of labour among women in Nepal varies between rural and urban settings. Women are typically accompanied by a female family member – most often their mother, mother-in-law, or sister. Their partners also play a supportive role, primarily by providing nutritious home-cooked meals and communicating with healthcare providers. In most hospitals, nurses are responsible for caring for women during labour. However, Nepal has recently begun investing in training professional midwives, introducing a four-year Bachelor of Midwifery programme in 2016 and, more recently, a Diploma-level programme in 2023 ( ICM, 2024 ). In rural birthing centres, care is usually provided by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), who support women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. However, ANM training programmes have been discontinued since 2020.