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Abstract
Childbirth presents a situation in which women have the potential to be active decision-makers in how they labor and deliver. However, unforeseen circumstances can affect the degree to which women have control in this healthcare environment. Thirty women who recently used midwives were interviewed to discover the environment in which they made their choices and the most influential factors in their decision-making process. The Theory of Planned Behavior, which accounts for decision-making in circumstances in which individuals may not have complete control over the ultimate outcome, seems to best capture this particular consumer healthcare decision. This information may be used to influence maternal healthcare policy in the United States.