This paper aims to understand the mothers' experiences on the care received during the birth process in a public maternity in Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil. This is a qualitative descriptive exploratory study that complied with the Resolution 196/96 of the National Health Council and was conducted from February to April 2010, through semi-structured interviews with 19 puerperas. The Content Analysis of data showed that the respondents had experienced the birth process with loneliness, fear, pain, suffering and abandonment. The assistance occurred only during the expulsive period or in the postpartum. It is needed to use an approach that encourages women and their companions' participation, which prioritizes the constant presence of professionals with the parturient, proposes the physical and emotional support and the use of new care technologies that provide relief pain and the parturient's comfort.
obstetrical nursing; labor, obstetric; natural childbirth; women's health
