Under the influence of negative experiences, childbirth can be harmful and have negative effects on women’s (mental) health. One of the factors affecting women’s experience of childbirth is the physical environment. Unfortunately, contemporary maternal healthcare facilities are often designed from a highly-regulated and medicalized maternity care perspective, instead of a woman-centered design approach. In order to comply with women’s (environmental) needs and to create a more women-centered design approach, design guidelines have been formed based on literature study, fieldwork including semistructured interviews, and case studies. Using these guidelines, the architectural environment could contribute to a positive experience, improving health & well-being, for women during the stage of LDRP* in a maternal healthcare facility.

*an acronym for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum