Examining the content and moderators of women's fears for giving birth: A meta‐synthesis

Sheen, Kayleigh; Slade, Pauline

doi:10.1111/jocn.14219

Cited by 74 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Therefore, if this factor were identified, midwives should aim to provide women with adequate, consistent information about birth in a way which does not trigger anxiety, ensuring sufficient time and emotional support are available in line with World Health Organization guidance . Moreover, Sheen et al suggested that women with FOC have an increased need for informational support since they are more likely to expect a negative outcome from an ambiguous situation due to a characteristic “intolerance of uncertainty” . Findings from a qualitative study in Australia suggest that women with FOC tend to avoid thinking or talking about birth and learning what to expect in labor, and reported that FOC was influenced by the quality of information from professionals .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women were asked to rate their general health from 1 to 5 (poor to very good). Obstetric questions included: gestational age, number of previous children, number of previous miscarriages or stillbirths, any maternal or fetal Isolation"-containing questions relating to perceived social support (comprising four items: 3, 7, 11, 15); and (4) "Moment of Birth"-containing questions relating to how the woman imagines she will feel during birth (comprising three items: 28,29,30). 12 Using a cut-off ≥2.5 (the midpoint) was recommended for comparison purposes.…”

Section: Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland

O’Connell

Leahy‐Warren

Kenny

et al. 2019

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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Introduction There is growing evidence of the considerable impact of fear of childbirth on women's health and well‐being, but prevalence reports of high and severe fear of childbirth and reported risk factors have been inconsistent in various studies. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of high and severe fear of childbirth, and to identify risk factors of childbirth fear. Material and methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 882 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Cork, Ireland. Fear of childbirth was assessed using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire version A (W‐DEQ A) using a cut‐off ≥66 to define high fear and ≥85 to define severe fear. Associated risk factors were investigated using univariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses. Four W‐DEQ A subscales were calculated using a cut‐off ≥2.5 to determine the nature of childbirth fear. Results Overall prevalence of severe fear of childbirth was 5.3% and high fear of childbirth was 36.7%. The prevalence of severe fear of childbirth was 7.4% in nulliparous women and 4.3% in multiparous women; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.07). The prevalence of high fear of childbirth was 43% in nulliparous women and 33.6% in multiparous women, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). High fear of childbirth was associated with single marital status when compared with married or co‐habiting women (P < 0.008). In a multivariate analysis, high fear of childbirth was significantly associated with low perceived informational support (adjusted relative risk ratio 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34‐5.13) and possible depression (assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) (adjusted relative risk ratio 12.87, 95% CI 6.07‐27.25). In the W‐DEQ A subscales, 35.6% of women scored ≥2.5 in Negative Emotions, 29.4% scored ≥2.5 in Lack of Positive Emotions, 9.9% scored ≥2.5 in Social Isolation and 7.8% scored ≥2.5 in Moment of Birth. Conclusions Fear of childbirth is relatively common, with varying severity, and was more common in first‐time mothers. Using W‐DEQ A subscales provided additional information about the nature of the fear, in addition to severity of fear of childbirth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland

O’Connell

Leahy‐Warren

Kenny

et al. 2019

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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“…When measured in the same way, the prevalence of intense fear of childbirth (FOC) varies from 4.8% in Australia to 6.3% in Belgium and 14.8% in Sweden (Nilsson et al, 2018). Women's feelings of uncertainty around the birthing process seem to be a basis for their fear of giving birth (Sheen & Slade, 2018). Fear arising before a woman's first childbirth is labelled primary fear of childbirth, while secondary fear is often related to her earlier birth experiences (Hofberg & Ward, 2003;Lukasse, Schei, & Ryding, 2014;Størksen, Garthus-Niegel, Vangen, & Eberhard-Gran, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women fearing childbirth can feel a lack of confidence in birth, being influenced by negative birth stories, fear labour pain or losing control, and fear physical injury during birth. Women giving birth again after a previous negative birth experience often fear a repeated poor birth experience (Fenwick et al, 2015;Klabbers et al, 2016;Sheen & Slade, 2018). Fear of childbirth is a multifaceted condition (Dencker et al, 2019) and women with fearing childbirth are a heterogeneous group (Klabbers et al, 2016;Rondung, Ekdahl, Hildingsson, Rubertsson, & Sundin, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s experiences of fear of childbirth: a metasynthesis of qualitative studies

Wigert

Nilsson

Dencker

et al. 2019

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

112

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Purpose: Women's experiences of pregnancy, labour and birth are for some pregnant women negative and they develop a fear of childbirth, which can have consequences for their wellbeing and health. The aim was to synthesize qualitative literature to deepen the understanding of women's experiences of fear of childbirth. Methods: A systematic literature search and a meta-synthesis that included 14 qualitative papers. Results: The main results demonstrate a deepened understanding of women's experiences of fear of childbirth interpreted through the metaphor "being at a point of no return". Being at this point meant that the women thought there was no turning back from their situation, further described in the three themes: To suffer consequences from traumatic births, To lack warranty and understanding, and To face the fear. Conclusions: Women with fear of childbirth are need of support that can meet their existential issues about being at this point of no return, allowing them to express and integrate their feelings, experiences and expectations during pregnancy, childbirth and after birth. Women with fear after birth, i.e., after an earlier negative birth experience, need support that enables them to regain trust in maternity care professionals and their willingness to provide them with good care that offers the support that individual women require. Women pregnant for the first time require similar support to reassure them that other's experiences will not happen to them.

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“…More fearful women have excessive concerns regarding child malformation, physical damage to the fetus, painful injections, injury to the fetus or themselves during delivery, and fear of pain or of becoming hysterical during delivery [18][19][20]. Understanding what concerns women with serious childbirth fear does not necessarily illuminate why some women are more afraid than others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear of Childbirth in Pregnant Women in the United States

Jj¹,

Vrana²

2018

J Pregnancy Reprod

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Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the incidence of serious childbearing fear in a sample of American women, and to explore associations between women's experiences and fear of childbirth. Methods:Ninety women 25 weeks of gestation and later who participated in a prospective longitudinal study were administered questionnaires during pregnancy that included background factors (marital status, education, birth history), fear of childbirth, and current levels of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology. Results:The incidence of serious fear of childbirth (7.7%) was slightly lower than but consistent with studies of Northern European women. When considered separately, 11.6% of women in the care of an obstetrician and 4% of women in the care of a midwife exhibited serious levels of fear. Greater fear of childbirth was seen in women experiencing sexual assault in both childhood and adulthood but not in women endorsing childhood sexual assault alone. Fear was higher among women with a current diagnosis of depression or co-morbid depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Conclusion:These results underscore the importance of identifying and treating depression in pregnant women.

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Examining the content and moderators of women's fears for giving birth: A meta‐synthesis

Cited by 74 publications

References 59 publications

The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland

The prevalence and risk factors of fear of childbirth among pregnant women: A cross‐sectional study in Ireland

Women’s experiences of fear of childbirth: a metasynthesis of qualitative studies

Fear of Childbirth in Pregnant Women in the United States

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