Fear of childbirth: A review of interventions based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Abstract

Fear of vaginal birth is a very common phenomenon among women and may significantly impact maternal-infant health. The goal of this study is to investigate how Cognitive-@Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been applied in cases of fear of childbirth and assess the efficacy of such interventions. A systematic review of these practices was made using the BVS Brazil, Scopus, and PubMed databases, from February to April 2019. After analyzing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of six full studies were selected as the final sample for this research. Therapeutic techniques such as cognitive restructuring, exposure, and mindfulness have proven to be important means of developing a less catastrophic perception of childbirth along with greater self-confidence in the abilities to cope with labor.The review led to the conclusion that CBT does have the potential to treat fear of childbirth.