Fertility intentions and the way they change following birth- a prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Women's fertility intentions, their desired number of children and desired inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) are related to micro (personal) and macro (socio-cultural) level factors. We investigated factors that contribute to changes in women's fertility intentions in Israel, a developed country with high birth rates. Methods: Pregnant women (N = 1163), recruited from prenatal clinics and hospitals in two major metropolitan areas, completed self-report questionnaires prenatally (≥24 weeks gestation) and postpartum (2 months after childbirth). Women reported their socio-demographic background and obstetric history prenatally, their desired number of children and IPI at both time-points, and their objective and subjective birth experiences postpartum. Results: The findings indicated that background characteristics were related to prenatal fertility intentions. The strongest contributor to prenatal fertility intentions was women's degree of religiosity-the more religious they were, the more children they desired and the shorter their intended IPI. Women's postpartum fertility intentions were mostly consistent with their prenatal reports. In regression models, women who were very-religious, more educated and had previously given birth were less likely to report a lower number of desired of children at postpartum, compared to their prenatal report. Women who reported greater birth satisfaction and gave birth for the first time were less likely to change desired IPI. Conclusion: Having a negative birth experience could adversely affect women's fertility intentions. Yet, in a pronatalist and medicalized birth culture, social pressures may decrease the effects of birth experiences on fertility intentions.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

“…Birth satisfaction can have profound immediate and long-lasting effects on mothers, families, and society. Evidence suggests that birth dissatisfaction may increase the risk for postpartum mood disorders (e.g., depression, post-traumatic stress) [ [2] , [3] , [4] ], mother-infant adjustment difficulties (e.g., maternal caretaking, breastfeeding, bonding) [ 5 ], and changes to future fertility plans (e.g., maternal requested caesarean birth, postponing next pregnancy) [ 6 ]. Therefore, much research has been conducted in the past decades on identifying contributors to birth satisfaction.…”

Childbearing intention and its associated factors: A systematic review

“…Having a negative birth experience could adversely affect women's fertility intentions. (Preis et al, 2020). The mode of the first delivery can affect childbearing intention in women.…”

How do changes in motivation to prevent pregnancy influence contraceptive continuation? Results from a longitudinal study with women who receive family planning services from Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors in Nigeria

“…These factors include experiencing an unintended pregnancy, having partner’s support, being older in age, achieving a desired number of children, higher number of living children, higher number of male children, being in school or working, and discussing FP with a friend [ 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 – 13 ]. Fertility intentions (the desire for a certain number of children and the intended timing of a first birth and subsequent spacing between births [ 14 ]) have also been shown to be associated with contraceptive use [ 15 ] and continuation [ 12 , 13 ]. Yet women’s fertility intentions can and often change, even within a short period of time [ 15 – 17 ].…”