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The role of women's emotional profiles in birth outcome and birth experience

Hildingsson, Ingegerd and Rubertsson, Christine LU (2022) In Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology 43(3). p.298-306
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate birth outcome and birth experience in relation to women's emotional heslth. An additional aim was to explore the relationship between emotional health, continuity with a known midwife, and the birth experience.

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 243 women enrolled in a continuity of care project in a rural area in Sweden. Profiles were constructed from instruments measuring depressive symptoms, worries, fear of birth, and sense of coherence. Antenatal and birth records and questionnaires were used to collect data.

RESULT: Women were categorized into two cluster profiles: "emotionally healthy" vs. "emotionally unhealthy". Women in the "emotionally unhealthy" cluster had a... (More)

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate birth outcome and birth experience in relation to women's emotional heslth. An additional aim was to explore the relationship between emotional health, continuity with a known midwife, and the birth experience.

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 243 women enrolled in a continuity of care project in a rural area in Sweden. Profiles were constructed from instruments measuring depressive symptoms, worries, fear of birth, and sense of coherence. Antenatal and birth records and questionnaires were used to collect data.

RESULT: Women were categorized into two cluster profiles: "emotionally healthy" vs. "emotionally unhealthy". Women in the "emotionally unhealthy" cluster had a less positive birth experience (p = 0.006). The total score of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was highest in women who had had a known midwife assisting at birth. Babies born to women in the "emotionally unhealthy" cluster were more likely to have a severe neonatal diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: There were few differences in birth outcome between the clusters, while there were explicit differences in the childbirth experience. Having a known midwife is important to warrant women a more positive childbirth experience. Screening with validated instruments during antenatal care could be a first step to further investigate women's emotional well-being and provide targeted psychosocial support.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
volume
43
issue
3
pages
9 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85100938234
  • pmid:33586598
ISSN
1743-8942
DOI
10.1080/0167482X.2021.1885026
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c32a4cc3-af11-4948-9222-2f40e354bc77
date added to LUP
2021-02-17 11:40:14
date last changed
2024-07-11 08:48:51
@article{c32a4cc3-af11-4948-9222-2f40e354bc77,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate birth outcome and birth experience in relation to women's emotional heslth. An additional aim was to explore the relationship between emotional health, continuity with a known midwife, and the birth experience.</p><p>METHODS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 243 women enrolled in a continuity of care project in a rural area in Sweden. Profiles were constructed from instruments measuring depressive symptoms, worries, fear of birth, and sense of coherence. Antenatal and birth records and questionnaires were used to collect data.</p><p>RESULT: Women were categorized into two cluster profiles: "emotionally healthy" vs. "emotionally unhealthy". Women in the "emotionally unhealthy" cluster had a less positive birth experience (p = 0.006). The total score of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was highest in women who had had a known midwife assisting at birth. Babies born to women in the "emotionally unhealthy" cluster were more likely to have a severe neonatal diagnosis.</p><p>CONCLUSION: There were few differences in birth outcome between the clusters, while there were explicit differences in the childbirth experience. Having a known midwife is important to warrant women a more positive childbirth experience. Screening with validated instruments during antenatal care could be a first step to further investigate women's emotional well-being and provide targeted psychosocial support.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hildingsson, Ingegerd and Rubertsson, Christine}},
  issn         = {{1743-8942}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{298--306}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology}},
  title        = {{The role of women's emotional profiles in birth outcome and birth experience}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2021.1885026}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0167482X.2021.1885026}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}