Javascript must be enabled to continue!
View through CrossRef
Labor, as a life event, is characterized by tremendous
physiological and psychological changes that
require major behavioral adjustments in a short period
of time. These changes may negatively impact
the state of the pregnant woman and the fetus and
may even complicate pregnancy and childbirth. Clinically
significant fear of childbirth is estimated to
affect 20-25% of pregnant women and the prevalence
of pathological fear is thought to be 6-10%.
Objective. To examine the influence of fear of
childbirth on the process of delivery and the choice
of analgesia.
Methods. The study composed of two stages was
carried. During the first stage of this study 245 lowrisk
pregnant women in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy
completed A version of The Wijma Delivery
Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ)
and the fear of childbirth was evaluated. During the
second stage of the study medical records (including
information about the exact time of labor, the beginning
of labor, duration of labor, labor progress,
mode of delivery, the medicinal pain relief used during
delivery) of 189 respondents were examined.
Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0.
Results. Study showed that the majority of respondents
(47,8 %) experienced moderate fear, 34,7%
respondents suffered from severe fear, 16,3% respondents
experienced mild fear, while 1,2% respondents
suffered from pathological fear. Severe
fear was more common in unemployed, single women
and women with lower education. The fear of
childbirth intensifies closer to the birth. Statistically
significant links between the fear of childbirth
and the beginning of spontaneous labor, premature
rupture of membranes, induced labor and the use
medicinal pain relief have been found. The study
could not show an important connection between
the mode of delivery and the fear of childbirth. However,
respondents who had vacuum delivery were
experiencing higher level of fear of childbirth than
those respondents who had spontaneous delivery or
caesarean section.
Conclusions. Pregnant women experience moderate
or severe fear of childbirth closer to the birth. Greater
fear of childbirth increased the risk of protracted
and inducted labor and using medicinal pain relief
during the labor. The fear of childbirth is not connected
with the mode of delivery.
Association of Lithuanian Serials (Publications)
Title:
Description:
Labor, as a life event, is characterized by tremendous
physiological and psychological changes that
require major behavioral adjustments in a short period
of time.
These changes may negatively impact
the state of the pregnant woman and the fetus and
may even complicate pregnancy and childbirth.
Clinically
significant fear of childbirth is estimated to
affect 20-25% of pregnant women and the prevalence
of pathological fear is thought to be 6-10%.
Objective.
To examine the influence of fear of
childbirth on the process of delivery and the choice
of analgesia.
Methods.
The study composed of two stages was
carried.
During the first stage of this study 245 lowrisk
pregnant women in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy
completed A version of The Wijma Delivery
Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ)
and the fear of childbirth was evaluated.
During the
second stage of the study medical records (including
information about the exact time of labor, the beginning
of labor, duration of labor, labor progress,
mode of delivery, the medicinal pain relief used during
delivery) of 189 respondents were examined.
Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.
Results.
Study showed that the majority of respondents
(47,8 %) experienced moderate fear, 34,7%
respondents suffered from severe fear, 16,3% respondents
experienced mild fear, while 1,2% respondents
suffered from pathological fear.
Severe
fear was more common in unemployed, single women
and women with lower education.
The fear of
childbirth intensifies closer to the birth.
Statistically
significant links between the fear of childbirth
and the beginning of spontaneous labor, premature
rupture of membranes, induced labor and the use
medicinal pain relief have been found.
The study
could not show an important connection between
the mode of delivery and the fear of childbirth.
However,
respondents who had vacuum delivery were
experiencing higher level of fear of childbirth than
those respondents who had spontaneous delivery or
caesarean section.
Conclusions.
Pregnant women experience moderate
or severe fear of childbirth closer to the birth.
Greater
fear of childbirth increased the risk of protracted
and inducted labor and using medicinal pain relief
during the labor.
The fear of childbirth is not connected
with the mode of delivery.


