title: Fear of childbirth during pregnancy: a study of more than 8000 pregnant women.
abstract: In today's modern obstetrics, perinatal morbidity and mortality of mother and neonate have become extremely rare. Despite these advances, are pregnant women still afraid of childbearing and, if so, what--and how intense--are their fears? Are these fears influenced by previous birthing experiences and by birth preparation classes? Data from more than 8000 expectant mothers (collated via a prenatal questionnaire distributed between November 1, 1991 and October 31, 1999) are evaluated. This study examines and discusses the answers concerning quantity and quality of childbirth-related fear among women of differing parity and its possible relation to attended birth preparation classes. The women delivered in a hospital setting that practices modern obstetrics combined with alternative delivery methods. The most frequent fears mentioned are fear for the child's health (50%) and fear of pain (40%). Fears dealing with medical intervention, such as operative delivery, anesthesia, nerve blockage and of being at the mercy of obstetrics all lie at around 12%. It is difficult to establish a clear-cut benefit of birth preparation classes in reducing childbirth fears.
authors.affiliation: Leitende Aerztin Frauenklinik, Kantonsspital, Spital Thurgau AG, CH-8501 Frauenfeld, Switzerland. vgeissbuehler@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Geissbuehler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eberhard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology