title: Obstetric outcome for women who received individualized treatment for fear of childbirth during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare obstetric outcomes for women with fear of childbirth who received counseling during pregnancy with women without fear of childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  353 women who were referred to a unit for psychosocial obstetrics and gynecology because of fear of childbirth constituted the index group and 579 women without fear of childbirth formed a reference group. METHODS. Data were collected from standardized antenatal and delivery records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delivery data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elective cesarean sections (CS) were more frequent in the index group (p<0.001). Induction of delivery was also more common among the women with fear of childbirth (16.5 compared with 9.6%, p<0.001). Women with fear of childbirth who were scheduled for vaginal delivery were more often delivered by emergency CS (p=0.007). Elective CS was more common among the parous women with fear of childbirth and instrumental delivery was more common among nulliparous women with fear of childbirth. There were no differences in complications during pregnancy, delivery or postpartum between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fear of childbirth is a predisposing factor for emergency and elective CS even after psychological counseling. Maximal effort is necessary to avoid traumatizing deliveries and negative experiences, especially for nulliparous women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Linköping, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Linköping, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Linköping, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunnervik
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Linköping, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bladh
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Linköping, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Josefsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult