title: Effects of continuous midwifery labour support for women with severe fear of childbirth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuous support by a midwife during childbirth has shown positive effects on the duration of active labour, use of pain relief and frequency of caesarean section (CS) in women without fear of childbirth (FOC). We have evaluated how continuous support by a specially assigned midwife during childbirth affects birth outcome and the subjective experience of women with severe FOC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control pilot study with an index group of 14 women with severe FOC and a reference group of 28 women without FOC giving birth. In this study the index group received continuous support during childbirth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women with severe FOC more often had an induction of labour. The parous women with severe FOC had a shorter duration of active labour compared to the parous reference women (p = 0.047). There was no difference in caesarean section frequency between the two groups. Women with severe FOC experienced a very high anxiety level during childbirth (OR = 20.000, 95% CI: 3.036-131.731).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with severe FOC might benefit from continuous support by a midwife during childbirth. Midwives should acknowledge the importance of continuous support in order to enhance the experience of childbirth in women with severe FOC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Gunilla.Sydsjo@liu.se.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, SE-581 85, Linköping, Sweden. Gunilla.Sydsjo@liu.se.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sydsjö
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Marie.Blomberg@regionostergotland.se.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Sofie.Palmqvist@regionostergotland.se.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Louise.Angerbjorn@regionostergotland.se.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angerbjörn
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Marie.Bladh@liu.se.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bladh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Ann.Josefsson@regionostergotland.se.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Josefsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors