title: Maternal and fetal Doppler velocimetry in women diagnosed with fear of childbirth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate maternal and fetal Doppler flow parameters in term pregnant women diagnosed with fear of childbirth (FOC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women between 20 and 40 years with full-term singleton pregnancies (≥37 gestational weeks) were included in the study. All patients were questioned with Turkish form of Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A. Women with W-DEQ scores ≥85 were defined as FOC. Forty women diagnosed with FOC (FOC group) and 45 women with W-DEQ scores <85 (control group) underwent Doppler waveform analysis and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values for uterine, umbilical, and mid cerebral arteries were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups had similar PI and RI values for umbilical and mid cerebral arteries (P > 0.05). However, PI and RI values for both right and left uterine arteries were higher in FOC group than control group (P < 0.05, for right uterine artery PI; P< 0.001, for left uterine artery RI; and P< 0.01, for others).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be suggested that the presence of FOC in term pregnant women seems to have a negative effect on uterine blood flow parameters. When diagnosed with FOC, the women should be referred to a specialist for psychoeducation and psychosomatic support to decrease her fear and to minimize the negative impact of fear on the fetus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nenehatun Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nenehatun Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nenehatun Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kucur
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nenehatun Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gözükara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult