Effects Of Delivery Education On Childbirth Anxiety And Fear

The aim of this study is exploring the effects of childbirth education, physiotherapy and psychotherapy-based interventions on fears and worries about childbirth and labour. Expectant mothers in the last trimester of gestation those did not have a delivery before were taken to the study. At first the participants were examined by a psychiatrist than sociodemographic data form Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories (BDI, BAI) were applied. Then 3 sessions each taking 60 minutes on possible physical and mental problems before birth were done, an exercise plan and recommendations for facilitating delivery were given to participants, information about possible physical and psychological problems after childbirth were given and their questions on these issue were answered. In results mean age of the group was found as 27.2±3.6. The mean gestational age was 35.7±2.3. Socio-demographic characteristics (age, education level, income level, etc.) was not found significantly correlated with the W-DEQ scores. W-DEQ 1 scores were positively correlated with BAI scores. In Wilcoxon test analyses W-DEQ 1 and W-DEQ 2 scores including all the subscales were significantly different p<0.001. As a conclusion on expectant mothers having their third trimester of pregnancy, education before childbirth was found helpful in reducing fears and negative thoughts related to childbirth.