Clinical decision-making during childbirth in health facilities from the perspectives of labouring women, relatives, and health care providers: A scoping review.

Problem: For health care providers to ensure appropriate decision-making in clinical settings during childbirth, facilitators and barriers must be identified.

Background: Women who experience a sense of control by participating in the decision-making process, are more likely to have a positive birth experience. However, decision-making may involve hierarchies of close observation and control.

Preferred and actual mode of delivery in relation to fear of childbirth.

Purpose: This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the interrelation between preferred/actual mode of delivery and pre- and postpartum fear of childbirth (FOC).

Material And Methods: Participants from 13 midwifery practices and four hospitals in Southwest Netherlands filled out questionnaires at 30 weeks' gestation ( = 561) and two months postpartum ( = 463), including questions on preferred mode of delivery, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Results were related to obstetric data.

Is fear of childbirth related to the woman's preferred location for giving birth? A Dutch low-risk cohort study.

Background: In The Netherlands, women with low-risk pregnancy are routinely given the option of home birth, providing a unique opportunity to study the relationship between fear of childbirth (FOC) and preference for childbirth location, and whether women experience higher FOC when the actual location differs from their preference.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 331 nulliparous and parous women completed a questionnaire at gestational week 30 (T1) and two months postpartum (T2). FOC was assessed using versions A (T1) and B (T2) of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ).

Midwives' practices and knowledge about fear of childbirth and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: Women suffering from fear of childbirth and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder are often not recognised by health care professionals.

Aim: To evaluate practices, knowledge and the attitudes of midwives towards women with fear of childbirth and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed amongst midwives who work in community practices and hospitals in the Netherlands with the use of a questionnaire purposefully designed for this research aim.

Pharmacological pain relief and fear of childbirth in low risk women; secondary analysis of the RAVEL study.

Background: Fear of childbirth may reduce the womens' pain tolerance during labour and may have impact on the mother-infant interaction. We aimed to assess (1) the association between fear of childbirth antepartum and subsequent request for pharmacological pain relief, and (2) the association between the used method of pain relief and experienced fear of childbirth as reported postpartum in low risk labouring women.

Methods: Secondary analysis of the RAVEL study, a randomised controlled trial comparing remifentanil patient controlled analgesia (PCA) and epidural analgesia to relieve labour pain.

Possible relationship between general and pregnancy-related anxiety during the first half of pregnancy and the birth process: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The rate of interventions during childbirth has increased dramatically during the last decades. Maternal anxiety might play a role in the progress of the labour process and interventions during labour. This study aimed to identify associations between anxiety in the first half of pregnancy and the birth process, including any interventions required during labour.

Does fear of childbirth or family history affect whether pregnant Dutch women prefer a home- or hospital birth?

Objective: It is a generally accepted idea that women who give birth at home are less fearful of giving birth than women who give birth in a hospital. We explored fear of childbirth (FOC) in relation to preferred and actual place of birth. Since the Netherlands has a long history of home birthing, we also examined how the place where a pregnant woman׳s mother or sisters gave birth related to the preferred place of birth.

What is underneath the cesarean request?

In the Nordic countries, where there is a real pursuit to keep cesarean section rates at a relatively low level, the efforts to align maternity care to the needs of women reflect a unique approach among high-income countries. Electively performed cesarean section due to fear of childbirth is one example of this increased attention. The antenatal counseling services' primary aim is the promotion of a positive childbirth experience, regardless of mode of delivery.

No relationship between fear of childbirth and pregnancy-/delivery-outcome in a low-risk Dutch pregnancy cohort delivering at home or in hospital.

Objective: To examine the relationship of fear of childbirth (FOC), general anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum with birth complications.

Methods: For this prospective cohort study 105 healthy women with low-risk pregnancies (until at least 30 weeks gestation) completed the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at 30 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. These results were related with delivery characteristics.