The role of women’s emotional profiles in birth outcome and birth experience

Abstract

Objective

The aim was to investigate birth outcome and birth experience in relation to women’s emotional health. An additional aim was to explore the relationship between emotional health, continuity with a known midwife, and the birth experience.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 243 women enrolled in a continuity of care project in a rural area in Sweden. Profiles were constructed from instruments measuring depressive symptoms, worries, fear of birth, and sense of coherence. Antenatal and birth records and questionnaires were used to collect data.

Result

Women were categorized into two cluster profiles: “emotionally healthy” vs. “emotionally unhealthy”. Women in the “emotionally unhealthy” cluster had a less positive birth experience (p = 0.006). The total score of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was highest in women who had had a known midwife assisting at birth. Babies born to women in the “emotionally unhealthy” cluster were more likely to have a severe neonatal diagnosis.

Conclusion

There were few differences in birth outcome between the clusters, while there were explicit differences in the childbirth experience. Having a known midwife is important to warrant women a more positive childbirth experience. Screening with validated instruments during antenatal care could be a first step to further investigate women’s emotional well-being and provide targeted psychosocial support.

Keywords:

• Birth experience
• birth outcome
• cluster analysis
• continuity model of care
• midwifery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by grants from the Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research and Charity [Grant number 20190008].