Fear of childbirth (FOC): pregnant women’s perceptions towards the impending hospital birth and coping resources – a reconstructive study

Abstract

Background: To provide obstetric care which meets the needs of pregnant women with fear of childbirth (FOC), a deeper understanding is required of the beliefs of these women regarding their impending birth and the coping resources they possess to cope with their fear.

Methods: Problem-centred interviews were carried out with 12 pregnant women who self-reported high FOC. Data analysis was performed using Bohnsack’s Documentary Method to reconstruct collective frames of orientation and implicit and explicit orientations in daily practice and interaction.

Results: The interviewees see birth as a field of tension between the poles of naturalness and medicalization. Their need for information displays a need to be in control and fear of losing control. Medical and technological monitoring and one-to-one care promote security. Pregnant women with FOC want to know how they can contribute to a physiological birth.

Conclusions: Structural, organizational and conceptual changes in obstetric care are needed to cater to the needs of pregnant women with FOC. Alongside the need for evidence-based information about non-medical and medical pain-relief as well as decision-making aids, the provision of a continuity model of midwifery care is important.

Keywords:

• Fear of childbirth
• preferences of pregnant women
• maternity care
• hospital birth
• documentary method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hebammengemeinschaftshilfe (HGH e.V.); German Society on Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGPFG e.V.)