The effect of birth ball exercise on labor pain, delivery duration, birth comfort, and birth satisfaction: a randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the effect of birth ball exercise on labor pain, delivery duration, birth comfort, and birth satisfaction.

METHODS

The study used a randomized controlled trial design. All 120 primiparous pregnant women were randomly assigned to the intervention (IG) and control groups (CG). After the cervical dilatation reached 4 cm, the pregnant women in the IG performed birth ball exercises, adhering to the birth ball guide created by the researcher. No intervention was made in the control group other than standard midwifery care practices.

RESULTS

The labor pain level between the groups (VAS 1-when cervical dilatation was 4 cm) was similar to each other. The labor pain level (VAS 2- when cervical dilatation was 9 cm) scores of the women in the IG were significantly lower than those in the CG (p < 0.05). The time between the active phase of labor until dilatation is complete and the time until the baby's head comes out after full dilatation was found to be statistically significantly shorter in the IG compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Childbirth comfort and satisfaction mean scores between the groups were found to be statistically insignificant (p >  0.05).

CONCLUSION

As a result of the study, it was determined that the birth ball exercise significantly reduced labor pain and labor time. We recommend that the birth ball exercise be applied to all low-risk pregnant women because it helps fetal descent and cervical dilatation, and shortens labor pain and delivery time.

The effect of interventions in vaginal birth on fear of childbirth: A multicentre study

AIM

This cross-sectional multicentre study aimed to determine the effect of interventions during vaginal birth for fear of childbirth.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional and analytical study, 852 women who had a vaginal birth between 2019 and 2020 were enrolled. Data were collected using the Descriptive Questionnaire and Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B.

RESULTS

The mean total Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B score of the women was 97.00 ± 24.24, indicating severe and clinical levels of fear of childbirth. Moreover, 69.4% of the women had clinical, 18.6% had severe and 12% had moderate levels of fear of childbirth. During birth, women who had close supporters, who were allowed to move and who did not undergo amniotomy, enema, perineal shaving and electronic foetal monitoring had a low level of fear of childbirth. As the number of pregnant women in the labour room, frequency of vaginal examinations, duration of delivery/hour, severity of labour pain and negative perception of the approach of health professionals increased, the women's fear of childbirth increased. Fear of childbirth decreased as the frequency of antenatal follow-ups, number of births and satisfaction levels of the women increased (p < 0.05). Low income perception, irregular prenatal follow-up, severe labour pain and a long duration of labour were strong predictors of increased fear of childbirth. Increasing number of births, high birth satisfaction level and positive perception of the approach of health professionals were strong predictors of reduced fear of childbirth.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of interventions in vaginal delivery and support from health care providers during delivery can be effective in reducing fear of childbirth.

Effects of the web-based birth preparation programme and motivational interviews on primigravida women: Randomized-controlled study

AIM

This study aimed to identify the effects of a web-based birth preparation programme based on the Health Belief Model and supported by motivational interviews on fear of childbirth, self-efficacy and the labour process in primigravida women.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a single-blind, randomized controlled design with 73 pregnant women. The Birth Health Belief Scale, the Wijma Delivery Expectation/Experience Questionnaire A-B, the Childbirth Self-efficacy Scale and the Labour Process Assessment forms were used to collect data. Five sessions of motivational interviews were held with the pregnant women in the experimental group, while those in the control group were administered placebo education.

RESULTS

Fear of birth was lower, and the birth self-efficacy total score was higher in the experimental group. None of the groups indicated significant differences in terms of their mode of delivery.

CONCLUSION

Health Belief Model-based web-based birth preparation programme and motivational interviews were found to reduce the fear of birth, increase self-efficacy and positively affect the birth process in primigravida women.

Investigation of the relationship between fear of birth and prenatal attachment in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the fear of birth and level of prenatal attachment experienced by the pregnant women.

METHODS

In our descriptive and relationship-seeking study conducted between January and March 2020 in Konya, 485 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for the study were women who were pregnant at the age of 18 years and above, having Turkish literacy, had spontaneous conception were over the 28th gestational week, having a healthy fetus, and not having any existing health problems (based on self-report). The data were collected with an information form, "Prenatal Attachment Inventory" and "Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience (Version A) Scale."

RESULTS

The mean score of the pregnant women from the "Prenatal Attachment Inventory" was 62.44 (21-84), and the mean score of the "Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale/Version A" was found to be 59.45 (0-165). It was concluded that 47.2% of the pregnant women had low, 38.7% had moderate, and 14.1% had high levels of fear of birth. It was determined that there was a negative and weakly significant relationship between "Prenatal Attachment Inventory" and "Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale/Version A" scores of pregnant women (r=-0.11 and p=0.23).

CONCLUSION

In our study, it was determined that as the fear of birth increased, prenatal attachment levels decreased. Initiating and maintaining a healthy mother-infant bond is important for reducing fear of birth.

Development and the Validity and Reliability Study of the Birth Health Belief Scale

Objective: This study aims to develop a measurement tool based on the Health Belief Model to assess pregnant women’s attitudes and beliefs about the mode of delivery. Methods: A 65-item draft scale consisting of five sub-scales was used for the development of the Birth Health Belief Scale (BHBS). The draft scale was administered to 336 pregnant women. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Analyses included Kendall’s W test, Cronbach’s alpha, Kaiser Meyer Olkin (KMO) Test, Bartlett’s Test, and Exploratory Factor analysis (Principal component analysis). Results: Analysis results showed that the 5-point Likert scale consisted of 34 items and five factors. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.974. Item analysis results revealed that the item-total and item-remainder correlations were significant (p