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The influence of the systematic birth preparation program on childbirth satisfaction

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the influence of a systematic multidisciplinary birth preparation program on satisfaction with childbirth experience. A secondary aim was to detect factors that affect the childbirth satisfaction.

Methods

In this prospective study, 77 pregnant women who completed the 4-month birth preparation program (Group 1) and 75 women in the control group (Group 2) were asked to fill out two questionnaires with face-to-face interviews within 48 h after labor. One of the questionnaires was the translated form of Salmon’s Item List German (SIL-Ger), and SIL-Ger scores ≥70 was accepted as a satisfactory experience.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of sociocultural and intrapartum characteristics, and obstetric outcome parameters. The women who received antenatal education experienced significantly less pain (p = 0.01), had a better communication with midwife or obstetrician during delivery (p = 0.001), and participated more actively in decision-making before, during, and after childbirth (p < 0.001 for all). SIL score was significantly higher in Group 1 (105.7 ± 2.2 vs 80 ± 2.5, p < 0.01), and significantly more women had a SIL score ≥70 (96.1 vs 73.3%, p < 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression model, attending the birth preparation program and the level of pain perceived during labor were found to have a significant effect on the birth satisfaction.

Conclusion

Systematic birth preparation program improves satisfaction with childbirth experience by enabling women to communicate better with healthcare providers and to participate in decision-making during labor, as well as by decreasing the perception of labor pain.

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Authors’ contribution

AA: Project Conceptualization, administration, and supervision. ACE: Data validation, Visualization; writing reviewing, and editing the manuscript. ESO: Data cleaning, formal analysis, and contributing to the methodology. OA: Conceptualizing and supervising the study; and revision of the manuscript. HG: Contributed to conceptualizing of the study and regularly supervised its progress. NK: Contributed to systematic data collection in the study. AA: Performed the antenatal training and applied the postpartum questionnaires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Research and Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Aysu Akca, Aytul Corbacioglu Esmer, Arife Aydin, Nazli Korkmaz & Ozgur Akbayir

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Bagcilar Research and Teaching Hospital, Merkez, Mimar Sinan Caddesi, 6. Sokak, Bağcılar, 34100, Istanbul, Turkey

    Eser Sefik Ozyurek

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Husnu Gorgen

Authors
  1. Aysu Akca
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  2. Aytul Corbacioglu Esmer
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  3. Eser Sefik Ozyurek
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  4. Arife Aydin
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  5. Nazli Korkmaz
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  7. Ozgur Akbayir
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eser Sefik Ozyurek.

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Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

All of the authors of this study declare that they have no potential or explicit conflicts of interest with any third party related to this study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Akca, A., Corbacioglu Esmer, A., Ozyurek, E.S. et al. The influence of the systematic birth preparation program on childbirth satisfaction. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 1127–1133 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4345-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4345-5

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