Evaluation of Effects of Positive Birth Experience on the Perception of Birth of Primiparous Women

Abstract

Background:A positive birth experience for women is related to active support systems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the birth perceptions of primiparous women after having interactions with women who had positive birth experiences.Methods:Of the pregnant women who applied to the non-stress test (NST) service at the XXX Hospital between the dates of June 18 and July 18, 2018, 60 pregnant women who met the criteria voluntarily participated in this study. These women were placed into two groups. The first group was given a sound recording to hear positive birth stories. No intervention was made for the 30 pregnant women in the second group. A questionnaire including the Perception of Birth Scale (POBS) was applied to these 60 puerperant women after birth. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software package. Percentage, frequency values and Mann-Whitney U test values were used to evaluate the data.Results: The average age of the women was 23.51±3.47 years. Of these, 43.3% of the women had received no training before birth, while 56.7% had obtained training. The POBS scores of the control and experimental groups were compared and the total score of the scale, as well as the “delivery experience” and “labor experience” sub-dimensions of the scale were found to be statistically significant (p<0.005).Conclusions:Stories about positive birth experiences have effects on the perception of birth. Thus, positive birth experiences should be given more importance.

Storytelling in Pregnancy and Childbirth: An Integrative Review of the Literature

“…In Rasoli et al's study, the use of birth scenarios to influence the choice of mode of birth in the intervention group led to a change in the desire of pregnant women to choose to birth their babies vaginally rather than via cesarean section [ 25 ]. Indeed, the effect of hearing positive childbirth experiences in pregnancy can lead to more positive perceptions of childbirth [ 22 ]. Thus, adapting women's expectations of childbirth during pregnancy to develop a positive perception of childbirth to influence childbirth choices [ 25 ] may be key in the reduction of unnecessary cesarean sections.…”

“…This integrative review of the literature has synthesized the existing literature in relation to storytelling in the context of childbirth. Ultimately, the telling of childbirth stories can adjust perceptions [ 17 ], shape experiences [ 27 ], reduce the fear and stress associated with pregnancy and childbirth [ 26 ], evoke psychological relief [ 30 ], increase women's tendency to choose vaginal childbirth via a reduction in fear of childbirth [ 25 , 29 ], evoke empowerment [ 4 ], effectively convey information [ 20 ] through the transmission of cultural norms [ 27 ], allow for the reflective construction of meaning [ 31 ], and have a positive impact upon the perceptions of childbirth [ 22 ]. However, the sharing of childbirth stories can also evoke feelings of shame [ 28 ].…”

“…Storytelling has also been used as an intervention in quantitative studies and clinical trials. These studies are somewhat limited as in one, storytelling was used alongside another intervention [ 25 ], and in another, only one outcome in the listener was examined [ 22 ]. Although experimental groups in narrative conditions were found to be more susceptible to persuasion than control groups, almost all of which received rational, factual arguments about health risks, the power of narrative persuasion must be further validated through comparisons with other frequently used message strategies in health communication such as fear, humor, frames, and cultural appeals [ 11 ].…”

“…Moreover, storytelling interventions in childbirth preparation classes can increase motivation [ 21 ]. Significantly, the telling of true childbirth stories can increase understandings and reduce fear of childbirth [ 22 ]. Considering the above, our objective was to synthesize existing literature in relation to storytelling in the context of childbirth to inform future childbirth education programmes, interventions, and research.…”