The information needs of first-time pregnant mothers

Abstract

Changing Childbirth (Department of Health, 1993a) emphasised the importance of providing accessible information during pregnancy. Five years after Changing Childbirth became government policy, a self-complete questionnaire was sent to a randomly selected sample of women to assess how well their maternity information needs were being met. This article focuses on the information needs of first-time mothers during pregnancy. Findings suggest that demand for information is increasing. Over two thirds of the 702 first-time mothers surveyed said that they wanted to know ‘a great deal’ about pregnancy and birth and all had some unmet information needs. Young mothers, ethnic minorities, and women from lower socioeconomic groups showed the greatest desire for more information. All maternity services should have an information and support strategy. As part of this midwives should review how well they are meeting women's individual information needs and should take action to improve women's access to reliable information and opportunities to talk over issues during pregnancy.

Informed Decision Making in Maternity Care

“…Listening to Mothers II reports that 80% of the women surveyed desired information about every possible childbirth complication, and 96% indicated they wanted to be involved in the decisions related to their labor and birth, assuming there are no medical complications . A similar study in the United Kingdom reported comparable findings: Among the study's first-time mothers, 70% wanted to know as much information as possible related to maternity care choices (Singh et al, 2002).…”

“…It has been deemed important for policymakers and physicians to pay attention to patient preferences, experiences, and expectations (Hicks et al, 2003), particularly in a time when patients take an active, consumer-like role regarding the selection of health-care practitioner and place of care (Cahill, 1998;O'Cathain et al, 2002;Singh, Newburn, Smith, & Wiggins, 2002).…”

“…Compared to the past, more active, informationseeking patients are requesting the opportunity to participate in health-care decisions (Cahill, 1998;Jung et al, 1997;McGregor, 2006;Michie et al, 2003;O'Cathain et al, 2002;Pelkonen, Perala, & Vehvilainen-Julkunen, 1998;Rosen et al, 2001;Singh et al, 2002). Female patients of childbearing age report wanting more information and decisionmaking participation then any other group of patients (Bruera et al, 2001;Jung et al, 1997;Krupat et al, 2004;Rothenbacher et al, 1997;van der Hulst et al, 2007).…”

Information Giving and Education in Pregnancy: A Review of Qualitative Studies

“…The fact remains that many women who are pregnant for the first time will seek to attend antenatal classes (Redshaw et al, 2007) and will possibly be distressed if not offered them. Some women who can afford it will seek classes in the voluntary or increasingly visible private sector (Singh, Newburn, Smith, & Wiggins, 2002). Others will receive no antenatal education and will approach labor ignorant of what is to come, frightened, and unable to make their own informed choices about their treatment.…”

Prenatal Googling: Online Information Seeking by Israeli Women During Pregnancy

“…Singh, Newburn, Smith and Wiggins (2002) surveyed firsttime mothers about their informational seeking during pregnancy. The women in their study were a representative sample of the childbearing population of England in terms of ethnicity, age and location.…”