Factors independently related to a negative birth experience in first-time mothers (original) (raw)

Labour characteristics of women achieving successful vaginal birth after caesarean section in three European countries

Midwifery

Objective: Knowledge about labour characteristics of women achieving successful vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) might be used to improve labour and birth management. This study examined sociodemographic and labour process-related factors regarding a) differences between countries, b) the comparison of successful VBAC with unplanned caesarean section, and c) predictors for the success of planned VBAC in three European countries. Design: We analysed observational data collected within the OptiBIRTH trial, a clusterrandomised controlled trial. Setting: Fifteen study sites in Ireland, Italy and Germany, five in each country. Participants: 790 participants going into labour for planned VBAC. Measurements: Descriptive statistics and random-effects logistic regression models were applied. Findings: The pooled successful VBAC-rate was 74.6%. Italy had the highest proportion of women receiving none of the four intrapartum interventions amniotomy (ARM), oxytocin, epidural or opioids (42.5% vs Ireland: 26.8% and Germany: 25.3%, p<0.001). Earlier performance of ARM was associated with successful VBAC (3.50 hrs vs 6.08 hrs, p=0.004). A positive predictor for successful vaginal birth was a previous vaginal birth (OR=3.73, 95% CI [2.17, 6.44], p<0.001). The effect of ARM increased with longer labour duration (OR for interaction term=1.06, 95% CI [1.004, 1.12], p=0.035). Higher infant birthweight (OR per kg=0.34, 95% CI [0.23, 0.50], p<0.001), ARM (reference spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM), OR=0.20, 95% CI [0.11, 0.37], p<0.001) and a longer labour duration (OR per hour=0.93, 95% CI [0.90, 0.97], p<0.001) decreased the odds of a vaginal birth. Key conclusion: Women with a previous vaginal birth, an infant with a lower birth weight, SROM and a shorter labour duration were most likely to have a successful vaginal birth. If SROM did not occur, an earlier ARM increased the odds of a vaginal birth. Implication for practice: Labour progress should be accelerated by fostering endogenous uterine contractions. With slow labour progress and intact membranes, ARM might increase the chance of a vaginal birth.

Risk of negative birth experience in trial of labor after cesarean delivery: A population-based cohort study

PLOS ONE, 2020

Background To improve care for women going through trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC), we need to understand their birth experience better. We investigated the association between mode of delivery on birth experience in second birth among women with a first cesarean. Methods A population-based cohort study based on the Swedish Pregnancy Register with 808 women with a first cesarean and eligible for TOLAC in 2014-2017. Outcomes were mean birth experience measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) score from 1-10 and having a negative birth experience defined as VAS score �5. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed with β-estimates and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Mean VAS score among women with an elective repeat cesarean (n = 251 (31%)), vaginal birth (n = 388 (48%)) or unplanned repeat cesarean (n = 169 (21%)) in second birth were 8.8 (standard deviation SD 1.4), 8.0 (SD 2.0) and 7.6 (SD 2.1), respectively. Compared to women having an elective repeat cesarean, women having an unplanned repeat cesarean delivery had five-fold higher odds of negative birth experience (adjusted OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.5-16.5). Women having a first elective cesarean and a subsequent unplanned repeat cesarean delivery had the highest odds of negative birth experience (crude OR 7.3, 95% CI 1.5-35.5). Conclusions Most women with a first cesarean scored their second birth experience as positive irrespective of mode of delivery. However, the odds of a negative birth experience increased among women having an unplanned repeat cesarean delivery, especially when the first cesarean delivery was elective.

A comparative study of the experience of childbirth between women who preferred and had a caesarean section and women who preferred and had a vaginal birth

Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2011

The aim of this study was to compare experiences and feelings during pregnancy and childbirth in women who preferred caesarean section during pregnancy and were delivered by a planned caesarean section, and women who preferred to give birth vaginally and actually had a spontaneous vaginal birth. Design: Longitudinal cohort study where 693 women participated, 420 of whom were multiparas. Methods: Data were collected from questionnaires distributed to women during pregnancy and two months postpartum in a Mid Sweden county. Results: Women who preferred and actually were delivered by caesarean section experienced a fear of childbirth to a higher degree as compared to women with a vaginal birth. Despite a fulfilled request, women who had a caesarean section were not pleased with the decision making process. In addition, women who had a caesarean section on request were less satisfied with antenatal care and had a more negative birth experience, which made them doubt whether they would have more children. Conclusions: This study shows that a fulfilled request on mode of birth does not guarantee a positive birth experience. Antenatal information of all aspects of a caesarean section is vital for women who consider caesarean section where no medical indication is present. More research is needed about the decision making process regarding caesarean section on maternal request. Childbirth related fear is a common reason to request a caesarean birth. More knowledge about how women reason about caesarean section is required, and treatment related to fear of birth needs to be developed.

Postnatal quality of life in women after normal vaginal delivery and caesarean section

2009

Background: Caesarean section might increase the incidence of surgical interventions and problems resulting from hospitalization and thus affecting quality of life in women after delivery. This study aimed to compare quality of life in women after normal delivery and caesarean section. Methods: This was a prospective study. A sample of women with normal delivery and caesarean section from 5 health care centers in Isfahan, Iran were entered into the study. Quality of life was measured using the SF-36 at two points in time (time 1: 6 to 8 weeks after delivery; time 2: 12 to 14 weeks after delivery). Data were analyzed to compare quality of life in the two study groups. Results: In all 100 women were interviewed (50 with normal delivery and 50 with caesarean section). Postnatal quality of life in both groups was improved from time1 to time 2. However, comparing the mean scores between the normal and caesarean delivery groups the results showed that in general the normal vaginal delivery group had a better quality of life for almost all subscales in both assessment times. The differences were significant for vitality (mean score 62.9 vs. 54.4 P = 0.03) and mental health (mean score 75.1 vs. 66.7, P = 0.03) at first assessment and for physical functioning (mean score 88.4 vs. 81.5, P = 0.03) at second evaluation. However, comparing the findings within each group the analysis showed that the normal vaginal delivery group improved more on physical health related quality of life while the caesarean section group improved more on mental health related quality of life. Conclusion: Although the study did not show a clear cut benefit in favor of either methods of delivery that are normal vaginal delivery or caesarean section, the findings suggest that normal vaginal delivery might lead to a better quality of life especially resulting in a superior physical health. Indeed in the absence of medical indications normal vaginal delivery might be better to be considered as the first priority in term pregnancy.

Women's experiences of caesarean section and vaginal birth after caesarean: A birthrites initiative

Int J Nurs Pract, 2003

This paper reports the findings of a small pilot study undertaken to identify women's perceptions of their Caesarean section and/or their experience of attempting to achieve a vaginal birth after Caesarean. Fifty-nine women replied to a survey designed and distributed by the consumer organisation Birthrites. The survey consisted of 22 closed and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data. Six major factors that impacted on women's perceptions of their birthing experience were identified: (i) 'being supported'; (ii) 'violated expectations'; (iii) 'loss of control'; (iv) 'health professionals' language, attitudes and care practices'; (v) 'the labour experience and the cascade of intervention'; and (vi) 'surgical birth and the separation from the baby'. The results support previous work in this area and demonstrate that some women suffer from psychological trauma following an emergency Caesarean section. The experiences of the women in this small study indicate a need for health professionals to not only better understand the distress that may occur but to also develop a greater understanding of the impact of their interactions with women. The study also provides a consumer 'voice' on current routine hospital policies surrounding vaginal birth after Caesarean and confirms the importance of choice, control and continuity of care for all women regardless of their 'risk' status.

Does prolonged labor affect the birth experience and subsequent wish for cesarean section among first-time mothers? A quantitative and qualitative analysis of a survey from Norway

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2020

Background Prolonged labor might contribute to a negative birth experience and influence first-time mothers’ attitudes towards future pregnancies. Previous studies have not adjusted for possible confounding factors, such as operative delivery, induction and postpartum hemorrhage. We aimed to determine the impact of prolonged labor on birth experience and a wish for cesarean section in subsequent pregnancies. Methods A survey including the validated “Childbirth Experience Questionnaire”. First-time mothers giving birth between 2012 and 2014 at a Norwegian university hospital participated. Data from deliveries were collected. Regression analysis and thematic content analysis were performed. Results 459 (71%) women responded. Women with labor duration > 12 h had significantly lower scores on two out of four sub-items of the questionnaire: own capacity (p = 0.040) and perceived safety (p = 0.023). Other factors contributing to a negative experience were: Cesarean section vs vaginal b...

Comparison analysis of newborn birthing with vaginal delivery and cesarean section

Disaster and Emergency Medicine Journal

InTroducTIon: Most of them perceive a vaginal delivery as morbid, painful, often complicated. Fear of pain, fear of a child, negative experiences associated with a previous birth and the opinions of relatives often contribute to the termination of pregnancy through cesarean section without medical indications "cesarean section on demand". The aim of the study was to compare the state of newborns born with vaginal delivery with newborns born through caesarean section. MeThods: The research was carried out in January 2018 at the District Hospital in Węgrów (Poland) at the Neonatology Department. 47 consecutive newborns of the Neonatological Department born in January 2018, were included in the study. resulTs: The study group consisted of 47 newborns-27 (57%) newborns were enrolled in the group of neonates born via caesarean section. The termination of pregnancy occurred usually at week 39 (± 1), and the average age of the maternal mothers is 30 years (± 5). The child's weight is 3622g (± 523), umbilical cord pH 7.359 (± 0.052). Maternal age does not seem to have a significant impact on the type of delivery in the case of caesarean section, the average age is 29 years (± 6), in terms of childbirth, the mother's age is 30 years (± 6).

Morbidity following primary cesarean delivery in the Danish National Birth Cohort

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2012

Cesarean delivery rates are on the rise in many countries, including the United States. There is mounting evidence that cesarean delivery is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. The purpose of this article is to review those outcomes in a well-defined cohort of pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: In a cohort of primigravid women from the Danish National Birth Cohort with known baseline exposure characteristics, we stratified women by method of first delivery, vaginal or cesarean, and evaluated for appearance of adverse reproductive events in subsequent pregnancies. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, and socioeconomic status, women who underwent cesarean delivery at first birth were at increased risk in their subsequent pregnancy for anemia (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-3.4), placental abruption (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.5-3.6), uterine rupture (OR, 268; 95% CI, 65.6-999), and hysterectomy (OR, 28.8; 95% CI, 3.1-263.8). CONCLUSION: Women who deliver their first baby with a cesarean are at increased risk of adverse reproductive outcomes in subsequent pregnancies and should be counseled accordingly.