A qualitative exploration of women's expectations of birth and knowledge of birth interventions following antenatal education.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Expectations of birth, and whether they are met, influence postnatal psychological wellbeing. Intrapartum interventions, for example induction of labour, are increasing due to a changing pregnant population and evolving evidence, which may contribute to a mismatch between expectations and birth experience. NICE recommends antenatal education (ANE) to prepare women for labour and birth, but there is no mandated UK National Health Service (NHS) ANE curriculum. We aimed to explore women's expectations of childbirth and their understanding of common interventions and complications following NHS and non-NHS ANE.

Method

Qualitative focus groups were conducted with postnatal women (< 12 months postpartum) aged ≥ 16, who had received antenatal care at a single NHS Trust.

SUBMITTER: Davies A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11682617 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature