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Related Experiment Videos

Feeling in control during labor: concepts, correlates, and consequences.

Josephine M Green1, Helen A Baston

  • 1Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Leeds, Leeds, England.

Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)
|March 3, 2004
PubMed
Summary

A woman's sense of control during childbirth significantly impacts her experience and well-being. Understanding internal and external control factors can improve maternal care and satisfaction.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Psychology of Childbirth
  • Maternal Well-being

Background:

  • A sense of control is crucial for women's childbirth experiences and well-being.
  • Existing research lacks consistent definitions and distinctions between internal and external control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the relationship between different senses of control (internal and external) during childbirth.
  • To advance understanding of how these control factors influence maternal outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 1146 women regarding preferences, expectations, experiences, and psychological outcomes pre- and post-birth.
  • Assessed three control outcomes: control over staff actions, control over personal behavior, and control during contractions.

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Main Results:

  • Women reported higher control over their own behavior (61.0%) than over staff actions (39.5%).
  • Parity influenced control, with multiparas reporting greater control than primiparas.
  • Control over staff related to respectful treatment and comfort; control over behavior and contractions linked to pain management and expectations.

Conclusions:

  • All three types of control (external, internal, and during contractions) independently contribute to satisfaction and emotional well-being.
  • Caregiver interactions significantly influence external control, while pain management affects internal control.
  • Understanding and supporting women's sense of control is vital for positive childbirth experiences and maternal mental health.