Obstetric interventions' effects on the birthing experience

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health
• Psychological Well-being

Background:

• The birth experience significantly influences maternal mental health and the mother-child bond.
• Unanticipated medical interventions during labor can negatively affect the overall birth experience.
• Assessing the prevalence of interventions and their impact on birth experience is crucial for improving maternal care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors contributing to a diminished birth experience.
• To assess the prevalence of unplanned obstetrical interventions in Germany.
• To understand how interventions affect different dimensions of childbirth satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 1102 mothers who gave birth 8-12 months prior.
• Utilized the revised Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ2) to measure birth experience.
• Employed descriptive, bivariate (Wilcoxon rank-sum, Kruskal-Wallis), and multivariate linear regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Most participants reported a favorable birth experience (average rating 3.09/4).
• Fundal pressure, assisted vaginal delivery (AVD), and unplanned cesarean section (CS) were associated with significantly worse birth experiences.
• Unplanned CS negatively impacted "personal capability" and "perceived safety"; AVD affected "professional support" and "participation."

Conclusions:

• Obstetric interventions significantly affect various dimensions of the birth experience.
• Targeted interventions addressing specific satisfaction dimensions (communication, participation, safety) are needed to enhance birth satisfaction.
• Understanding intervention-specific impacts is vital for improving maternal satisfaction and well-being.