Testing the ELSA Birth App During Pregnancy and Labor for Primiparous Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions in obstetrics
• Mobile health (mHealth) for pregnancy and childbirth
• Psychological well-being during the perinatal period

Background:

• Early labor management often lacks professional support, with women typically managing at home.
• The Birth App (Birth by Heart) was developed to provide support during early labor.
• Pilot studies indicated user-friendliness and practicality, with technical improvements identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Birth App in reducing emotional distress during early labor.
• To compare outcomes between women using the Birth App, the Birth App Plus (with midwifery support), and standard antenatal care.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 391 nulliparous pregnant women.
• Three groups: Birth App intervention, Birth App Plus (app + midwifery contacts), and standard antenatal care (control).
• Data collected via questionnaires, analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in emotional distress during early labor was observed across the groups.
• Childbirth experience, pain relief, and partner support also showed no statistically significant differences.
• A significant reduction in fear of future childbirth was noted in both Birth App intervention groups compared to the control.

Conclusions:

• The Birth App, particularly when combined with additional midwifery support, shows promise as a tool for pregnant women.
• The observed reduction in fear of future childbirth warrants further investigation.
• The app may contribute to improved psychological preparedness for subsequent pregnancies.