de Boer, Sarah A. (2024) Great Expectations: a quantitative analysis of childbirth reality compared to women’s expectations – mismatches correlate to poorer outcomes Based on BEST-study data. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Postpartum maternal mental health disorders are of common occurrence, such as PTSD or postpartum depression (respectively 3% and 8%). These negatively affect the physical and mental health of the mother and child. A factor in the development of mental health disorders postpartum is a mismatch between expectations of pregnant women of delivery and the reality of delivery. To what extent do expectations of pregnant women of delivery match with the reality of delivery? And in case of a mismatch, is there a correlation between such a mismatch and maternal mental health disorders postpartum? Through BEST-study data (a survey study) 1189 participants were included in the analysis, and were divided among two groups: primi- and multipara. Expectations of women were analyzed through whether they felt their birth had deviated from their birth plan. Deviation from birth plan appeared to be of common occurrence in both primi- and multipara; more so in primipara (respectively 69,5% and 40,8%). Primipara exhibited significantly more postpartum mental health disorders compared to multipara (respectively 14,9% and 9%) and when women deviated from birth plan, they were 2.5 times more likely to develop postpartum mental health disorders. According to the results there seems to be an indication for a correlation between a mismatch of expectations of pregnant women of delivery and the reality of delivery, and postpartum maternal mental health disorders. Management of expectations could be a point of action for improved maternal mental health postpartum. The results advocate for maternal healthcare that also takes the psychological foundation of giving birth into account. Further research will be needed to extend knowledge on a mismatch between expectations and the reality of delivery and the effects of this mismatch on maternal mental health. And consequently implementing this knowledge into practice to improve maternal healthcare and outcomes for mother and child.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Feijen-de Jong,, Esther and van den Berg, Rik |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Sep 2024 11:19 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2024 11:19 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3750 |
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