Factors independently related to a negative birth experience in first-time mothers

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of personality, socio-demographic and obstetric factors on birth experience in a cohort of healthy first-time mothers. A second aim was to compare a visual analogue scale and Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire B as instruments evaluating birth experience.Material and methodsIn total, 541 women were prospectively followed from the end of pregnancy until 9 months postpartum. Socio-demographic, psychological and somatic data as well as personality characteristics were collected. Experience of delivery was measured with a visual analogue scale and with Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire B. Sixty-three variables were considered to be associated with the experience of delivery. Nineteen of these, found to be significantly associated with birth experience, were entered in a logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe logistic regression analysis showed that a memory of pain during birth, high usage of analgesics postpartum, long hospital stay, worry in late pregnancy and high self-rated irritation were related to a more negative birth experience, while high confidence in the midwife was related to a more positive experience. The correlation between experiences of delivery rated by Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire B and the visual analogue scale was 0.52 (p < 0.001).ConclusionTo help women to cope with pain during and after birth could be an important factor to improve birth experience. Even though the correlation between the visual analogue scale and Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire B was moderate, the visual analogue scale could be used as a simple method for screening of birth experience.