Swedish couples’ attitudes towards birth, childbirth fear and birth preferences and relation to mode of birth – A longitudinal cohort study

ObjectiveLittle is known if couples hold similar or different attitudes towards birth or what impact these have on the actual mode of birth. The aim of this study was to compare couples’ personal and general attitudes towards birth. An additional aim was to study the relationship between attitudes, birth preferences, and fear of birth in relation to mode of birth.MethodsThis study is part of a longitudinal cohort study of 1074 pregnant women and their partners recruited during one year in three hospitals in the middle-north part of Sweden. Data was collected by questionnaires. Chi-square test, t-tests and multinominal regression analysis were used in the analyses.ResultsWomen held stronger attitudes about the importance of a safe and less stressful birth for the baby, while their partners were most concerned about the woman’s health. Women who preferred a caesarean section and reported childbirth fear often prioritized a safe and stressful birth for themselves, wanted to avoid pain, plan the date, and decide about birth themselves and did not view birth as natural. Some of these attitudes were also found in partners who preferred a caesarean section. Birth preference and fear were strongly associated with mode of birth.ConclusionSpecial attention should be directed towards parents with a caesarean section preference and parents with childbirth related fear as they have certain attitudes to birth and are more likely to have caesarean section for the birth of the baby.