When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences
Abstract Background Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in women’s lives and most women have expectations or plans for how they hope their labour and birth will go. It is possible that strong expectations about labour and birth lead to dissatisfaction or other negative outcomes if these...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03898-z |
| _version_ | 1818741110389866496 |
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| author | Rebecca Webb Susan Ayers Annick Bogaerts Ljiljana Jeličić Paulina Pawlicka Sarah Van Haeken Nazihah Uddin Rita Borg Xuereb Natalija Kolesnikova COST action CA18211:DEVoTION team |
| author_facet | Rebecca Webb Susan Ayers Annick Bogaerts Ljiljana Jeličić Paulina Pawlicka Sarah Van Haeken Nazihah Uddin Rita Borg Xuereb Natalija Kolesnikova COST action CA18211:DEVoTION team |
| author_sort | Rebecca Webb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in women’s lives and most women have expectations or plans for how they hope their labour and birth will go. It is possible that strong expectations about labour and birth lead to dissatisfaction or other negative outcomes if these expectations are not met, but it is not clear if this is the case. The aim was therefore to synthesise prospective studies in order to understand whether unmet birth expectations are associated with adverse outcomes for women, their partners and their infants. Method Searches were carried out in Academic Search Complete; CINAHL; Medline; PsycINFO, PsychArticles, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Forward and backward searches were also completed. Studies were included if they reported prospective empirical research that examined the association between a mismatch in birth expectations/experience and postnatal outcomes in women, their children and/or their partners. Data were synthesised qualitatively using a narrative approach where study characteristics, context and methodological quality were extracted and summarised and then the differences and similarities among studies were used to draw conclusions. Results Eleven quantitative studies were identified for inclusion from nine countries. A mismatch between birth expectations and experiences was associated with reduced birth satisfaction. Three studies found a link between a mismatch and the development of postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence was inconsistent for postnatal depression, and fear of childbirth. Only one study looked at physical outcomes in the form of health-related quality of life. Conclusions A mismatch between birth expectations and experiences is associated with birth satisfaction and it may increase the risk of developing postnatal PTSD. However, it is not clear whether a mismatch is associated with other postnatal mental health conditions. Further prospective research is needed to examine gaps in knowledge and provide standardised methods of measuring childbirth expectations-experiences mismatch. To ensure women’s expectations are met, and therefore experience a satisfying birth experience, maternity providers should provide sensitive care, which acknowledges women’s needs and preferences, is based on open and clear communication, is delivered as early in pregnancy as possible, and enables women to make their own decisions about care. Trial registration Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42020191081 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:51:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c0d424b93db4e41a0f0e81a68769008 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:51:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c0d424b93db4e41a0f0e81a687690082022-12-21T21:25:02ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932021-07-0121111410.1186/s12884-021-03898-zWhen birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiencesRebecca Webb0Susan Ayers1Annick Bogaerts2Ljiljana Jeličić3Paulina Pawlicka4Sarah Van Haeken5Nazihah Uddin6Rita Borg Xuereb7Natalija Kolesnikova8COST action CA18211:DEVoTION teamCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of LondonCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of LondonKU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Research Unit Women and ChildCognitive Neuroscience Department, Institute for Research and Development “Life Activities Advancement Center”Department of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of GdańskKU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Research Unit Women and ChildCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of LondonDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of MaltaCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of LondonAbstract Background Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in women’s lives and most women have expectations or plans for how they hope their labour and birth will go. It is possible that strong expectations about labour and birth lead to dissatisfaction or other negative outcomes if these expectations are not met, but it is not clear if this is the case. The aim was therefore to synthesise prospective studies in order to understand whether unmet birth expectations are associated with adverse outcomes for women, their partners and their infants. Method Searches were carried out in Academic Search Complete; CINAHL; Medline; PsycINFO, PsychArticles, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Forward and backward searches were also completed. Studies were included if they reported prospective empirical research that examined the association between a mismatch in birth expectations/experience and postnatal outcomes in women, their children and/or their partners. Data were synthesised qualitatively using a narrative approach where study characteristics, context and methodological quality were extracted and summarised and then the differences and similarities among studies were used to draw conclusions. Results Eleven quantitative studies were identified for inclusion from nine countries. A mismatch between birth expectations and experiences was associated with reduced birth satisfaction. Three studies found a link between a mismatch and the development of postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence was inconsistent for postnatal depression, and fear of childbirth. Only one study looked at physical outcomes in the form of health-related quality of life. Conclusions A mismatch between birth expectations and experiences is associated with birth satisfaction and it may increase the risk of developing postnatal PTSD. However, it is not clear whether a mismatch is associated with other postnatal mental health conditions. Further prospective research is needed to examine gaps in knowledge and provide standardised methods of measuring childbirth expectations-experiences mismatch. To ensure women’s expectations are met, and therefore experience a satisfying birth experience, maternity providers should provide sensitive care, which acknowledges women’s needs and preferences, is based on open and clear communication, is delivered as early in pregnancy as possible, and enables women to make their own decisions about care. Trial registration Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42020191081 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03898-zBirth expectationsBirth experiencesBirth plansMismatchPsychological outcomesBirth satisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Webb Susan Ayers Annick Bogaerts Ljiljana Jeličić Paulina Pawlicka Sarah Van Haeken Nazihah Uddin Rita Borg Xuereb Natalija Kolesnikova COST action CA18211:DEVoTION team When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Birth expectations Birth experiences Birth plans Mismatch Psychological outcomes Birth satisfaction |
| title | When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| title_full | When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| title_fullStr | When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| title_short | When birth is not as expected: a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| title_sort | when birth is not as expected a systematic review of the impact of a mismatch between expectations and experiences |
| topic | Birth expectations Birth experiences Birth plans Mismatch Psychological outcomes Birth satisfaction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03898-z |
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