Mother’s mental preparedness for pregnancy : The affecting factors and its effect on birth outcomes
- Author:
Sharifah Sulaiha Syed Aznal
;
Chee Yoong Wong
;
Pamela Lee Ling Tan
;
Vee Vee See
;
Chui King Wong
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Affecting factors;
pregnancy;
mental preparedness;
factors;
birth outcome
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2014;8(3):19-27
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Increased maternal anxiety level has been
reported to have detrimental effects on the physical
outcome of pregnancies such as not achieving vaginal
births. This study thus aims to determine the level and
factors affecting mental preparedness among mothers
with normal pregnancies and its correlation with birth
outcomes.
Methods: Three hundred healthy mothers above 37
weeks of gestation in the early stage of labour were
assessed for their level of mental preparation before birth
process and outcomes after births which include general
feeling (euphoria), ability to withstand labour pain
and bonding with the new born. The successfulness of
vaginal birth and other data on factors affecting mental
preparation were also collected.
Results: The level of mental preparedness was found
good in 78% of the mothers, mainly determined by
their socioeconomic status, family support and personal
ability to adjust to changes. Age (p= 0.048), parity
(0.00) and income (0.01) were found to influence mental
preparedness significantly. Race, occupation, education
level and marital status are however not significantly
related. Poor mental preparedness is associated with
greater pain during labour. A correlation analysis also
found a positive relationship between the level of mental
preparation and mental outcomes following birth in
these mothers but it did not significantly influence the
mode of delivery.
Conclusion: Mental preparation before birth seems to
have an effect on mental outcomes of mothers following
birth process. It is vital that mothers of the younger age
group with no previous obstetric experience be given
more attention in preparing them mentally before they
face the painful birth process.
- Full text:P020150528321722022225.pdf
