FREE ESSAY ON FEARS ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

FEARS ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

 Melender, H. S. Lauri, S. (1999). Fears associated with pregnancy and
childbirth-Experiences of women who have recently given birth Midwifery, 15(3), 178-183.
This descriptive study was undertaken to describe fears associated with pregnancy and
childbirth. Also to see whether women who have recently given birth feel that their fears
were justified. A convenience sample of 20 women, 10 primipare and 10 multiparae were
interviewed in the maternity units of two university hospitals in Finland. A qualitative
study was used, and data were collected by semi-structured interviews held 2 or 3 days
after childbirth. Data
interpretation was based on the method of content analysis.
The authors found that the most common fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth
were
concerns with the baby's well-being, the course of pregnancy, and childbirth. The fears
found expression in different kinds of behaviors, emotions and physical sensations. Many
of the participants felt that their fears had not been justified, but some maintained
that their fears had been justifiable. The authors conclude that there was much
inter-individual variation in the fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The
findings further verify the importance that diagnosis during pregnancy is undertaken
sensitively and that the care-giver remember that pregnant women may have very serious
fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Critique:
This study is timely, and in general, well done. The sample size was small, therefore,
generalizations to an entire population cannot be made. The authors have done an adequate
job of explaining their findings in understandable terms and document their rationale
with a concise literature review. They give an appropriate rational for the convenience
sampling of the Finnish women. The discussion is clearly written. The conclusions the
authors draw are consistent with
the data presented, and they conclude with a well defined point that it may not be
essential to try to protect women against these fears, but to give every pregnant women
the opportunity to deal with her own fears and to obtain the help she needs in her
situation.
Bibliography
Melender, H. S. Lauri, S. (1999). Fears associated with pregnancy and
childbirth-Experiences of women who have recently given birth Midwifery, 15(3), 178-183.