Mindful awareness as a mechanism of change for natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth: a randomised controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the pathway through which Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) increases natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC).
Results Summary
The study found that increased mindful awareness was the strongest mechanism for better adaptation to childbirth challenges, leading to more natural childbirths. Neither reductions in FOC nor catastrophic beliefs about labor pain were significant mechanisms of change. More meditation practice was associated with a greater inclination toward natural childbirth.
Population
Pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | increase | natural childbirth | pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC) | - | effective in increasing | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | increase | mindful awareness | pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC) | 18% R | greater | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | increase | mindful awareness | - | - | increase in | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | no change | FOC | - | - | Decreases in neither | #4 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | no change | catastrophic beliefs about labour pain | - | - | Decreases in neither | #5 |
the more one meditated | increase | natural childbirth | - | - | the more one was inclined towards | #6 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | increase | adaptation to the challenges of childbirth | in the presence of high FOC | - | enhances | #7 |
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) | decrease | obstetric interventions | in the presence of high FOC | - | less use of | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) is effective in increasing natural childbirth in pregnant women with high fear of childbirth (FOC) as compared to enhanced care as usual (ECAU). We aimed to examine through which pathway of action MBCP reaches this effect, based on a model of approaching or avoiding the challenges related to childbirth. METHODS: One hundred eleven pregnant women with high FOC were measured pre- and post-intervention on FOC (emotion pathway), catastrophic beliefs about labour pain (cognition pathway) and mindful awareness (attention pathway). A multiple mediation model was used to examine through which pathway the mechanism of change operated in relation to approach (i.e., natural childbirth) versus avoidance (i.e., self-requested caesarean section). RESULTS: It was found that greater mindful awareness (18% R CONCLUSIONS: An increase in mindful awareness was the strongest mechanism of change for better adaptation to the challenges of childbirth. Decreases in neither FOC nor catastrophic beliefs about labour pain were identified as mechanisms of change. Additionally, the more one meditated, the more one was inclined towards a natural childbirth. MBCP enhances adaptation to the challenges of childbirth and less use of obstetric interventions in the presence of high FOC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR; 4302 ).