Fear of childbirth: Improving identification in maternity services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the properties of the Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire and feasibility of routine implementation for maternity services (FOCUS 2)
IRAS ID
315121
Contact name
Kayleigh Sheen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 21 days
Research summary
One in seven pregnant women experience severe fear of childbirth (FOC), causing high day-to-day distress. Women with FOC are more likely to experience birth trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder after birth. Women with FOC may ask for a caesarean section, are more likely to give birth prematurely and need birth interventions. FOC can increase stress hormones, which can affect how the unborn baby develops. Pregnant women are asked about general feelings of anxiety and depression, but not fear of childbirth. FOC is not the same as general anxiety, and those with FOC are missed with the current questions. This project aims to provide an accurate way to identify women who experience fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy in routine maternity care.
In a previous project, we spoke to pregnant women and clinical staff about the parts of birth that are mainly feared. We looked with women at whether current questionnaires were clear and acceptable, and if they asked about each of the main fears. No questionnaire was both acceptable and asked about each main fear, and so the new Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire (FCQ) was developed.
We will recruit a large number of pregnant women online to complete the FCQ. We will also complete diagnostic interviews to identify whether (and at what point) scores on the FCQ suggest clinical levels of fear. Then, we will test a new way of asking women to complete the FCQ early in pregnancy during routine care and see how acceptable this is.
If we can identify women experiencing FOC early, we can improve early access to support. This could reduce the likelihood of birth outcomes we know that are more likely after a stressful pregnancy, such as premature birth. This can benefit women’s mental health and lower maternity service costs.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0015
Date of REC Opinion
14 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion