Predictors of women's perceptions of the childbirth experience.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the factors that predict women's perceptions of the childbirth experience and to examine whether these vary with the type of birth a woman experiences.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The postpartum units of two eastern Canadian hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred fifty two women and their newborns.

DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected in hospital at 12 to 48 hours postpartum using self-report questionnaires and chart review.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Perception of the childbirth experience was measured for women having a vaginal and emergency cesarean birth using the Questionnaire Measuring Attitudes About Labor and Delivery and planned cesarean birth using the Modified Questionnaire Measuring Attitudes About Labor and Delivery.

RESULTS

Of the 20 predictors of women's childbirth perceptions, the strongest were type of birth; degree of awareness, relaxation, and control; helpfulness of partner support; and being together with the infant following birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the predictors of a quality birth experience, most were amenable to nursing interventions: enhancement of patient awareness, relaxation, and control; promotion of partner support; and provision of immediate opportunities for women to be with their babies.