32 - 42 Childbirth and postpartum.indd 32 Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli1 Zubeyde Denizci Zirek2 Fatma Bakılan Abalı3 Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear in Pregnant Women and the Affecting Factors 1 Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey. nurayegelioglu@gmail.com 2 Izmir Katip Celebi University Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. zubeydedenizci@yahoo.com 3 Izmir Katip Celebi University Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. fatosabali@hotmail.com Recibido: 01 de octubre de 2014 Enviado a pares: 23 de noviembre de 2014 Aceptado por pares: 24 de noviembre de 2015 Aprobado: 02 de diciembre de 2015 DOI: 10.5294/aqui.2016.16.1.5 Para citar este artículo / To reference this article / Para citar este artigo Egelioğlu Cetişli N., Denizci Zirek Z. Y Bakılan Abalı F. Childbirth and postpartum period fear in pregnant women and the affecting factors. Aquichan. 2016;16(1):32-42. DOI: 10.5294/aqui.2016.16.1.5 AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 l 32-42 ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the anxiety pregnant women feel about childbirth and the postpartum period and to determine the affecting factors. Methods: A descriptive design was used in the study, which was conducted with pregnant women at two obstetric polyclinics of a university hospital in Turkey from January 2014 to July 2014. The population consisted of 143 pregnant women. The data were collected using an individual identification form and the Fear Childbirth and Postpartum Anxiety Scale. The percentage, Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Independent Sample t tests were used to evaluate the differences between the variables. Results: The results of the study reveal that pregnant women are quite fearful of childbirth and the postpartum period. Conclusions: It is neces- sary to decrease fear of childbirth, because of its negative effects. KEYWORDS Pregnancy; labor; postpartum period; nursing care (Source: DeCS, BIREME). 33 Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear in Pregnant Women and the Affecting Factors l Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli and others AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 l 32-42 El miedo del parto y puerperio en mujeres embarazadas y los factores que lo afectan RESUMEN Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la ansiedad de las mujeres embarazadas en relación con el parto y el puerperio y determinar los factores que las afectan. Métodos: se utilizó un diseño descriptivo y el estudio se llevó a cabo con un grupo de mujeres embarazadas en dos policlínicas obstétricas de un hospital universitario en Turquía desde enero de 2014 hasta julio de 2014. La población estuvo constituida por 143 mujeres embarazadas. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un formulario de identificación individual y la Escala de Miedo al Parto y el Puerperio. Las pruebas de porcentaje, Kruskall Wallis, U de Mann-Whitney y la prueba t para muestras independientes se utilizaron para evaluar las diferencias entre las variables. Resultados: los resultados del estudio revelaron que las mujeres embarazadas tienen un alto nivel de miedo con respecto al parto y el puerperio. Conclusiones: es necesario disminuir ese miedo debido a sus efectos negativos. PALABRAS CLAVE Embarazo; parto; puerperio; cuidados de enfermería (Fuente: DeCS, BIREME). 34 AQUICHAN - ISSN 1657-5997 AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 l 32-42 O medo do parto e do puerpério em gestantes e os fatores que as afetam RESUMEN Objetivo: o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ansiedade das gestantes quanto ao parto e ao puerpério e determinar os fatores que as afetam. Métodos: utilizou-se um desenho descritivo, e o estudo foi realizado com um grupo de gestantes em duas policlínicas obstétricas de um hospital universitário na Turquia, de janeiro a julho de 2014. A população esteve constituída por 143 gestantes. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um formulário de identificação individual e pela Escala de Medo do Parto e do Puerpério. Os testes de porcentagem, Kruskall Wallis, U de Mann-Whitney e o teste-t para amostras independentes, foram utilizados para avaliar as diferenças entre as variáveis. Resultados: os resultados do estudo revelaram que as gestantes têm um alto nível de medo do parto e do puerpério. Conclusões: é necessário diminuir esse medo devido a seus efeitos negativos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE Gestação; parto; puerpério; cuidados de enfermagem (Fonte: DeCS, BIREME). 35 Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear in Pregnant Women and the Affecting Factors l Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli and others Introduction Pregnancy is an important transition period for women moving into motherhood. It also is a time when women might experien- ce a number of physiological and psychological changes. Today, childbirth is thought to be a frightening matter requiring medi- cal attention, rather than a normal condition (1, 2). The literature contains many studies on worries and anxiety about childbirth. The fears of women identified in these studies were pain, panic, sense of failure, losing control, injury to the child and the mother, emergency cesarean section, excessive bleeding, residual part of the placenta, and the development of complications during birth, such as hypertension, permanent damage to the child, episiotomy and death of mother or her child. The literature also shows that women fear damage to the perineum area, adverse effects on sexual life, the screams of the medical staff, failure at birth or insufficient support (1-21). As for the postpartum period, the fears of pregnant women were identified as being centered on infant care and the adverse effects it might have on their marriage and family life. During the third trimester in particular, as the birth time approaches, increasing anxiety can cause adverse effects and pain at birth, decreased pain tolerance, a longer birth pro- cess, more need for analgesics, a rise in arbitrary demand for caesarean sections, and an increase in the risk of psychological disorders during the postpartum period (22, 23). Birth anxiety can be seen in many pregnant women because of the violence in the process of birth. Therefore, the medical staff should be aware of the emotional changes and fears a woman can undergo during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Moreover, to reduce anxiety, they should be able to provide trai- ning and coaching on the process of pregnancy and birth. Nurses, who are at the center of the team of health professionals, should continually evaluate the process of normal and/or abnormal preg- nancy as it occurs during the birth process. According to the Roy Adaptation Model, nurses are able to identify and determine ap- propriate/inappropriate behavior during this natural stage of hu- man developmental from pregnancy to childbirth (15, 20, 27). The types of behavior to be identified are different in the development of a normal or abnormal process with respect to post conception, gestation, pregnancy complications, live birth and/or fetal death during the natural process of childbirth. Also, nurses are able to determine the stimulant factors causing positive behavior during changes in labor. To plan the nursing care process, to provide appropriate care services and to reduce the fears of pregnant women, it is important to identify the affecting factors and, thus, reduce complications at the time of birth (1, 7-12, 20, 25, 27, 28). This study was conducted to determine the anxiety pregnant wo- men experience during childbirth and the postpartum period, and to determine the factors affecting that fear. Materials and Methods Design This descriptive study was carried out at two obstetric po- lyclinics of a university hospital in Izmir, Turkey. The working hours of the obstetric polyclinics where the study was conducted were from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The number of working days was five per week. Participants and Setting The sample for this research consisted of 143 women bet- ween the ages of 18 and 45 who went to the university obstetric polyclinic for routine pregnancy check-ups during the period from January 2014 to July 2014. The pregnant women in this sample were in the 37th week of their pregnancy or more, had no risk factors or psychological problems, and each of them consented to take part in the study. Data Collection The data were collected by the researchers during a face-to- face interview with each pregnant woman before she was called in to see the doctor. The interview was conducted in a waiting room during a period of 15-20 minutes. The individual identification form and the Fear of Childbirth and Postpartum Anxiety Scale (FFCP) were used to gather the data. Measures The individual identification form was created by the resear- chers on the basis of relevant literature. The form consisted of 13 questions designed to collect data on the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics of the pregnant women. The Fear of Childbirth and Postpartum Anxiety Scale (FCPP), the reliability and validity of which was approved (Cronbach alpha=0.955) by Kitapçıoğlu et al., has 61 questions and 10 36 AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 AQUICHAN - ISSN 1657-5997 factors (Kitapçıoğlu et al., 2008). The FCPP is Likert-type and the scores are as follows: 1: Completely Disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Not Sure, 4: Agree, 5: Completely Agree. In the scale, all the scores obtained from each factor are standardized before being summed up and divided by the factor number. Then, the total score on the scale is calculated. The resulting scores are evaluated as Very Low: 0.00-2.00, Low: 2.01-4.00, Medium: 4.01-6, High: 6.01-8.00 and Very High: 8.01-10.00 (11). Analysis For this descriptive study, SPSS 16.00 Statistical Software was used in the calculations to determine the demographic and obstetric characteristics of the pregnant women. The results are statistically significant at the level of p<0.05. The Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Independent Sample t tests were used to evaluate the differences between the variables. Ethical Considerations The consent to conduct of this research was officially appro- ved. A signed written document was issued by the Ethics Commit- tee of the Izmir Katip Celebi University to perform the study. First, the pregnant women to be included in this study were informed about its purpose and methodology. Those who agreed to partici- pate were given a consent form to be signed. Since they approved their participation by signing the form, they were asked to answer the research questionnaire. Results The demographic characteristics of the pregnant women are shown in Table 1. The average mean age of the participants was 27.02±5.02. In all, 45.4% were primary school graduates, 87.4% were housewives, 67.1% had an income equal to their expenses, and 83.4% had a nuclear family structure (Table 1). Moreover, 35.0% of the pregnant women in the sample were in their 37th week of pregnancy and 39.1% reported this was their second pregnancy; 71.3% were planning a vaginal birth, and 46.2% had a vaginal birth with their previous pregnancy. Finally, 72.0% repor- ted this pregnancy as being planned and 58.7% received antenatal training for the birth and the postpartum period (Table 2). The average total score on the FCPP for the pregnant women was 6.17±1.56. The highest average subscale score for anxie- Variable Number (n) Percentage (%) Age Average 27.02±5.02 Education Primary 65 45.4 Secondary 29 20.3 High School 39 27.3 University 10 7.0 Working Working 18 12.6 Non-working 125 87.4 Income Level Income is less than expense 47 32.9 Income is equal to expense 96 67.1 Family Nuclear family 120 83.9 Large Family 23 16.1 Total 143 100 Table 1. Demographic characteristics of pregnant. ty concerned the medical staff’s behavior, at 6.93±2.10. Anxiety about a cesarean section comes next, with a score of 6.90±2.40. The average subscale score for anxiety over breast feeding was 6.76±2.32, while worries about the prenatal period had almost an equal score (6.75±2.35). Other average subscale scores for anxiety, in descending order, were about labor (6.55±1.91), health of the mother and baby after childbirth (6.34±2.00), the baby (5.83±2.24), social life after childbirth (5.37±2.32), in- sufficient postnatal infant care (5.14±2.10) and, finally, lack of support from the husband (5.14±2.04). As for the total score ave- rages, what the pregnant women feared the most was poor beha- vior by medical staff at the birth, followed by the risk of cesarean section, breastfeeding, the prenatal period, labor and postnatal infant care (Table 3). When the authors checked the relationship between the ave- rage scores on the anxiety scale and the demographic and obs- tetric characteristics, a statistically significant difference was identified with respect to level of education, week of pregnancy, number of pregnancies, preferred mode of childbirth, previous 37 Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear in Pregnant Women and the Affecting Factors l Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli and others Table 2. Obstetric characteristics of pregnant. Variables Number (n) Percentage (%) Week of the pregnant 37th week 50 35.0 38th week 37 25.9 39th week 42 29.4 40th week and older 14 9.7 Pregnancy 1st 43 30.1 2nd 56 39.1 3rd 28 19.6 4th and more 16 11.2 Birth type preference Vaginal birth 102 71.3 Caesarean section 41 28.7 Previous birth type Vaginal birth 66 46.2 Caesarean section 34 23.7 None 43 30.1 Is it a planned pregnancy? Yes 103 72.0 No 40 28.0 Have a training for the childbirth and postpartum period? Yes 59 41.3 No 84 58.7 Total 143 100 mode of childbirth, and training for the antenatal and postpartum period. The lowest anxiety scores were for the participants who were university graduates, had four or more pregnancies, pre- ferred vaginal birth, underwent a vaginal birth in their previous pregnancy, and had training for the antenatal and postpartum period (Table 4). Table 3. Fear score average of pregnant for the childbirth and postpartum period X± Ss Min-Max Total score of scale 6.17±1.56 0-10 Factor 1 (Worries about the baby) 5.83±2.24 0-10 Factor 2 (Worries about the birth activity) 6.55±1.91 0-10 Factor 3 (Worries about the breast feeding after the childbirth) 6.76±2.32 0-10 Factor 4 (Worries to fail down on baby care after the childbirth) 5.14±2.10 0-10 Factor 5 (Worries about the social life after childbirth) 5.37±2.32 0-10 Factor 6 (Worries about health of the baby and mother after the childbirth) 6.34±2.00 0-10 Factor 7 (Worries about non- supporting husband) 5.14±2.04 0-10 Factor 8 (Worries before the prenatal period) 6.75±2.35 0-10 Factor 9 (Worries about the behavior of the medical staff at childbirth) 6.93±2.10 0-10 Factor 10 (Worries about the caesarean section risk) 6.90±2.40 0-10 Discussion In many cultures, pregnancy is acknowledged as a natural and normal occurrence. Anxiety about birth is seen frequently and cau- ses several severe problems during childbirth (1-8, 12-15, 21). In this study, it was determined that pregnant women have a high level of anxiety about childbirth and the postpartum period, and worry about the negative behavior of the medical staff during la- bor. Furthermore, pregnant women fear the risk of a caesarean section, the prenatal period and labor. The study also showed pregnant women fear they will fail at breast feeding and postna- tal infant care. Melender (2001) conducted a study to determine 38 AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 AQUICHAN - ISSN 1657-5997 Demographic and Obstetric Characteristics Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 Factor 6 Factor 7 Factor 8 Factor 9 Factor 10 Total Score Education level Primary Secondary High School University P 5.76±2.12 6.20±2.45 5.95±2.34 4.76±1.79 0.38 6.59±1.91 6.85±1.75 6.32±2.08 6.32±1.82 0.67 7.26±2.01 7.68±1.25 5.54±2.69 5.60±2.94 0.00 5.36±1.95 5.35±2.00 4.83±2.35 4.25±2.22 0.11 5.64±2.227 5.55±2.10 4.64±2.38 6.00±2.62 0.09 6.75±1.71 6.69±1.84 5.62±2.30 5.40±2.08 0.01 5.42±1.89 5.40±1.85 4.73±2.46 4.12±1.14 0.03 6.98±2.34 7.49±1.76 6.10±2.57 5.73±2.35 0.04 7.23±2.09 7.55±1.75 6.38±2.21 5.35±1.63 0.00 7.24±2.20 7.34±2.02 6.58±2.68 4.60±2.50 0.01 6.42±1.35 6.61±1.32 5.67±1.91 5.21±1.30 0.00 Pregnancy time 1st 2nd 3rd 4th and more p 6.12±2.50 5.85±2.26 5.38±2.15 5.82±1.44 0.76 7.32±1.68 6.34±1.93 6.45±2.06 5.41±1.47 0.00 7.76±1.64 6.57±2.34 6.07±2.70 5.95±2.39 0.01 6.30±2.15 4.76±2.00 4.40±2.03 4.60±1.01 0.00 5.58±2.37 5.15±2.41 5.73±2.21 5.00±2.04 0.49 6.86±1.85 6.12±2.03 6.28±1.97 5.81±2.18 0.13 5.87±2.25 4.82±2.00 4.84±1.67 4.80±1.83 0.04 7.93±2.02 6.67±2.02 5.95±2.79 5.29±2.11 0.00 7.03±2.33 7.09±1.96 7.00±1.91 6.00±2.22 0.34 7.32±2.19 7.19±2.27 6.32±2.72 5.75±2.51 0.08 6.81±1.58 6.06±1.47 5.84±1.53 5.44±1.43 0.00 Childbirth type preference Vaginal Caesarean section p 5.40±2.14 6.90±2.14 0.00 6.36±1.85 7.02±2.00 0.06 6.16±2.41 8.24±1.19 0.00 4.76±2.07 6.06±1.90 0.00 5.09±2.24 6.08±2.38 0.02 5.84±1.91 7.59±1.64 0.00 4.78±1.97 6.02±1.95 0.00 6.34±2.32 7.78±2.12 0.00 6.51±2.15 7.98±1.56 0.00 6.57±2.48 7.70±2.02 0.01 5.78±1.43 7.14±1.47 0.00 Previous childbirth type Vaginal Caesarean section P 5.29±2.05 6.51±2.01 0.00 5.97±1.89 6.59±2.04 0.13 5.46±2.41 7.91±1.65 0.00 4.21±1.83 5.40±1.76 0.00 4.95±2.26 6.02±2.26 0.02 5.48±1.88 7.25±1.88 0.00 4.48±1.81 5.55±1.80 0.00 5.77±2.20 7.07±2.40 0.00 6.37±2.08 7.79±1.62 0.00 6.50±2.60 7.05±2.22 0.29 5.45±1.30 6.72±1.51 0.00 Have a training for the childbirth and postpartum period Yes No P 5.07±2.19 6.37±2.12 0.00 5.96±2.13 6.97±1.63 0.00 5.82±2.77 7.42±1.67 0.00 4.67±2.16 5.46±2.01 0.02 5.37±2.37 5.38±2.29 0.98 5.91±2.14 6.63±1.84 0.03 4.65±1.97 5.48±2.03 0.01 5.85±2.48 7.39±2.04 0.00 6.46±2.13 7.26±2.03 0.02 6.37±2.75 7.27±2.06 0.02 5.61±1.59 6.56±1.43 0.00 Table 4. Fear score average of pregnant for the childbirth and postpartum period according to their demographic and obstetric characteristics the fear factors during pregnancy and at birth, their causes and formations. In that study, the results showed the fear factors concerned the health of the infant and the mother, the behavior of the medical staff, caesarean section, and the family after labor (13). Sercekus and Okumus (2009) conducted a study on nulliparous pregnant women and reported that labor and poor behavior on the part of the staff cause birth fear (20). A medical staff member who is well-informed and supportive of the birth process during the intrapartum period is very important to inspiring confidence and support for the pregnant woman and the family, and also can be highly effective in providing basic information (1-5, 7-10). Sjö- grenet et al. (1997) reported that pregnant women who were sup- ported by the medical staff at the clinic felt more self-sufficient, their satisfaction ratio increased, and they had less fear of child- birth (22). Nurses, who spend the most time with pregnant women in the intrapartum unit, should be aware of the stress diagnosis for women in birth activity; they also should be conscious of their physical and psychological needs, and help them to manage labor and to ensure the birth concludes with a healthy mother and baby. In this study, the fear factors in the prenatal period and during childbirth were identified as focused on being unable to go to the hospital in time, being alone when labor pains begin, early loss of amniotic fluid, loss of control during labor, prolonged labor, and loss or damage to the baby. Fear causes severe problems and also results in an increased demand for caesarean sections. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2015) says the ratio of caesarean sections should be less than 15% (26). Unfortunately, the caesarean ratio in Turkey is higher than WHO’s recommendation. According to the Turkey De- 39 Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear in Pregnant Women and the Affecting Factors l Nuray Egelioğlu Cetişli and others mographic and Health Survey (2013), the caesarean ratio in Tur- key was 48% (24). The opinion of women regarding a caesarean section and a vaginal birth differs among the different cultures (1-8, 12-15). Studies conducted on the opinions of women report the following as the reasons why women prefer vaginal delivery: birth is regarded as a normal condition, the feeling of being in con- trol of oneself, the experience of vaginal birth, shorter recovery time and earlier discharge from the hospital, lower complication ratios, fear of anesthesia and surgery, the sense of being safer for the mother, improved affection for the infant, less pain in the postpartum period, “better for health”, being able to breastfeed directly, considered trustworthy, “normal birth is best,” and the husband’s support for normal birth (13-16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28). The researchers reported a higher ratio of maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture and infection. They also indicated that urinary area and placenta previa damage in the next pregnancy, still birth, spontaneous abortion and the risk of ectopic pregnancy was higher (17, 25, 27, 28). In this study, it was found that women who prefer vaginal bir- th and who experienced a vaginal birth in their previous pregnan- cy had less fear of birth and the postpartum period than women who preferred and experienced a caesarean section. The belief in Turkey is that labor experienced during childbirth enhances the emotions and the body is cleansed by bleeding at birth. There is also the feeling that it helps to recover from certain gynecological complaints (23, 27). Pregnant women reported that having a more active role in childbirth and directly experiencing birth affects their feelings and increases bonding with the infant. It is a com- mon belief that experiencing more pain results in a rich feeling of motherhood (3, 23, 27). The results of this study showed the women were extremely anxious about infant care and breastfeeding after birth. For Tur- kish women, recovering quickly after giving birth and taking care of the infant as soon as possible are very important (19, 20, 23). This social point of view for the mother was considered, in this study, to be the reason for anxiety about inability in infant care and breast feeding during the postpartum period. Although there is some support from the family and help for the mother in terms of child care, it is important for women to look after and breast feed their infants themselves (18-20, 23). Haines et al. (2011) reported that women who are primipa- rous and have less education experience higher birth fear levels (8). Alehagen et al. (2006) conducted a study with 35 primipara and 39 multipara women, and compared birth fear between the two groups. They reported that primipara pregnant women have more fear compared to multipara pregnant women (2). The results in this study were consistent with the literature (4-6). Not having experience with birth, ambiguous feelings and lack of knowledge were thought to be the reason for the high level of fear among primipara pregnant women. The study also showed the pregnant women who had no training for childbirth and the postpartum period experienced more birth fears com- pared to the pregnant women who had training. This result is consistent with other studies found in the literature. For exam- ple, Cosar and Demirci (2012) conducted a study to analyze the effect of birth preparatory training on the perception of birth and adaptation to it. The women in the group who received training experienced less fear of birth (3). Haines et al. (2011) reported that training and care given in the antenatal period is an impor- tant factor in fear of birth and was shown to decrease the level of birth fear (8). Finally, the results of this study were analyzed with respect to the Adaptation Model. The analysis showed that inappropriate behavior in adaptation area four causes birth fear (Figure 1) (19, 20). Identifying pregnant woman’s fears and expectations about childbirth is very important for nurses, if they are to provide effec- tive nursing care. Conclusion It was determined in this study that pregnant women have high levels of anxiety about childbirth and the postpartum pe- riod. The results showed the highest level of fear concerns the behavior of the medical staff. The other fear factors that were identified involve caesarean sections, antenatal labor, the birth itself, breast feeding and infant care after birth. The results also revealed that pregnant women who were primiparas, poorly edu- cated and had a caesarean section in a previous birth or prefer a caesarean section experienced a higher level fear. Recommendations for Practice The results of this study suggest that broadening prenatal trai- ning classes and conducting training to develop the nurse’s aware- ness will help to lower the level of fear and anxiety about childbirth 40 AÑO 16 - VOL. 16 Nº 1 - CHÍA, COLOMBIA - MARZO 2016 AQUICHAN - ISSN 1657-5997 and the postpartum period, and will contribute to healthy birth activity and effective preparation for birth, in conjunction with woman’s partner. It also will help to raise the couple’s aware- ness about birth. Conflict of Interest The authors stated no potential conflicts of interest with res- pect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Figure.1 Results of the study regarding the Roy’s Adaptation Model Contextual Stimuli Information on birth, previous birth type, birth preference, gestastional age, number of gestastion Focal Stimuli Birth Residual Stimuli Believes about birth Coping Mechanism Physiologic Mode Inability in baby care, inability in lactation, unfulfill the self needs at postpartum Role Function Mode Inability in motherhood role Self Concept Mode Childbirth fear Interdependence Mode Insufficient support of partner at childbirth and postpartum period References 1. Adams SS, Eberhard-Gran M, Eskild A. Fear of childbirth and duration of labour: A study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2012; 119: 1238–1246. 2. Alehagen S, Wijma B, Wijma K. Fear of childbirth before, during, and after childbirth. Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica.2006;85(1):56–62. 3. Coşar F, Demirci N. 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