Exploring expectations vs reality in childbirth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Expectations vs reality: are women’s expectations of childbirth aligned to their experiences of childbirth at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust?
IRAS ID
275387
Contact name
Etienne Ciantar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 27 days
Research summary
Study title: Expectations vs reality: are women’s expectations of childbirth aligned to their experiences of childbirth at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT)?
Childbirth is a major life event. It has been shown that the nature of the childbirth experience has both short and long-term impacts on the woman and her family. Negative birth experience in previous studies has been associated with the woman losing a sense of control during labour which links to changes occurring to her birth plan or expectations. It is therefore important that women's expectations are realistically formulated to ensure that this does not detriment their experience. Healthcare professionals provide information during appointments and the optional birth plan facilitates discussions about different options. In addition to the information provided to women by healthcare professionals, previous studies report use of the internet, online forums, social media and friends and family as methods to inform women’s expectations about childbirth. It is unclear whether women’s expectations are subsequently met at the point of delivery, so therefore it is difficult to assess whether current practice is adequately supporting and informing women to formulate realistic expectations about their birth. We are aiming to assess whether women's birth expectations are aligned to their eventual experience.
We will address this aim by conducting up to 20 1:1 interviews with women over 18 years old following the delivery of their first baby at LTHT (Leeds General Infirmary and St James's University Hospital.) The interviews would take up 30 minutes of participants’ time and they will focus on how their expectations about childbirth were formulated. Additionally, there will be retrospective thinking to discuss whether their expectations were aligned to what actually happened during their birth. These interviews will be conducted between January and July 2020.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
20/ES/0022
Date of REC Opinion
20 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion