The PATCh Experiences Study - Positive and Traumatic Childbirth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The childbirth experience: a mixed method study of predictors, experiences and outcomes
IRAS ID
200536
Contact name
Giliane Fenech
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 6 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to explore how pre-birth factors can influence women’s experience of childbirth and to explore the effects of birth experiences on maternal and family functioning after the birth. This more thorough understanding of childbirth experiences will enable health professionals who provide maternity care to shape services around women's needs and to enable more positive outcomes.
At Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, at least 125 women who are having their first baby, speak English, are over 18 years and expecting a healthy baby will be invited to participate. Women will be invited to provide anonymised demographic data after signing an informed consent form. The study has three distinct phases spanning over 12 months.
Phase 1: At 34 weeks pregnancy women will be invited to complete questionnaires to determine any influencing factors which may affect how they experience and interpret their childbirth. This will allow the researcher to determine how different psychosocial pre-birth factors may influence women’s subjective perspective of their birth experience and which factors help predict the type of experience they may have.
Phase 2: At 6 and 12 weeks following the birth, women who have had a healthy baby will be invited to complete another set of questionnaires to obtain an understanding of how they experienced the birth and to assess how the birth is affecting their mental well-being and family functioning in the postpartum period. Birth outcome data will also be recorded to determine if this may influence the birth experience.
Phase 3: At 12 weeks following the birth, 21 women who have previously consented to participate in an in-depth interview and have experienced a positive, traumatic or neutral birth, will be invited to discuss in detail how they experienced the birth and how it may have influenced their life.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0700
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion