The effect of mindfulness-based counseling on the childbirth experience and support and control of primiparous women:A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The unpleasant experience of childbirth is one of the important factors in cesarean delivery among women, which is associated with many complications for women. Diagnosis is the right intervention to make childbirth pleasant and create a better experience of childbirth. The present study was designed and implemented with the aim of determining the impact of mindfulness-based intervention on women's experience and understanding of support and control in childbirth. Methods and Materials: 64 primiparous mothers, referred to the specialized perinatology clinic of Al-Zahra and Taleghani Hospitals in Tabriz, who met the inclusion criteria and had the desire to give birth in Taleghani hospital,participated in this clinical trial were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups with 4 and 6 blocks with equal proportions, questionnaires of personal social characteristics were completed for the participantsThe intervention group received 8 online and non-attendance (telephone) counseling sessions, 2 sessions per week, during the last trimester of pregnancy, and it was recommended to use mindfulness techniques during childbirth Questionnaires of midwifery characteristics, pain (for the first time) and fear of delivery of Vijma A(Wijma Version A) were completed after hospitalization and at 6 cm dilatation of the cervix for all participants. The intensity of labor pain (for the second time) was investigated and recorded in the active phase of labor in dilatation of 8 cm. Finally, 24 hours after delivery and before discharge, the researcher asked the childbirth fear questionnaire using the Wijma Version B fear of childbirth questionnaire, childbirth experience (CEQ 2. 0=Childbirth Experiences Questionnaire version 2) and support and control (SCIB=Control and Support in birth completed for all mothers. Data analysis was done using SPSSver24 software. Data were analyzed with independent t-test and ANCOVA. Results findings: The average score of childbirth experience in the intervention group after controlling the effect of confounding variables was significantly higher than the control group (mean difference 1. 79 with 95% confidence interval and (2. 52 to 1. 07), (P<0. 01)). The average score of support and control during labor and delivery after controlling the effect of confounding variables in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group. (Mean difference 2. 29 with 95% confidence interval and (3. 39 to 1. 11), (P<0. 001)). The average labor pain score in the intervention group, after controlling the effect of the first stage pain measurement scores in 6 cm dilatation of the cervix and confounding variables, was significantly lower than the control group (mean difference -2. 21 with a 95% confidence interval and (-3. 35 to -1. 10) , (P<0. 001)), in addition, the mean score of fear of childbirth in the intervention group after controlling the effect of the Antepartum fear score was significantly lower than the control group (mean difference -18. 48 with a 95% confidence interval and (26. 69) - until 10/28-), (P>0. 001)). Conclusion: Providing mindfulness counseling can improve the experience of childbirth and reduce the pain and fear of childbirth and the feeling of more support and control by the mother during childbirth. Therefore, it is recommended that health policy makers plan to provide psychological counseling approaches related to pregnancy and childbirth in health centers for women.