Effect of Childbirth Preparation Model on Childbirth Experience for Primipara and Their Supporters

This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of childbirth preparation model on childbirth experience for primipara and their supporters. The samples, 37 pregnant women and their supporters, were recruited by purposive sampling from an antenatal clinic in the tertiary care hospital, Southern Thailand. The participants in treatment group (18 pairs) were received the childbirth preparation model, such as briefly anatomy and mechanism of labor, sign and symptoms of childbirth, physical exercises and relaxed practices, caring for birth assist and risk of operative obstetrics, and visiting the labor room. The supporters were received the same knowledge as pregnant women and were learnt about their roles during the first stage of labor and the recovery stage as well. The participants in control group were received the standard care of antenatal clinic and labor room. The data were collected after child delivery giving birth within 48 hours, using primipara’s experience and supporters’ experience of childbirth questionnaires. Both questionnaires were tested the reliability, with the tests range of 0.74 - 0.84. Mean primipara’s experience and supporters’ experience of childbirth scores in treatment group were higher than the control group’s (p < 0.05). These indicated pregnant women and their supporters who were prepared for childbirth were more likely to have positive experience about childbirth. The findings from this study suggest that the childbirth preparation model should be used for promoting childbirth experience of primipara and their supporters.