This presentation gives an overview of the findings from the author's PhD project, which aimed to explore the impact of an antenatal relaxation class on maternal psychological wellbeing and childbirth

Forbes-McKay, Katrina

Hollins-Martin, Caroline

Humphrey, Tracy

McVicar, Sonya

Tabib, Mo

English

Open Access Institutional Repository at Robert Gordon University

TABIB, M., HUMPHREY, T., FORBES-MCKAY, K., HOLLINS-MARTIN, C. and MCVICAR, S. 2022. A different way of being. Presented at the 2022 Scotland maternity and midwifery festival, 29 November 2022, Edinburgh, UK.     The Creative Commons licence applied to this file covers only the authors’ own text and images. Any third-party materials present in these slides remain under their original terms of use. This document was downloaded from https://openair.rgu.ac.uk A different way of being. TABIB, M., HUMPHREY, T., FORBES-MCKAY, K., HOLLINS-MARTIN, C. and MCVICAR, S. 2022 A different Way of BeingResearch student: Mo TabibSupervisory Team: Professor Tracy Humphrey, Dr Katrina Forbes McKay, Professor Caroline Hollins-Martin & Dr Sonya McVicarWith special thanks to Iolanthe Midwifery TrustAn experienceDid you feel slightly more relaxed?Let’s talk about physiology …Have you heard about the Fight-Flight (Stress) Response?Have you heard about the “Relaxation Response”?Relaxation ResponseThe biological opposite of the Stress Response(Benson 1975; 2011)A health generating stateA salutogenic Question Can this “understanding of physiology” along with the “skills” to frequently evoke the Relaxation Response influence our psychological wellbeing and experiences of life?Research AimExplore the influence of a single Antenatal Relaxation Class (ARC) on maternal psychological wellbeing and childbirth experiencesARCContentØPsychophysiological processesØA range of relaxation techniquesØPositive birth storiesØHandouts & audios for home practiceØA single 3-hour NHS classØFacilitated by midwivesØFree of chargeResearch objectives1. Understand what emotions or aspects of childbirth experience can be influenced by ARC.2. Test the generalisability of any influence of ARC in a larger sampleMethodsQualitativeInterviews  with 26 expectant parentsPhase 1QuantitativeSurveys collected from 91 womenPhase 2Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods DesignPhase 1 ResultsPhase 1 ResultsØThree were multiparous, and the rest were primiparous.Ø Aged between 26 and 41 years (Mean age 31.9). ØFrom a range of ethnic groups with 11 being white British. ØSixty percent were educated to degree level or above. Phase 1: Sample Characteristics17 women - 9 birth partnersTheme 1: ARC; the turning pointPregnancyBeyond BirthChildbirthTheme 2: Inner resourceIt was that switch in mindset, (I realised) I was born to do this (childbirth), yeah, more confident, as opposed to seeing it like something to be feared. (Louise)During my pregnancy because I was so anxious, it did make a big difference, probably within a week my panic attacks decreased from seven a week to one a week. (Rosie)While the surgeons were trying to patch me up, I knew the calmer I can stay, the better I will be, the theory side of it. That was a split second in my head.  My husband and I went on honeymoon to … so kind of remembering all of that, that relaxing by the plunge pool …. That was what I pictured to keep myself calm. (Neave)Phase 2 ResultsØ Online surveys Ø At pre-class, 2 wks post-class & 4-8 wks post-birthØ To test the generalisability of Phase 1 findingsPhase 2: Sample characteristics91 WomenMultiparousAge: 21-41 (M = 31.00, SD = 3.6) ParityPrimiparousEthnicity EducationEmploymentMarital statusResultsMental health (WEMWBS)Fear of childbirth (W-DEQ)State Anxiety (STAI)Trait Anxiety (STAI)ResultsChildbirth self-efficacy expectancy (CBSEI)Intended/actual use of epidural-for labourResultsØTime spent at home during labour = 7.5 hours (Mean)ØSixty four percent were admitted to hospital in established labour, with 11% being in 2nd stageResultsØ Relaxation techniques were used in pregnancy (by 95.2%) and during childbirth (by 94%)Ø Influence of ARC was perceived as positive on pregnancy (by 97.6%) and childbirth (by 84.5%)ØOverall childbirth experience was perceived as positive by-majority (74%) despite 2/3rd not meeting their expectationsConclusionIncluding antenatal education on physiological processes & relaxation techniquescan positively influence maternal psychological wellbeing and childbirth experiencesNEXT STEPs …Thank you for listeningAny Questions?Benson, H., & Klipper, M. Z. (1975). The relaxation response. Morrow New York.Benson, H., & Proctor, W. (2011). Relaxation revolution: The science and genetics of mind body healing. Simon and Schuster.Bandura, A. (2010). Self-efficacy. The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Doi, 10(9780470479216), 1-3.Bandura, A. (2012). On the functional properties of perceived self-efficacy revisited. Journal of Management, 38(1), 9-44.Lowe, N. K. (2000). Self-efficacy for labor and childbirth fears in nulliparous pregnant women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 21(4), 219-224.Mittelmark, M. B., Bauer, G. F., Vaandrager, L., Pelikan, J. M., Sagy, S., Eriksson, M., Lindström, B., & Meier Magistretti, C. (2022). The handbook of salutogenesis.References

A different way of being.

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A different way of being.

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