Background/Aims Fear of childbirth is associated with negative birth experiences and increased intervention rates. Strategies that enhance psychological safety and emotional resilience are integral to woman-centred maternity care. The use of positive affirmations is relatively new and under-researched in maternity care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of birth affirmation cards on women's confidence and fear. Methods This quantitative descriptive study gathered data via an anonymous online questionnaire from 161 self-selected women who received affirmation cards at an Irish maternity hospital. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data. Results Overall, 74.1% of participants reported experiencing antenatal fear or anxiety. All those who reported fear in pregnancy stated that the cards reduced fears and increased self-confidence. Cards were most helpful in late pregnancy (61.9%), and 20.6% found them most beneficial postnatally. Among those who used the cards during labour, 95.8% felt that they supported an active birth. Qualitative feedback reflected emotional reassurance and increased self-belief. Conclusions Positive birth affirmation cards may reduce fear and increase confidence throughout the perinatal period. As a scalable and woman-led intervention, they offer promise for integration into holistic, woman-centred maternity care. Implications for practice Positive birth affirmation cards may offer a simple, low-cost method to support women's confidence and reduce fear during the perinatal period.
Hoffmeister et al. (Sat,) studied this question.