Motivation to Take Childbirth Education: Implications for Studies of Effectiveness

Studies on the effectiveness of childbirth preparation classes which use outcome measures such as the duration of labor and the amount of analgesic and anesthetic have often produced negative results. This may be due to failure to take into account different motives women have for participating in classes. These motives may influence the frequency of practice of the childbirth exercises, and willingness of women to accept obstetrical medication. In this study 77 primiparas were asked why they planned to attend Lamaze classes. Results suggest that a majority of women take Lamaze classes for reasons other than reducing medication during childbirth, and that physicians and nurses have little influence over women's decision to take the classes.