Fear of Childbirth during Pregnancy and Birth Planning

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a period during which a woman experiences numerous hormonal, psychological, physiological, and social changes. Those changes may lead to increased anxiety, and in some cases, the development of mental health disorders. Childbirth anxiety, first described by Louis Victor Marcé, may significantly impact the daily life of pregnant women. The term "tokophobia" refers to an irrational fear of childbirth. That anxiety may increase the risk of perinatal complications and influence decisions regarding the mode of delivery, such as leading to a rise in the number of cesarean sections. Medical staff, especially midwives and obstetricians, play a crucial role in alleviating childbirth anxiety through prenatal education and emotional support.Methods The study was conducted among 208 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. It was a cross-sectional study carried out from January to April 2024 by means of an online survey. A high-risk pregnancy was the exclusion criterion. The survey included a survey questionnaire and the Childbirth Anxiety Questionnaire by Putyński and Paciorek, that is the Polish Adaptation of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire – Revised 2 and the the Mini-Cope Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress.Results Most of the women surveyed had a higher educational background, were married, and lived in large cities. For 62% of the women, it was their first pregnancy, and less than a half of the women who had previously given birth had done so naturally. Most women expressed a preference for vaginal delivery. Women who already had one child and those who had seen a psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist during pregnancy were more likely to opt for a cesarean section. Attending childbirth classes during the pregnancy did not affect the level of anxiety experienced by the women. Women who had not decided on the mode of delivery experienced higher levels of anxiety and worry as compared to those who chose vaginal delivery. Women with a history of mental health issues experienced greater anxiety during their pregnancy than those without such issues.Conclusions Medical personnel play a crucial role in reducing childbirth anxiety through education and emotional support. Early detection of high levels of childbirth anxiety by means of screening tests may help in reducing anxiety and its impact on both the mother and the child.