The Role of Personality Traits and Delivery Experience in Fear of Childbirth: A Prospective Study.

This study aimed to examine fear of childbirth (FOC) before and after delivery in relation to personality (anxiety and anxiety sensitivity) and birth experience (type of delivery, pain, and staff support). One-hundred and five women completed questionnaires during pregnancy and one month after childbirth. Participants completed the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire; the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a Support from staff questionnaire. FOC levels decreased after childbirth, but only in the high-level fear group. Path analysis showed that physical concerns, one aspect of anxiety sensitivity, shape FOC during pregnancy. Together with interventions at delivery (instrumental vaginal delivery and emergency caesarean section), pain and low staff support, this in turn modifies FOC after delivery. In conclusion, FOC decreases after childbirth. However, combined with adverse birth experience and certain personality traits, FOC during pregnancy affects FOC after delivery.