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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Can we identify women who will need additional support in the early (latent) phase of labour?
1
Bournemouth University, Centre for Midwifery and Women's Health, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
2
Dorchester County Hospital, Maternity Unit, Dorchester, United Kingdom
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A542
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The early (latent) phase of labour can be difficult for women. For some women high levels of fear and negative thoughts about pain (pain catastrophising) can undermine their ability to cope in labour. If we could identify these women, then support could be provided to increase confidence and self-efficacy in early labour.
OBJECTIVES:
The study was designed to identify the prevalence of pain catastrophising and whether it impacts on early labour admission.
METHODS:
A pragmatic, quasi-experimental study. Primigravid women, experiencing an uncomplicated pregnancy in England, were recruited between 25-33 weeks gestation. Participants completed two online questionnaires, (1) on recruitment, (2) at 3 weeks postnatal. The antenatal questionnaire includes the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ-A). Prevalence data, socio-demographics, and latent labour experiences were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to test independence between relevant categorised variables.
RESULTS:
28.1% of women had pain catastrophising (PCS ≥20), while 7.6% had a high pain catastrophising score (PCS ≥30). 10.6% of women reported fear of childbirth (FOC score of ≥85). Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for women who pain catastrophise to present to hospital for admission during early labour. Fear of childbirth (score ≥85) was highly associated (p<.001) with PCS at both the lower (≥20) and higher (≥30) thresholds.
CONCLUSIONS:
The PCS can be used as a screening tool to identify those women who have heightened fear around pain and who may also go on to develop clinically relevant fear of childbirth. Further studies are needed to confirm the acceptability of the PCS as a screening tool with women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Women were already demonstrating fear of childbirth and fear of pain at 25-33 weeks gestation. The PCS could be used to predict which women might benefit from strategies to build confidence in self-managing pain in early labour. Poster session 1 (Group A)
The early (latent) phase of labour can be difficult for women. For some women high levels of fear and negative thoughts about pain (pain catastrophising) can undermine their ability to cope in labour. If we could identify these women, then support could be provided to increase confidence and self-efficacy in early labour.
OBJECTIVES:
The study was designed to identify the prevalence of pain catastrophising and whether it impacts on early labour admission.
METHODS:
A pragmatic, quasi-experimental study. Primigravid women, experiencing an uncomplicated pregnancy in England, were recruited between 25-33 weeks gestation. Participants completed two online questionnaires, (1) on recruitment, (2) at 3 weeks postnatal. The antenatal questionnaire includes the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ-A). Prevalence data, socio-demographics, and latent labour experiences were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to test independence between relevant categorised variables.
RESULTS:
28.1% of women had pain catastrophising (PCS ≥20), while 7.6% had a high pain catastrophising score (PCS ≥30). 10.6% of women reported fear of childbirth (FOC score of ≥85). Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for women who pain catastrophise to present to hospital for admission during early labour. Fear of childbirth (score ≥85) was highly associated (p<.001) with PCS at both the lower (≥20) and higher (≥30) thresholds.
CONCLUSIONS:
The PCS can be used as a screening tool to identify those women who have heightened fear around pain and who may also go on to develop clinically relevant fear of childbirth. Further studies are needed to confirm the acceptability of the PCS as a screening tool with women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Women were already demonstrating fear of childbirth and fear of pain at 25-33 weeks gestation. The PCS could be used to predict which women might benefit from strategies to build confidence in self-managing pain in early labour. Poster session 1 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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