The Relationship Between Pregnant Women's Birth Beliefs and Traumatic Birth Perception Levels, Birth Outcomes and Postpartum Depression

Abstract

Introduction: From the beginning of pregnancy, pregnant women think about their birth and the birth is shaped according to the birth belief of the person. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between the birth beliefs of pregnant women and birth outcomes, traumatic birth perception levels and postpartum depression. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a province in eastern Türkiye. The data was collected using the Personal Information Form, Birth Beliefs Scale, Traumatic Birth Perception Scale, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Results: While there was no significant difference between the medical birth beliefs of women according to their descriptive characteristics (p>0.5), those who were at 28-36 weeks of gestation, who did not have a curettage, and those who went to pregnancy control ≥4 times, considered the birth more natural (p<0.05). While there was a positive and significant relationship between Natural Process Belief and Postpartum Depression (r=0.116, p=0.009), the regression model (stepwise) was also found to be significant (F=6.944, p=0.009). Conclusion: The study determined a positive and significant relationship between natural birth belief and postpartum depression, and the regression model established between these two was significant.