FOCUS: Childbirth and Communication - Experiences and Interaction

Many women experience a strong fear of childbirth, often related to concerns about losing control, pain, or risks associated with pregnancy and delivery. This fear can cause significant distress during pregnancy and influence decisions about maternity care and childbirth. Previous research has primarily focused on how healthcare services can support pregnant women who are fearful of childbirth, but we know less about how expectant mothers and their partners communicate and, and how their communication may affect worry and wellbeing during pregnancy.

In this project, we study how first-time expectant couples communicate with each other. We focus particularly on two types of communication: validating (empathetic and affirming) and non-validating (dismissing or minimizing). Validation is a skill that can be learned and practiced, and if it turns out to play a role in childbirth-related worry or fear, the next step could be to explore whether supporting couples in using validation may help them cope more effectively together.