Can Pregnancy Experience Predict Birth Experience, Postpartum Depression and Anxiety? A Prospective Descriptive Study.
Monireh Moniri, Mojgan Mirghafourvand, Shahla Meedya and 1 others
PMID 39642152WHAT IT FOUND
Pregnant women reporting more hassles had higher postpartum depression and anxiety scores.
Pregnancy hassles were not significantly associated with birth experience after adjustment. A more positive birth experience was linked to lower postpartum depression and anxiety.
Key findings
01Women who reported more pregnancy hassles had higher postpartum depression scores (r = 0.38; p < 0.001; adjusted beta = 0.01, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.02; p < 0.001) and higher postpartum anxiety scores (r = 0.25; p < 0.001; adjusted beta = 0.22, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.35; p = 0.001).
02After adjustment, pregnancy uplifts and hassles were not significantly associated with childbirth experience.
03Childbirth experience was negatively associated with postpartum depression (r = -0.30; p < 0.001) and postpartum anxiety (r = -0.18; p = 0.007).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted only among pregnant women in urban health centres in Tabriz, Iran, so it may not apply to rural areas, other regions, or other countries. Women with a history of depression or postpartum depression, antidepressant use, other mental health disorders, fetal abnormality, divorce during pregnancy, a recent stressful life event, multiple pregnancy, or more than three previous births were excluded, so the results do not apply to these higher-risk groups. Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic's effect on pregnancy experience or outcomes was not measured. Questionnaires were completed face-to-face, by phone, or online, and the effect of collection method on responses was not analysed. Prenatal visits and birth preparation classes were not assessed. The study was observational, so it shows associations rather than cause.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences funded the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that reducing pregnancy hassles will prevent postpartum depression or anxiety. This study measured self-reported associations in a prospective descriptive sample; it did not randomise or test any treatment. Also, pregnancy hassles were not significantly associated with childbirth experience after adjustment.