The Expecting Together research aims to answer the above-mentioned and other questions. In this interdisciplinary study, we investigate the expectations pregnant women have about childbirth and labour pain. In addition, we study the relation ship between these expectations and the experience of the actual birth experience. In doing so, we apply current knowledge about placebo and nocebo effects. Our goal? To better prepare pregnant women for chilbirth and make the experience as positive as possible.

Background

Recent research on placebo and nocebo effects shows that patients’ expectations can significantly influence the experience of healthcare. Positive and realistic expectations can decrease pain and improve overall health. Negative expectations, on the other hand, can stimulate anxiety and pain, while overly optimistic expectations can lead to dissappointment.

Childbirth is often accompanied by unrealistic expectations. This can have long term consequences for both mother and child: such as post-traumatic stress symptoms or a negative birth experience. Managing expectations, therefore, can have a positive impact on how childbirth is perceived. A crucial moment for managing expectations is the meeting in which the pregnant woman and her healthcare professional discuss options and wishes for the birth (shared decision-making).

Research goal and methods

The Expecting Together research aims to understand the expectations pregnant women have about childbirth and labour pain, how these expectations are reflected in their experiences and how we can opmitise them, for example, during meetings with their healthcare professional. In order to achieve this, we investigating the needs of not only pregnant women and new mothers but also healthcare professionals, such as midwives and gynaecologists. Our goal is to combine these different perspectives into insights into how we can prepare pregnant women best for childbirth. In our research we apply various methods, including, interviews, co creation sessoins, questionnaires and evaluations health care professional training programmes. During the entire process we work closely with pregnant women, their partners, healthcare professionals and academic experts from a wide range of disciplines.

Strategic Priorities

Open Science, Interdisciplinarity, Translationeel

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