The effect of mindfulness-based counseling on the childbirth experience of primiparous women: a randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: Unpleasant childbirth experience is considered as one of the important factors for cesarean preference. Limited studies have been investigated the impact of psycho-based interventions on the childbirth experience and the most effective counseling approach to promote a pleasant childbirth experience has not been clearly identified. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of mindfulness-based counseling on the childbirth experience of primiparous women. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 primiparous with gestational age of 32 to 34 weeks referred to the perinatology clinic of Al-Zahra and Taleghani educational-treatment hospital, affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical sciences, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight mindfulness-based counseling sessions. The intensity of childbirth pain with VAS (Visual Analog Scale) in the active phase of labor at 8 cm dilatation and the childbirth experience questionnaire were completed by interview after childbirth. Independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to compare the outcomes between the two groups. RESULTS: After controlling the effect of confounding variables, the mean score of childbirth experience in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in control group [Mean Difference (MD): 1.79, 95% CI: 2.52 to 1.07, P < 0.01]. The mean score of labor pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group after controlling the effect of baseline score and confounding variables [MD: -2.21, 95% CL: -3.35 to -1.10, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that providing mindfulness-based counseling improves the childbirth experience and reduces labor pain during childbirth. However, further randomized clinical trials are needed before making a definitive conclusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20171007036615N9. Date of registration: 16/03/2022, 25/12/1400.