Factors associated with maternal childbirth experiences in Finland

Abstract Background Negative childbirth experiences burden the mother, her family and the whole society. Childbirth experiences are associated with mental wellbeing, early interaction and later childbearing. Most mothers who gave birth in the Capital area of Finland in 2012 - 2018 rated their experience as positive, but 10% of first-time mothers as negative. The aim of this study was to examine childbirth experiences in Finland at the national level. Methods FinChildren Survey data 2024 on first-time mothers (N = 3,624, response rate 45%) was used. Mothers who rated childbirth as a very positive experience (9 or 10 on Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) when the baby was 2-6 months old were compared to mothers with lower rating (1-8 on VAS), adjusting for confounders in logistic regression. The association between the childbirth experience and the intention to have more children was studied as well. Data will be adjusted for mode of delivery and induction of labour when register data are available. Results Almost half (46%) of first-time mothers assessed the childbirth a very positive experience when the baby was 2-6 months old. 48% of mothers who were well supported by the staff during labour compared to 7% of those who felt poorly supported (adjusted OR 12.73 (5.90-27.47)) and 49% of whom found prenatal classes beneficial compared to 33% of those who did not (OR 1.81 (1.52-2.15)) reported a very positive childbirth experience. In addition, younger age was an independent predictor for a very positive experience. The childbirth experience was associated with the desire to have more children: 73% of mothers with a very positive experience compared to 63% of other mothers (OR 1.51 (1.30-1.75)) wished to have more children. Conclusions Good support from the staff, well-planned prenatal classes and younger age were associated with first-time motherś positive childbirth experience. Mothers with a very positive experience were more often than other mothers willing to have more children. Key messages • Resourcing the birthing services well is essential to make labour as smooth experience as possible. • Enabling positive birth experiences might help in tackling declining birth rates in the society.