Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour

Grylka, Susanne; Müller, Antonia Nathalie

Publication type:	Conference other
Type of review:	Peer review (abstract)
Title:	Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour
Authors:	Grylka, Susanne Müller, Antonia Nathalie
et. al:	No
Conference details:	1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : "Collaborate for high quality perinatal care", Zürich, 23 November 2021
Issue Date:	23-Nov-2021
Language:	English
Subjects:	Childbirth; Onset of labour; Latent phase; Early labour care
Subject (DDC):	618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	Introduction: Pregnant women experience onset of labour with various physical and emotional symptoms and cope with them differently. More knowledge about the symptoms of onset of labour is necessary to improve care at the beginning of birth. Methods: In preparation for the development of a standardised questionnaire we conducted an extensive scoping review and four focus group discussions to inform the decision whether primiparous women should be admitted or not to the hospital. We applied a sensitive literature search strategy including the search components ‘pregnant women/parturients’, ‘physical and/or emotional symptoms’, ‘care/support needs’ and ‘onset of labour’. Women who had given birth to their first child during the last six months could participate in the focus group discussions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Outcome: Preliminary results showed that regular and irregular contractions were the most frequent physical symptoms of onset of labour. Further physical signs such as watery, mucous and bloody discharges as well as gastro-intestinal discomfort and sleep alterations were observed. Emotional symptoms of onset of labour covered a wide spectrum from joy and happiness to worries and fears. Women in the focus group discussions described emotional changes from restlessness to joy once labour started, but also from worries to anxiety. Great uncertainty prevented women at the beginning of birth from staying at home. Conclusion: The various symptoms of onset of labour showed its individual character. The correct assessment of these signs, especially the emotional ones, is crucial to individualise care and meet women’s needs.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/23730
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health (IHG)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Entwicklung und Validierung eines Tools für die Beratung von Erstgebärenden in der Latenzphase (GebStart-Studie)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

Files in This Item:

There are no files associated with this item.

Show full item record

Grylka, S., & Müller, A. N. (2021, November 23). Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour. 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : “Collaborate for High Quality Perinatal Care”, Zürich, 23 November 2021.

Grylka, S. and Müller, A.N. (2021) ‘Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour’, in 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : ‘Collaborate for high quality perinatal care’, Zürich, 23 November 2021.

S. Grylka and A. N. Müller, “Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour,” in 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : “Collaborate for high quality perinatal care”, Zürich, 23 November 2021, Nov. 2021.

GRYLKA, Susanne und Antonia Nathalie MÜLLER, 2021. Physical and emotional symptoms of onset of labour. In: 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : „Collaborate for high quality perinatal care“, Zürich, 23 November 2021. Conference presentation. 23 November 2021

Grylka, Susanne, and Antonia Nathalie Müller. 2021. “Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Onset of Labour.” Conference presentation. In 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : “Collaborate for High Quality Perinatal Care”, Zürich, 23 November 2021.

Grylka, Susanne, and Antonia Nathalie Müller. “Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Onset of Labour.” 1st Swiss Perinatal Research Special Interest Group Symposium : “Collaborate for High Quality Perinatal Care”, Zürich, 23 November 2021, 2021.