Attendance at preparation for childbirth classes, prenatal anxiety levels, tension, labor, and delivery of primigravida women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of childbirth classes by comparing the amount of tension and anxiety experience by mother before attending Preparation for Childbirth and Parenthood (PCP) classes and after completing the classes. This was then related to the outcome of pregnancy determined by factors associated with labor and delivery. The 42 primigravid women in this study were selected from PCP classes held at Latter-day Saints Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. Both the Crawford (1968) muscle tension questionnaire and the IPAT 8-Parallel-Form Anxiety Battery Form A were administered the first evening of class. When the expectant mothers reached their thirty-seventh week of gestation, both tests were repeated using Form B of the IPAT Anxiety Battery. The Crawford muscle tension showed an increase of tension when repeated at 37 weeks gestation, but not to a significant degree. The level of statistical significance was established at .05. The IPAT test revealed a decrease of anxiety, but not to a significant extent. Both the before and after anxiety and tension tests were well within the normal range. The scores of the tension and anxiety test given at 37 weeks gestation were related to the mothers' labor and delivery experience. The amount of analgesia the mothers received during labor showed a low positive correlation with the amount of tension and anxiety shown by the mothers at 37 weeks. Anesthesia showed a negative correlation with tension and anxiety, r = -.12, and r = -.40, p < .01 respectively. Both analgesia and anesthesia used were well within the normal limits for labor and delivery. To determine the type of potential complications of labor and delivery, 27 measures were used. The length of the second stage of labor was short compared to established norms (Friedman, 1967). The length of labor decreased as the tension response increased, r = -.28, p < .05. Mothers who scored higher on the tension questionnaire tended to have spontaneous deliveries; this had a positive correlation of r = .32, p < .05. Lacerations showed a negative correlation with the tension response, r = -.30, p < .05. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure correlated positively to a statistically significant degree with anxiety, r = .29, p < .05 and r = .28, p < .05 respectively. The other measures studied did not show a significant statistical correlation with tension or anxiety. Mothers participating in this study showed an average amount of anxiety and tension both before and after PCP classes. This was also reflected in a normal amount of analgesia and anesthesia given during labor and delivery and few notable complications of labor and delivery.