The influence of a birth film on attitudes toward labor and delivery

This study was an attempt to determine the influence of viewing a birth film upon attitudes of expectant parents toward labor and delivery when the film was seen within the context of established prenatal classes. The data shows that neither the birth film nor the parents' own childbirth experience influenced attitudes toward labor. The birth film produced significant negative changes in attitudes toward delivery which were reversed to a more positive direction by the patents'' own experience. The parents' own childbirth experience produced a negative change in attitude toward the birth film. At the same time the parents expressed the opinion that the film was of personal benefit. This would support the idea that the film forces parents to face reality and deal with it in such a way that they are enabled to cope more effectively when faced with the actual delivery situation.