Wanted: First Time Mothers
Are you pregnant for the first time and less than 24 weeks
pregnant?
Then read on..
University of Otago rearchers want you to help them
find out what contributes to having a satisfying birth experience,
for both women and their partners. They know that a sense of
birth satisfaction is important for the woman because it assists
her to make a successful transition to being a mother. Men also
undergo major lifestyle changes with the birth of their child and
this is an area where little research has been conducted. The
researchers feel a great deal more research is required to examine
both men's and women's experiences of the birth of their
child.
They are presently engaged in a study examining the types of birth
preparation which contribute towards birth and family satisfaction
for first time New Zealand parents. The research involves each
partner filling in four questionnaires and maybe doing some extra
reading. Every couple completing the forms will be entered into
four prize draws.
You can find out more by visiting http://firsttimebirth.co.nz
Anne Howarth, PhD researcher at the University of Otago's
Department of Psychological Medicine, undertook a Master's degree
qualitative study of birth satisfaction among a small sample of
women who had just given birth. Four articles detailing the
findings have recently been published or are currently in press in
international journals: the Journal of Health Psychology;
Midwifery; and the New Zealand College of Midwifery
Journal.
Ms Howarth is looking for 180 couples (expectant first time
mothers aged from 18 to 42 and less than 24 weeks pregnant, and
partners) to take part in a larger study called "Giving birth for
the first time in New Zealand".
This study will investigate how birth preparation affects labour
and birth, and subsequently birth and family satisfaction for both
mothers and fathers for the first six months of parenting a first
child.
The study is outlined on the website http://firsttimebirth.co.nz, or
contact Anne directly by email: cocan807@student.otago.ac.nz, or by
cellphone: 02 BIRTHING or 02 2478 4464.
Contact:
Anne Howarth
University of Otago
Department of Psychological Medicine
Tel: 03 4877570
Cellphone: 02 BIRTHING or 02 2478 4464
Email: cocan807@student.otago.ac.nz