Giving birth is one of the most impressive experiences in life. However, many pregnant women suffer from fear of childbirth (FOC) and experience labour in very different ways, depending on their personality, previous life experiences, pregnancy, and birth circumstances. The aim of this study was to analyse how fear of childbirth affects the childbirth experience and to assess the related consequences. For this, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 414 women between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022. The Birth Anticipation Scale (BAS) was used to measure fear of childbirth and the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-E) was applied to measure satisfaction with the childbirth experience. Fear of childbirth negatively and significantly predicted the childbirth experience. In addition, women who were more fearful of childbirth were found to have worse obstetric outcomes and a higher likelihood of having a caesarean delivery (p = 0.008 C. I 95%). Fear behaved as a risk factor for the birth experience, so the greater the fear, the higher the risk of having a worse birth experience (OR 1.1). Encouraging active listening and support strategies may increase pregnant women’s confidence, thus decreasing their fear of the process and improving their childbirth experience.

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy and postpartum are periods that imply numerous physical and psychological changes that could lead to mental health consequences. The aim of the present study is to identify whether women who had body image dissatisfaction had a higher incidence of postpartum depression 6 months after birth than women who did not have body image dissatisfaction. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed with a sample of 450 women from two hospitals in Andalusia. Quantitative variables were age and scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) for body image dissatisfaction. The qualitative variables used were marital status, self-perceived health status, diet or physical exercise, type of delivery, and others. Results: Body dissatisfaction was positively correlated with the symptomatology of postpartum depression. Thus, for each point increased in body dissatisfaction, the occurrence of depression also increased. There was a relationship between the study variables, so women who were more dissatisfied with their body image were more frequently depressed. Conclusions: In conclusion, it can be established that postpartum depression seems to be related to the presence of poor body image.

When studying sexual desire during pregnancy, most research focuses on the pregnant woman’s sexual desire and almost never takes into account her sexual partner. The novelty of this study is that sexual desire during pregnancy is studied from the point of view of the pregnant woman and from that of her male partner. The goal of this study is to see how sexual desire behaves during pregnancy in both partners. For this, a descriptive, longitudinal, and multistage study was designed. Methodologically, in the first stage, the different study variables were described through a single-variate analysis. In the second stage, one variable was related to others by means of a bivariate analysis. Finally, in the third stage, a multivariate analysis was done, composed of binary logistic regression models and latent growth curves. The results confirm that pregnancy influences the sexual desire of both partners, and that sexual desire behaves differently in women than in men during pregnancy. Men have higher levels of sexual desire throughout pregnancy as compared to women. The first trimester of pregnancy is the period when women have less sexual desire.

Background: Mental health problems that can appear in women during pregnancy include fear, anxiety, feelings of vulnerability, stress, and depression. Mindfulness (MF) is a specific meditation technique that can help during treatment for prenatal mood disorders, emotional distress, and psychological strains. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a specific meditation approach in women during pregnancy on these mental health problems. Methods: This systematic review analysed data from PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. The search equation used was “mindfulness [title] AND pregnancy [title] AND (trial OR clinical trial OR RCT OR quasi-experimental OR experimental OR randomised clinical trial OR randomised controlled trial OR quasi-experimental study)”. This analyses experimental studies published in the last 10 years that include interventions based on MF, applying cognitive behavioural therapies to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety and in which the participants completed a questionnaire related to these variables. Standardised means effect size meta-analysis was performed with RevMan Web. Results: All the included studies (n = 13) reported that the intervention led to a decrease in negative symptoms related to prenatal pressure, apprehension, and melancholy. The duration of the MF programmes was 6 to 8 weeks. The meta-analysis showed that MF during pregnancy is an effective approach, with a standardised mean difference of −0.73 for anxiety, −0.67 for depression, and −0.74 for stress. Conclusions: Mindfulness programmes during pregnancy are a useful and effective means of reducing maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. Including MF programmes during pregnancy should be considered depending on resources availability. In person vs. online effectiveness should be investigated.

Background: The practice of the Pilates method (PM) improves sleep quality, as well as it could decrease low back pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pilates on the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women during pregnancy. Methods: A systematic review examining perceived QoL, pain, and mental health in pregnant women practising the PM was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 criteria in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Trip Database electronic databases, including studies published between January 2013 and February 2024. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tool for studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results: Ten publications addressing the key words on the topic were included involving a total of 499 pregnant women, of which 268 had practiced Pilates and 231 had received routine care. The results showed that, in 2 of the studies, pregnant women who had practised the PM during pregnancy showed an improvement in perceived QoL (chi-squared value = 5.597, P = .018), sleep quality (P = .018) and physical mobility (P = .040). Lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) was reduced in the group of pregnant women in eight of these studies (with values of P < .001 and P < .05), and 1 study reported no significant differences among these variables. In terms of mental health, 2 studies reported a decrease in anxiety (P < .05 and P = .009) and 1 study indicated lower depression levels (scores of control group from a mean of 6.19 to 7.54, and the intervention group from a mean of 8.61 to 4.59). Conclusion: The PM shows benefits in improving the QoL of pregnant women who practise it during pregnancy. Other indicators such as LBPP and mental health also benefit from Pilates. The practice of physical activity, supervised by nurses and midwives, can lead to an improvement in pregnant women’s perception of their own health and QoL. Reporting Method: PRISMA Declaration. Protocol Registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42024513781.

Pregnancy is one of the most complex periods in a woman’s life, not only because of the biological changes involved but also because of the psychological aspects. Stress during pregnancy refers to the concerns and distress that arise during pregnancy and that can be assessed by means of psychological and physiological scales. The aim of this study was to analyse prenatal stress and to evaluate its consequences on the health of both the mother and the foetus. A descriptive longitudinal study was carried out on a sample of 398 pregnant women being followed up during their entire pregnancy, who gave birth at the Punta de Europa University Hospital in Algeciras (Spain) between September 2021 and August 2023. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ) was used, as well as serum cortisol levels in each trimester of pregnancy and birth experience using the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire in its validated Spanish version, CEQ-E. Demographic and obstetric variables were included. One of the main findings was that experiencing more stress in late pregnancy had a negative impact on obstetric outcomes. Women who had higher levels of prenatal distress had higher blood cortisol levels and increased risk of having a caesarean section at delivery. A significant negative correlation was also found between stress and Apgar test values in the first minute of life. It is concluded that interventions promoted by the health system that provide comprehensive prenatal care contribute to decreased stress as perceived by these pregnant women, thus reducing the risk of maternal and foetal morbidity.