Continuous Antenatal Midwifery Care for a Pregnant Woman with Fear of Childbirth: A Case Report

Authors

  • Nur Azlina Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
  • Anieq Mumthi’ah Al-Kautsar Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
  • Andi Dian Diarfah Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
  • Firdayanti Firdayanti Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24252/jmw.v8i2.67062

Keywords:

Antenatal Care; Fear of Childbirth; Tokophobia

Abstract

Background: Severe fear of childbirth (FOC) may impair psychological well-being and readiness for birth. This report describes changes in FOC during continuous antenatal midwifery care. Case presentation: A woman in the third trimester, at 33 weeks and 6 days of gestation, reported fear of labour pain, concern for her own and her baby’s safety, restlessness, and sleep disturbance. Her Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire version A (W-DEQ A) score was 86, indicating severe FOC. Care and outcomes: Five visits were conducted up to 37 weeks and 6 days of gestation. Care included therapeutic communication, childbirth education, breathing and relaxation exercises, family involvement, and spiritual practices aligned with the patient’s preference. W-DEQ A scores across visits were 86, 80, 75, 70, and 65. At the final visit, the patient reported feeling calmer and better prepared for childbirth. Conclusion: The decrease in W-DEQ A score indicates clinical improvement during follow-up. Because this is a single case and several components were delivered concurrently, causality and the contribution of each component cannot be determined.

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Published

2026-08-14

How to Cite

Azlina, N., Al-Kautsar, A. M., Diarfah, A. D., & Firdayanti, F. (2026). Continuous Antenatal Midwifery Care for a Pregnant Woman with Fear of Childbirth: A Case Report. Jurnal Midwifery, 8(2), 228–234. https://doi.org/10.24252/jmw.v8i2.67062

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): AUGUST

Section

Artikel

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Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Azlina, Anieq Mumthi’ah Al-Kautsar, Andi Dian Diarfah, Firdayanti Firdayanti

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