The Effect of Self-Compassion Based Birth Preparation Program

The pregnancy period, during which physiological, psychological and social changes occur, can negatively affect women mentally. It is stated that women's concerns about their own and their baby's health, anxiety and fear regarding birth, the uncertainty of the postpartum process and ambivalent feelings experienced cause negative mood changes. During pregnancy, body image dissatisfaction may develop due to weight gain, posture and skin changes, and this may cause women to experience depressive symptoms. Psychological changes such as depression, anxiety and stress experienced during pregnancy cause women to experience fear and anxiety regarding birth. Fear of birth, which is affected by many factors, also affects women's birth preferences and method. Fear of birth also affects women's psychological well-being in the postpartum period. Interventions are needed to ensure and maintain the psychological resilience of pregnant women. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a self-compassion-based birth preparation program on self-compassion, body image, fear of birth, depression, anxiety and stress.