Negotiating who gives birth and the influence of fear of childbirth: Lesbians, bisexual women and transgender people in parenting relationships

BACKGROUND: Fear of childbirth (FOC) may affect family planning in lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) couples with two potential carriers of a pregnancy. FOC has previously been researched in heterosexual women, while experiences of LBT people have remained unattended. The choice of birth-giving partner in same-sex couples has gained some attention in previous research, but the potential complexities of the decision have not been studied. AIM: The aim is to explore how LBT people negotiate the question of who gives birth, in couples with two potential birth parents, and where one or both partners have a pronounced FOC. METHODS: Seventeen self-identified LBT people were interviewed about their expectancies and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Data were analysed following a six-step thematic analysis. RESULTS: FOC was negotiated as one of many aspects that contributed to the decision of who would be the birth-giving partner. Several participants decided to become pregnant despite their fears, due to a desire to be the genetic parent. Others negotiated with their partner about who was least vulnerable, which led some of them to become pregnant despite FOC. Still other participants decided to refrain from pregnancy, due to FOC, and were delighted that their partner would give birth. Several participants described their partner's birth-giving as a traumatic experience for them, sometimes also when the birth did not require any obstetric interventions. The partner's experience was in some cases not addressed in postnatal care. CONCLUSIONS: It is important that healthcare staff address both partners' prenatal expectancies and postnatal experiences. Funding: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences [AM2017-0005]