Currently the BSS-R team continue to work on validating different partner versions of the BSS-R, which are individually named the Partner (named language)-BSS-R. The P-BSS-R is a mirror image of matched items to the birthing women’s BSS-R, and as such, each version can be used either individually or as a pair.

Every partner constructs expectations of childbirth, with variation in appreciating the concept. Partner birth satisfaction may be affected by:
• Level of desire to be present during labour and birth.
• Preparedness for the role of birth partner.
• Worry about becoming emotional during or post birth.
• Personal need to help their partner cope.
• Concern about feeling queasy or fainting.
• Apprehension that problems may arise.
• Fear that they will get in the way.
• Belief that presence during labour is the best start to parenthood.
• Concerns about not coping.

Partner birth satisfaction is about attempting to provide the person with the experience they want. The same three overarching themes relevant to birthing women are applicable to birth partners:
(1) Quality of care provision (4-items 3, 5, 6, 10)
(2) Partners personal attributes (2-items 4, 8)
(3) Stress experienced during labour (4-items 1, 2, 7, 9)

Post psychometric analysis of data gathered using the 10-item P-BSS-R, with similarity to the birthing women’s BSS-R, the scale was found to be comprised of three sub-scales that measure distinct but correlated domains of: (1) Quality of care provision (4-items), (2) Partners personal attributes (2-items), and (3) Stress experienced during labour (4-items). Also, parallel to the women’s BSS-R scoring system, a score of 0 represents no birth satisfaction and 40 most (Range 0-40). It is entirely acceptable to calculate a total P-BSS-R score of all 10 items to give an overall birth satisfaction score. An optional ‘comments’ section (two lines) may be placed under each Likert response categories for each BSS-R item, for the purpose of obtaining additional qualitative insight. The P-BSS-R is currently free of charge for use in clinical practice, routine outcome measurement, and/or clinical research, but requires permission from the developers who upon request will issue an official copy of the instrument. To view the P-BSS-R (see Table 1).

The validated 10-item P-BSS-R is a robust scale that can be used to measure partners birth satisfaction post event. The P-BSS-R can be used to collect data both nationally and internationally, with results potentially correlated with other validated measures. If you would like to use the P-BSS-R scale, please contact [email protected] OR [email protected]. The authors would be interested in working with researchers who are willing to translate the scale into other languages and validate new versions for wider use.

Copywrite owners of the Partner-BSS-R

The Partner-Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (P-BSS-R) was created by:

• Professor Caroline J Hollins Martin. Contact: [email protected]
• Professor Colin Martin. Contact: [email protected]

 The P-BSS-R and all translated and derivative versions are licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial  [CC-BY-NC] 4.0 International License.   

 The original development and validation reference for the BSS-R below must be cited in any published output that has used the original version, or any translated, modified, or non-UK version of the measure:

 Hollins-Martin, C.J., Martin, C. (2014). Development and psychometric properties of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). Midwifery. 30: 610-619 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.10.006

Creating respectful birth environments across the world is a requested agenda of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018a; Jolivet et al., 2021; Vogel et al., 2016). Many countries worldwide accommodate and encourage the presence of partners during labour and childbirth, which promotes an appreciation that these WHO (2018a) recommendations should also apply to birth partners. Whilst validating the Partner (Czech Republic)-BSS-R (Lochmannová et al., 2024), a‘mirroring effect’ in factor structuring between biological women and their partners was evidenced, which parallels reports from psychometric analysis of mothers data in other BSS-R studies (e.g., Jefford et al., 2018; Nakić Radoš et al., 2022; Skvirsky et al., 2020). As such, this factor structuring ‘mirroring effect’ supports the idea that the birthing women’s BSS-Rand the P-BSS-R be issued together to explore snapshots of birth satisfaction in couples, which is an area of potential BSS-R research growth. It is important for health care professionals to appreciate that partners experiences of stress (SE subscale), quality of care (QC subscale), and personal attributes (AP subscale) may be similar to the childbearing women’s. Simply because dissatisfaction in partners, akin to the childbearing women, could predict similar postnatal problems, e.g., postpartum depression (PND) (Urbanova et al., 2021), negative emotions for baby, unwanted future pregnancies, or possible desire for the woman to have future elective Caesarean section (Goodman et al., 2004; Harvey et al., 2002). It is suggested that maternity care experts world-wide perceive “birthing couples” and not just “birthing mothers”, which where culturally relevant includes routine issue of the birthing women’s BSS-R and P-BSS-R as a pair, and in the case of PND (Urbanova et al., 2021) and PTSD (Horsch et al., 2024), explore both parties equally.

To obtain either or both versions of the BSS-R, please access the BSS-R website at: https://www.bss-r.co.uk/.

Goodman, P., Mackey, M. C., Tavakoli, A. S. (2004). Factors related to childbirth satisfaction. J Adv Nurs. 46(2), 212-219. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2003.02981.x

Harvey, S., Rach, D., Stainton, M. C., Jarrell, J., Brant, R. (2002). Evaluation of satisfaction with midwifery care. Midwifery. 18(4), 260-267. doi:10.1054/midw.2002.0317

Hollins Martin, C.J., Martin, C. (2014). Development and psychometric properties of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). Midwifery. 30: 610-619. Doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.10.006

Horsch, A., Garthus-Niegel, S., Ayers, S., Chandra, P., Hartmann, K., Vaisbuch, E., Lalor, J. (2024). Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder: definition, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 230(3S). S1116-S1127. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2023.09.089

Jefford, E., Hollins Martin, C.J., Martin, C.R. (2017). Development and validation of the Australian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 36(1): 42–58. Doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1396302

Jolivet, R.R., Gausman, J., Kapoor, N., Langer, A., Sharma, J., Semrau, K.E. (2021). Operationalizing respectful maternity care at the healthcare provider level: a systematic scoping review. Reproductive health. 18, 194. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01241-5

Lochmannová, A., Hollins Martin, C.J., Martin C.R. (2024). Translation and validation of the Czech Partner version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale Revised (BSS-R). Midwifery. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2024.2401828.

 Nakić Radoš, S., Matijaš, M., Brekalo, M., Hollins Martin, C.J., Martin, C.R. (2021). Further validation of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised: factor structure, validity, and reliability. Current Psychology. 42(11):1-10.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02688-2

Skvirsky, V., Taubman-Ben-Ari, O., Hollins Martin, C. J., Martin, C. R. (2019). Validation of the Hebrew Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R) and its relationship to perceived traumatic labour. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 1-7. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2019.1600666

Urbanova, E., Skodova, Z., Baskova, M. (2021). The Association between Birth Satisfaction and the Risk of Postpartum Depression. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(19). doi:10.3390/ijerph181910458

Vogel, J.O., Bohren, M.A., Tuncalp, Ӧ., Oladapo, O.T., Gutmezoglu, A.M. (2016). Promoting respect and preventing mistreatment during childbirth. BJOG. 123(5): 671-4. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13750.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2016a). Standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities.

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mca-documents/qoc/quality-of-care/standards-for-improving-quality-of-maternal-and-newborn-care-in-health-facilities.pdf