Birth & Parenthood in the U.S. 2017

Topics of the survey

• Information source
• Prenatal offers
• Birth
• Midwives
• Medical examinations
• Occupational break
• Baby daycare and free time
• Demographics

• Method: Online Survey
• Survey name: Statista Survey Birth & Parenthood 2017
• Region: USA
• Number of respondents: 593
• Age of respondents: 18 years and older
• Type of respondents: US residential birth parents or partner of birth parents, who live with the child since birth; birth of the youngest child is not earlier than 2014 (max. 4 years old)
• Survey time period: 4th to 29th of October 2017

• Gender
• Age
• Relation to child
• Year of birth of the child
• Number of children in household
• Income
• Birthplace

Information source

• How did you get information on pregnancy and birth before your first child was born?
• Why did you not inform yourself about pregnancy and birth beforehand?
• Did you inform yourself again about pregnancy and birth before your second child was born?
• How did you get information on education and child development?
• Why did you not inform yourself about education and child development beforehand?
• How did you decide on a book/books?

Prenatal offers

• Did you/your partner use the following offers?
• Did you take the following remedies in order to prepare for/support your pregnancy?
• Did you discuss your food supplementation with your doctor beforehand?
• In what stage of pregnancy did you take the supplements?
• Which vital substances, minerals and vitamins did you supplement?
• Which of the following brands of food supplements for pregnancy do you know?
• Which of the following brands of food supplements did you use during pregnancy?

Birth

• Where was your last child delivered?
• Why did you decide on a home birth?
• Why did you decide on a hospital birth?
• How was your last child delivered?
• [personal support during labor] How satisfied were you with...?
• [information beforehand] How satisfied were you with...?
• [information during labor] How satisfied were you with...?
• [calm and privacy for me and my child] How satisfied were you with...?
• [medical support] How satisfied were you with...?
• [professional skills of obstetricians] How satisfied were you with...?
• [kindness of obstetricians] How satisfied were you with...?
• Top 2 (rather satisfied, completely satisfied) - [...] How satisfied were you with...?

Midwives

• Did you receive support by a midwife and/or doula during pregnancy and labor?
• At what stage of your pregnancy did you search contact to your midwife and/or doula?
• How much did you pay for the services of your midwife and/or doula in total? (all costs not covered by your insurances)
• How much did you pay for the services of your midwife and/or doula in total? (all costs not covered by your insurances)
• Which of the following statements concerning midwives do you agree to?

Medical examinations

• [examination of vital functions (e.g. heart and pulmonary functions, digestion)] Which of the following recommended examinations did you take your baby to?
• [examination of development (movements, attention, language development)] Which of the following recommended examinations did you take your baby to?
• [vaccinations] Which of the following recommended examinations did you take your baby to?
• [Diphtheria] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Hepatitis B] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Hib-infection] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Pertussis (whooping cough)] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Measles] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Meningococci] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Mumps] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Pneumococci] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Polio] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Rotavirus] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Rubella] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Tetanus] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Chickenpox] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Answer: absolutely necessary] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Answer: optional] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• [Answer: not necessary] What is your opinion on the following vaccinations, which are recommended for children during the first 24 months?
• What reasons are there not to have a baby vaccinated?
• [irresponsible vs. responsible] How do you consider parents who don’t have their children vaccinated?
• [uninformed vs. informed] How do you consider parents who don’t have their children vaccinated?
• [prepared to take risks vs. cautious] How do you consider parents who don’t have their children vaccinated?
• [mild fever (above 100.4°F)] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [high fever (above 102.2°F)] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [cough] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [runny nose] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [constipation] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [diarrhea] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [rash] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [child does not react when I address it] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [lack of appetite] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• [shallow breathing] When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• When would you go to see a physician when your baby shows the following symptoms?
• What kind of medication for your baby do you always have at home?

Occupational break

• Did you go on parental leave/take a break from work (in addition to your paid maternity leave)?
• How long did you plan to be absent from work?
• When did you plan to take your break from work?
• Will you leave work for the same period as your partner?
• Do you/will you work part time or self-employed during your break?
• What do you plan on doing during your parental break?
• Do you plan to reduce your working hours after the birth of your child?
• Do you plan to reduce your working hours after your paid maternity leave?
• For what period would you like to reduce your working hours? Not considering what would be possible from a financial point of view.
• [Mothers and fathers should take responsibility of child education and care in equal parts.] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?
• [I consider it positive if fathers stay home and take care of the child.] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?
• [Mothers should stay home and take care of the child at least as long as they breastfeed.] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?
• [Women naturally have a better feeling for childcare than men.] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?
• [I consider it positive when women with babies pursue a career.] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?
• [rather agree, completely agree] To what extent do you personally agree to the following statements?

Baby daycare and free time

• How do you have your baby cared for?
• How many hours per week do you leave your child with a child minder or at the daycare center in total?
• [parent-child yoga classes] Do you plan to do the following activities or have you done them together with your child?
• [parent-child swimming classes] Do you plan to do the following activities or have you done them together with your child?
• [parent-child massage classes] Do you plan to do the following activities or have you done them together with your child?
• [visit toddler group] Do you plan to do the following activities or have you done them together with your child?
• Which of the following early childhood education possibilities do you consider useful?

Demographics

• What is your gender?
• Age groups
• In what year was the youngest child born that lives in your household?
• What is your relation to this child?
• Have you lived together with this child since it was born?
• What is your primary language?
• Which race/ethnicity best describes you?
• Are you of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
• What is the highest level of education you have completed?
• What is your current marital status?
• What is your current occupational status?
• Which of the following categories best describes your employment status?
• Including yourself, how many people - including children - usually live in your household?
• Including yourself, how many kids/teens under 18 usually live in your household?
• In what type of community do you live?
• In what state or U.S. territory do you live?
• How much total combined money do all members of your household earn annually? This includes money from jobs; net income from business, farm, or rent; pensions; dividends; interest; social security payments; and any other money.