Aim. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that may affect the birth anxiety as well as knowledge how to deal with it. Material and methods. The research method was a diagnostic survey carried out by means of a questionnaire. Studied material consisted of answers included in the questionnaire which was flled in by 84 pregnant women participating in antenatal classes in Szczecin and in the surrounding areas. Results. Most of the women (78.57% of them ) said that they feared the most childbirth. The reduction of this feeling through the ante-natal classes was reported by 66 of the 84 respondents. Eighty-four pregnant women who attended antenatal classes on a regular basis were surveyed. Women participating in the study had, in most cases, higher education (58.33%). The duration of pregnancy at the time of participation in the classes was 28.39 ± 4.37 weeks. Conclusions. Active participation in antenatal classes positively reflected in reducing prenatal anxiety and stress. Prenatal fear depends on the age of the pregnant woman to a greater extent than on their parity.

Key words: antenatal classes, childbirth, anxiety, pregnancy.