Midwifery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of cardiotocograph (CTG) usage is to detect any alterations in fetal heart rate (FHR) early before they are prolonged and profound. However, the use of CTG machines on a routine basis is not an evidence-supported practice. There is no Jordanian study that assesses the midwives' attitudes toward this machine. This study aimed to identify Jordanian midwives' attitudes towards the use of cardiotocograph (CTG) machines in labor units, alongside examining the relationships between midwives' personal sociodemographic characteristics and such attitudes...

BACKGROUND: After childbirth, mothers are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems including anxiety and depression, which often remain undetected and untreated. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), recent figures revealed a substantial prevalence of postpartum depression. However, postpartum mental health remains largely understudied in the country's clinical and research settings. Therefore, given the paucity of literature in the UAE and building upon previous epidemiological findings, this study aimed to explore the perceived mental health experiences and needs of mothers during the postpartum period to guide the development of targeted interventions that address mothers' unique mental health challenges...

AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between birth memory and trauma and maternal functioning in the postpartum period. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 584 mothers in the postpartum period between 1 January 2022 and 1 April 2022. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF), the Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ) and the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS). RESULTS: The participants' mean scores for the overall BIMF, BirthMARQ and CityBiTS were 81...

PROBLEM AND BACKGROUND: Women with overweight or obesity are recommended to lose weight before pregnancy. Dieting is one of the most used weight control strategies. However, the health implications of dieting before pregnancy remain unclear. AIM: To evaluate the associations of dieting during the year before pregnancy with obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, including gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational diabetes, low birthweight, macrosomia, small-for-gestational-age infants (SGA), large-for-gestational-age infants (LGA), and preterm birth...

BACKGROUND: There is currently a gap in the evidence on how working practices, such as the ability to take rest breaks, finish on time or intershift recovery influence outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the association of individual characteristics, work-related factors and working practices on emotional wellbeing outcomes of UK midwives. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey collated data between September and October 2020...

PROBLEM: Antenatal care guidelines used in Australia are inconsistent in their recommendations for childbirth and parenting education (CBPE) classes for preparation of women and parents for pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines in maternity care are developed to assist healthcare practitioners and consumers to make decisions about appropriate care. The benefit of such guidelines relies on the translation and quality of the evidence contained within them...

BACKGROUND: Although the stigma associated with seeking professional psychological help has received significant attention, few studies have focused on the status and factors influencing this stigma among pregnant women, especially those with a Chinese cultural background. This study aimed to assess the status of stigma associated with seeking professional psychological help and its influencing factors. METHODS: A total of 1325 pregnant women were recruited from Hunan Province, China...

OBJECTIVE: Male engagement in pregnancy care can be beneficial for maternal and child health outcomes. In Tanzania, pregnant women are strongly encouraged to present to their first antenatal care (ANC) appointment with a male partner, where they jointly test for HIV. For some, this presents a barrier to ANC attendance. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with presenting to ANC with a male partner using a cross-sectional design and to assess whether women presenting without partners had significantly delayed presentation...

BACKGROUND: There are inconsistent results on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale's (EPDS) factor structure and longitudinal invariance among different cultures. Furthermore, limited relevant studies in Chinese pregnant women exist. PURPOSE: To test the factor structure of the Chinese Mainland EPDS during pregnancy and conduct longitudinal invariance analyses. METHODS: A national multi-centre cohort study was conducted among 1207 pregnant women selected consecutively by convenience sampling from five hospitals in Zhuhai, Taiyuan, Haidian, Changchun, and Shenzhen in China between August 2015 and October 2016...

PROBLEM: Physiological birth was defined by the World Health Organization in 1997, however, clinical practices in childbirth have changed considerably since this time. BACKGROUND: Ambiguous terms in healthcare such as 'physiological birth' may cause confusion amongst care providers and consumers. AIM: To identify what is known about physiological birth, and how perceptions of physiological birth manifest in current literature. METHODS: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR checklist...

PURPOSE: To explore the improvement of health education on father's participation in breastfeeding from the perspective of maternal and child health nurses. METHODS: Qualitative phenomenological research was used, and 15 maternal and child health nurses who provided breastfeeding support were invited. With semi-structured deep interviews and on-site recordings, data were analyzed through content analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes were extracted, including 'cultivating fathers' awareness of participation in breastfeeding', 'collaboration of multiple disciplines to improve health education on breastfeeding for fathers in hospital', 'Simulated scenarios to develop fathers' skills in solving breastfeeding problems', and 'establishing a hospital-community interface network to improve breastfeeding continuation care after hospital discharge'...

AIM: This study aimed to explore student midwives' theoretical knowledge of intrapartum intermittent auscultation, their confidence in, and their experience of this mode of fetal monitoring. DESIGN AND SETTING: An online cross-section survey with closed and open questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse participants' intermittent auscultation knowledge, confidence, and experience. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within the free text about participants' experiences...

PROBLEM: In the U.S., sudden unexpected infant deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed are increasing. Though breastfeeding is a protective factor against sudden unexpected infant death, motivations to breastfeed often couple with unsafe infant sleep practices. Racial/ethnic disparities are present in sudden unexpected infant death, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and breastfeeding. BACKGROUND: Promoting infant safe sleep and breastfeeding through community-level initiatives could address disparities in related outcomes...

BACKGROUND: Termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly is an unexpected traumatic event for women. It can cause serious complications that can negatively affect both the physical and psychological health of women. AIM: This study aims to examine the experiences of women who underwent medical termination for fetal anomaly in the second trimester. METHODS: The study included 12 women whose pregnancies were terminated due to fetal anomaly...

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous initiatives attempting to enhance BF across Asia, recent studies show that exclusive BF rates remain alarmingly low. With globalization, society has shifted from traditional family roles towards more egalitarian marriages, where Asian fathers are now more involved in parenting. As fathers' involvement in breastfeeding is highly complex and context-sensitive, evaluation of a wide range of concepts and evidence within the Asian context is necessary. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to consolidate and appraise empirical studies exploring fathers' breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and involvement within the Asian context...

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that women feel valued and satisfied after discussing their birth experiences. However, uncertainties persist surrounding the concept of postnatal debriefing practice. AIM: To explore the opinions and expectations of women relating to postnatal debriefing and their experiences when the postnatal debriefing is not presented. METHOD: A descriptive qualitative study of 20 postnatal women was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews from April-May 2023...

BACKGROUND: Psychological distress during pregnancy is a well-documented risk factor for adverse maternal outcomes. Distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic may further increase the vulnerability of pregnant women to negative mental health outcomes. AIM: To explore the mental health experiences of pregnant women, focusing on mental health outcomes, challenges related to the pandemic, coping strategies, and factors buffering mental health factors during the restricted COVID-19 lockdown period...

PURPOSE: The National Health Service (NHS) in England plans to increase accessibility to evidence-based, trauma-informed psychological care for women in the perinatal period. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to 1) synthesise current guidance from clinical guidelines, policy documents, and care standards on trauma-informed approaches to care in maternal mental health settings within the context of pregnancy-related trauma and 2) to offer recommendations informing the implementation and evaluation of this type of care...

PROBLEM: In midwifery a shared definition of woman-centred care is lacking, and this remains an identified gap in the evidence underpinning midwifery practice. BACKGROUND: Woman-centred care is an underpinning philosophy used in midwifery practice both nationally and internationally. AIM: To analyse the practice of woman-centred care to clarify its meaning and comprehension and subsequently advance a developed evidence-based definition of the concept...

INTRODUCTION: Continuing education is important to improve midwives' attitudes to trauma-informed care in addressing the needs of women during the perinatal period. This study aimed to evaluate if there was a significant difference in attitudes towards trauma-informed care between midwives who participated in a 2-day trauma-informed care education program and those who did not. METHOD: A static group comparison design was adopted with a convenience sample of midwives to analyse differences in attitudes towards trauma-informed care between midwives who received a 2-day TIC education (n = 19, intervention group) and their peers who did not receive the education (n = 18, comparison group)...