BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the World Health Organization published a set of recommendations for further emphasis on the quality of intrapartum care to improve the childbirth experience. This study aimed to determine the effects of the WHO intrapartum care model on the childbirth experience, fear of childbirth, the quality of intrapartum care (primary outcomes), as well as post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, postpartum depression, the duration of childbirth stages, the frequency of vaginal childbirth, Apgar score less than 7, desire for subsequent childbearing, and exclusive breastfeeding in the 4 to 6 weeks postpartum period (secondary outcomes)...

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, various maternal and child health interventions, including comprehensive and basic obstetric cares were conducted to curb high neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. As such, adverse birth outcome has been a public health concern in the country. Thus, this study aimed to assess the burden and associated factors with adverse birth outcomes among women who gave birth at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was employed from 30 March to 01 May 2021 at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Relaparotomy following a cesarean delivery (CD) is an infrequent complication, with inconsistency regarding risk factors and indications for its occurrence. We therefore aimed to determine risk factors and indications for a relaparotomy following a CD at a single large tertiary center. METHODS: A retrospective case-control single-center study (2013-2023). We identified all women who had a relaparotomy up to six weeks following a CD (study group). Maternal characteristics, obstetrical and surgical data were compared to a control group in a 1:2 ratio...

BACKGROUND: Globally, prematurity is the primary factor behind the mortality of children under the age of 5 years, resulting in approximately 1 million children dying annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) as part of routine care for preterm infants. Evidence shows that SSC reduces mortality, possibly by improving thermoregulation, facilitating the earlier initiation of breastfeeding and reducing the risk of nosocomial infection. An educational program for implementing SSC has been demonstrated to enhance the knowledge and practice of parents and nurses in intensive care units...

BACKGROUND: Establishing successful lactation in mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500g) infants requires structured lactation support. Little is known about mothers' perspectives on lactation support in German neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). METHODS: This paper features a convergent mixed-method approach that includes a retrospective, cross-sectional questionnaire and interview data to showcase mothers' perceptions of lactation support in NICUs...

BACKGROUND: Evidence of associations between prenatal cannabis use (PCU) and maternal and infant health outcomes remains conflicting amid broad legalization of cannabis across Canada and 40 American states. A critical limitation of existing evidence lies in the non-standardized and crude measurement of prenatal cannabis use (PCU), resulting in high risk of misclassification bias. We developed a standardized tool to comprehensively measure prenatal cannabis use in pregnant populations for research purposes...

BACKGROUND: Despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding, the documents show a declining trend worldwide. Studies assert that the mother's personality traits appear to have an impact on this issue. This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of personality traits on exclusive breastfeeding, which might be channeled by self-efficacy as a mediator variable. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the cross-sectional study...

BACKGROUND: In 2015, Togo introduced the "test-and-treat" strategy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Pediatric HIV infection remains a public health problem in Togo, with a mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rate of 3.6% in 2020. This study aimed to estimate cases of HIV seroconversion during pregnancy and to identify pregnant women at high risk of transmitting HIV to their children in Lomé, Togo. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from 18 March to 22 May 2022 among women who had given birth in five maternity units providing PMTCT services in Lomé...

BACKGROUND: Transverse uterine fundal incision (TUFI) is a beneficial procedure for mothers and babies at risk due to placenta previa-accreta, and has been implemented worldwide. However, the risk of uterine rupture during a subsequent pregnancy remains unclear. We therefore evaluated the TUFI wound scar to determine the approval criteria for pregnancy after this surgery. METHODS: Between April 2012 and August 2022, we performed TUFI on 150 women. Among 132 of the 150 women whose uteruses were preserved after TUFI, 84 women wished to conceive again...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of performing frozen-thawed high-quality single blastocyst transfer in women of different ages. METHODS: A total of 1,279 women were divided into four groups: a 38-40-year-old group (n = 147), 35-37-year-old group (n = 164), 30-34-year-old group (n = 483), and < 30-year-old group (n = 485). Intergroup comparisons of baseline characteristics and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were made...

BACKGROUND: Mild hyperglycaemia is associated with increased birth weight but association with other neonatal outcomes is controversial. We aimed to study neonatal outcomes in untreated mild hyperglycaemia using different oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) thresholds. METHODS: This register-based study included all (n = 4,939) singleton pregnant women participating a 75 g 2-h OGTT in six delivery hospitals in Finland in 2009. Finnish diagnostic cut-offs for GDM were fasting ≥ 5...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of termination of pregnancy with live fetuses in the second trimester (14-28 weeks), using misoprostol 400 mcg intravaginal every 6 h, between women with previous cesarean section (PCS) and no previous cesarean section (no PCS). METHODS: A comparative study was conducted on a prospective database of pregnancy termination in the second trimester, Chiang Mai university hospital. Inclusion criteria included: (1) singleton pregnancy; (2) gestational age between 14 and 28 weeks; and (3) pregnancy with a live fetus and medically indicated for termination...

BACKGROUND: Empathy is a critical component of nursing care, impacting both nurses' and patients' outcomes. However, perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unclear. This study aimed to examine pregnant women's perceived empathy from their spouses and assess the relation of perceived empathy on HRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, performed in the obstetric clinics or wards of four well-known hospitals in Anhui Province, China, included 349 pregnant women in the second or third trimester; participants were recruited by convenience sampling and enrolled from October to December 2021...

BACKGROUND: Cesarean section (C-section) rates, deemed a critical health indicator, have experienced a historical increase. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare patterns including delays or lack of follow-up in treatment and an increased number of patients with acute problems in hospitals. This study aimed to explore whether the observed surge is a genuine consequence of pandemic-related factors. METHODS: This study employs an Interrupted Time Series (ITS) design to analyze monthly C-section rates from March 2018 to January 2023 in Kurdistan province, Iran...

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the postpartum period. Depression can decrease self-efficacy in breastfeeding by reducing the mother's self-confidence. Considering the conflicting results regarding the relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding self-efficacy, this systematic review was conducted to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and postpartum depression. METHOD: In this systematic review, published articles in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched using English keywords "Self-efficacy, breastfeeding, breastfeeding Self-efficacy, depression, postpartum depression" without publication date limit...

BACKGROUND: Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome worldwide, with an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths yearly. In Cameroon, the reported rate in 2015 was 19.6 per 1000 live births. Several risk factors have been described, but region-specific risk factors are not known in the northwest region of Cameroon. This study aims to determine the stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region of Cameroon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Hospital-based case‒control study conducted from December 2022 to June 2023 on medical files from 2018 to 2022 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a major health issue due to its potential outcomes and socioeconomic impact. Prenatal counseling is of major importance for parents because it is believed that the risk of preterm birth is associated with a higher parental mental burden. Nowadays in France, the content and delivery of antenatal counseling is based on personal experience since there is a lack of official guidelines. The goal of the study was to evaluate maternal perception of antenatal information delivered in the setting of preterm births...

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm birth in nulliparous women. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to June 2022. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials that compared aspirin to placebo in nulliparous women were eligible. METHODS: This study was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 checklist...

Pregnant individuals rarely achieve moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity recommendations.Purpose The sedentary behavior reduction in pregnancy intervention (SPRING) pilot and feasibility randomized trial aimed to demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a lower intensity intervention targeting reduced sedentary behavior and increased standing and steps.Methods First trimester pregnant individuals at risk for high sedentary behavior and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) were randomized 2:1 to a multi-component sedentary behavior reduction intervention or no-contact control...

BACKGROUND: Pregnant and postpartum women's experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the emotional and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on perinatal health, has been well-documented across high-income countries. Increased anxiety and fear, isolation, as well as a disrupted pregnancy and postnatal period are widely described in many studies. The aim of this study was to explore, describe and synthesise studies that addressed the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women in high-income countries during the first two years of the pandemic...