Satisfaction of Slovak Women with Psychosocial Aspects of Care during Childbirth

The objective of the study is to find out and assess satisfaction of Slovak women with psychosocial aspects of perinatal care.

Changing behaviour in pregnant women: a scoping review

Improving health and wellbeing is a major goal in healthcare all over the world (WHO, 2015). Midwives and other healthcare professionals play a key role in educating women about healthy pregnancies (WHO, 2013a). During the course of pregnancy, women may experience a variety of psychological changes, including developing the motivation to change their lifestyle habits (Lindqvist et al., 2017). To support “behaviour change through a life-course approach” and to implement the WHO strategy for strengthening nursing and midwifery towards the achievement of the “Health 2020” goals (WHO, 2015, p.4), it is important for healthcare professionals to increase their knowledge of behaviour change programmes (BCPs) during pregnancy.

Why do community members believe mothers and babies are dying? Behavioral versus situational attribution in rural northern Ghana

Rates of maternal and neonatal death remain high in the Global South, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, indicators vary significantly by geography. This study aimed to understand what communities in northern Ghana with frequent maternal and newborn deaths or near deaths (near-misses) perceive to be the causes. As part of a larger study, four communities in Ghana's Northern Region were identified as areas with high concentrations of deaths and near-misses of mothers and babies.

A qualitative study of a sample of women participating in an Australian randomised controlled trial of intrapartum fetal surveillance

The STan Australian Randomised controlled Trial (START), the first of its kind in Australia, compares two techniques of intrapartum fetal surveillance (cardiotocographic electronic fetal monitoring (CTG) plus analysis of the ST segment of the fetal electrocardiogram (STan+CTG) with CTG alone) with the aim of reducing unnecessary obstetric intervention. It is also the first comprehensive intrapartum fetal surveillance (IFS) trial worldwide, including qualitative examination of psychosocial outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

“Are you doing your pelvic floor?” An ethnographic exploration of the interaction between women and midwives about pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) during pregnancy

Many women experience urinary incontinence (UI) during and after pregnancy. Pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) can prevent and reduce the symptoms of UI. The objective of the study was to explore challenges, opportunities and concerns for women and health care professionals (HCPs), related to the implementation of PFME training for women in current antenatal care.

Your baby is so happy, active, uncooperative: How prenatal care providers contribute to parents’ mental representations of the baby

Parents’ prenatal mental representations (i.e., thoughts and expectations) of their future child and relationship to that child have been associated with parenting and parent-child relationships after birth.

Methamphetamine use in pregnancy, child protection, and removal of infants: Tertiary centre experience from Western Australia

The Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service (WANDAS) is a specialist antenatal service at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth Western Australia, that provides multidisciplinary care to pregnant women who use or have a history of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) misuse. Illicit methamphetamine use along with polysubstance use is a significant health problem in Australia and within the WANDAS population.

Womens’ experiences of living with obstetric fistula in Ghana–time for the establishment of a fistula centre of excellence

To explore the experiences of women living with Obstetric Fistula in Ghana.

Incidence of maternal near miss among women in labour admitted to hospitals in Ethiopia

To assess the incidence of maternal near miss and contributing factors among hospitals in Ethiopia. The study also assessed the ability of hospitals to provide signal functions of emergency obstetric care and its regional distribution.

The lived experience of women with a high-risk pregnancy: A phenomenology investigation

Pregnancy is a time of transformation, hope, expectation, and worry for women and their families – none more so than when the pregnancy is at-risk. The objective of this study was to describe the lived experience of women during high-risk pregnancy.

An antenatal wish list: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis of UK dietary advice for weight management and food borne illness

To understand UK women's experiences of antenatal dietary advice for risk of food borne illness and weight gain.

Exploring the validity of allostatic load in pregnant women

The theory of allostatic load has gained momentum in perinatal research to understand the biological pathways of the impact of maternal chronic stress on adverse perinatal outcomes. However, due to physiological changes of pregnancy, including large variations across gestation, the extent to which allostatic load measured in pregnancy is valid has not been queried in depth.

Barriers and facilitators in antenatal settings to screening and referral of pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs: A qualitative study of midwives’ experience

Screening pregnant women for substance use is highly recommended in antenatal care settings. Although midwives provide routine screening for substance use and referral for treatment in pregnancy, little is known about the barriers and facilitators they experience.

Health professionals’ views of newborn pulse oximetry screening in a midwifery-led maternity setting. “It's a good thing to do, but fund it!”

Congenital heart defects in infants are the commonest congenital abnormality but even critical lesions can be difficult to identify clinically in the first days after birth during the period of physiological transition and while the ductus arteriosus remains patent (Wren et al., 2008). Accordingly, clinical assessment of newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) within the first 24 h often yields normal findings (Abu-Harb et al., 1994; Saxena et al., 2015). Failure to make an early diagnosis of critical CHD leads to clinical compromise prior to infants receiving major surgery and is associated with increased infant mortality (Eckersley et al., 2016; Franklin et al., 2002).

Impact of parenting resources on breastfeeding, parenting confidence and relationships

Women's contact with health services during pregnancy and the postnatal period offer important opportunities to promote and support maternal wellbeing, breastfeeding and positive parenting practices. Breastfeeding supports the short and long-term health of both baby and mother (Victora et al., 2016). However, the decision to breastfeed is influenced by multiple complex factors at the individual, family, health system, and societal level (Dyson et al., 2009). Several studies have identified breastfeeding self-efficacy, defined as a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed her new infant, as an important factor in breastfeeding outcomes including duration and exclusivity (Blyth et al., 2008; Dennis, 2006).

The Labour Progression Study (LaPS): Duration of labour following Zhang's guideline and the WHO partograph – A cluster randomised trial

To investigate labour duration in different phases of labour when adhering to Zhang's guideline for labour progression compared with the WHO partograph.

WITHDRAWN: Post-traumatic stress disorder-related perinatal factors after the first postpartum year

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.