Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives
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Mobile technology in the form of the smartphone is widely used, particularly in pregnancy and they are an increasing and influential source of information. ⋯ The popularity of pregnancy-related apps could indicate a shift towards patient empowerment within maternity care provision. The traditional model of 'shared maternity care' needs to accommodate electronic devices into its functioning. Reliance on healthcare professionals may be reduced by the availability of interactive and personalised information delivered via a smartphone. This combined with the fact that smartphones are widely used by many women of childbearing age, has the potential to modify maternity care and experiences of pregnancy. Therefore it is important that healthcare professionals and policy-makers are more aware of these new developments, which are likely to influence healthcare and alter health-seeking behaviour. In addition healthcare professionals need to consider whether to discuss the use of apps in pregnancy with the women in their care.
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Review Biography Historical Article
The effect of Soranus of Ephesus (98-138) on the work of midwives.
In the Roman period, midwives continued to play an important role in female health care primarily in the attendance of women birth. In the second century AD, midwives' education received a significant boost thanks to the distinguished physician Soranus of Ephesus. ⋯ Soranus' work contributed in the education of midwives and influenced the practice of obstetrics till the Middle Ages.
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Smoking prevalence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women is quadruple that of non-Indigenous counterparts, impacting on the health of babies and children. ⋯ Anti-tobacco messages and interventions should relate to Aboriginal women's experiences, improve understanding of the quitting process, support efficacy, and capitalise on the positive changes occurring in smoke-free home management. Focus group participants recommended individual, group and family approaches, and access to cessation services and nicotine replacement therapy for Aboriginal pregnant women who smoke.
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Since the National Maternity Services Review, non-medical models of care involving midwives as the primary care giver are gaining prominence in urban settings in Australia. However, there remains a paucity of evidence about which non-medical primary maternity care models are best suited for rural and remote communities. ⋯ Local health service partners are demonstrably ready for further local improvement in providing midwifery-led models of maternity care to women who live in very remote communities in NSW, Australia.
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Can differences in Australian birth intervention rates be explained by women's residence at the time of childbearing?. ⋯ Non-metropolitan women had fewer birth interventions, particularly epidural analgesia, than metropolitan women. Differences in maternal age and private health insurance do not fully explain the differences in epidural analgesia rates, suggesting care provided to labouring women may differ by area of residence. The difference in epidural analgesia rates may be due to lack of choice in maternity services, however it could also be due to differing expectations leading to differences in birth interventions for primiparous women living in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.