Midwifery
-
The purpose of this study was to investigate possible associations between distress in pregnant women and their use of pain management and medical interventions. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of reported dissatisfaction in relationship with their partner, or weak social support. ⋯ Midwives need to acknowledge the possible association of distress and use of an epidural during childbirth and screen for distress early in pregnancy. It is important to offer counselling and help during pregnancy for expectant parents who are distressed or dissatisfied in their relationship.
-
To elicit pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth as expressed in their birth plans, and through a feminist lens analyse their wishes, fears, values, and beliefs about childbirth, as well as their expectations on partner and midwife. ⋯ Women primarily desired a natural, midwife-supported birth and favoured a relationship-based, woman-centred model of care, based on the close interaction between woman, partner, and midwife. Midwives need to be aware of women's ambiguous reliance on them and the power they have to influence women's birth choices and birth experiences. Feminist theory and values in midwifery practice may be useful to inspire a maternity care based on women's wishes and expectations, acknowledging and valuing women's voices, and embracing the sanctity of birth and of the birthing woman's body.
-
Pregnancy and childbirth are associated with new needs for mothers, especially an eagerness for information. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the Happy-Mums.be website meets the expectations and needs of its future users. ⋯ Happy-Mums.be meets the needs and expectations of parents and professionals in terms of both content and design. More specifically, the quality of the information found on Happy-Mums.be was judged to be significantly better than the information found on other websites.
-
Pregnancy-related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP) is a very common complaint. Although many women recover after a birth, about a third continue to have symptoms three months postpartum and 8.5% of women still have persistent symptoms two years afterwards. Knowledge of prognostic factors may help understand the course of PPGP and inform management. ⋯ Potentially modifiable factors during pregnancy seem to impact the prognosis of PPGP postpartum.
-
To analyse midwifery teachers' pedagogic approaches to remediation for student midwives with poor clinical reasoning skills. ⋯ Midwifery teachers should be trained to recognise their students' clinical reasoning issues to identify them early, using all types of learning activities. Remedial strategies should be implemented promptly, adapted to each student and foster the transfer of learning.