Maternal and child health journal
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Matern Child Health J · Jul 2014
Positive childbirth experiences in U.S. hospitals: a mixed methods analysis.
Research on maternity care quality in the US often focuses on avoiding adverse events. Positive birth experiences receive less attention. This analysis used a mixed methods approach to identify factors associated with confidence and positive experiences during birth among a national sample of U. ⋯ Black and Hispanic race/ethnicity (compared to white) and having partner support were positively associated with confidence during birth for nulliparous women. Qualitative analyses revealed that positive experiences were related to previous birth experiences, communication between women and their clinicians, perceptions of shared decision-making, and communication among clinicians related to the timing and logistics of managing complications and coordinating care. For clinicians who care for women during pregnancy and childbirth, thoughtful, deliberate attention to factors promoting positive birth experiences may help create circumstances amenable to enhancing the quality of obstetric care and improving outcomes for mothers and infants.
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Matern Child Health J · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialDoes additional prenatal care in the home improve birth outcomes for women with a prior preterm delivery? A randomized clinical trial.
Women with a history of a prior preterm birth (PTB) have a high probability of a recurrent preterm birth. Some risk factors and health behaviors that contribute to PTB may be amenable to intervention. Home visitation is a promising method to deliver evidence based interventions. ⋯ Intervention participants had a shorter intrapartum length of stay. Enhanced prenatal care by nurse-midwife home visits may limit some risk factors and shorten intrapartum length of stay for women with a prior PTB. This study contributes to knowledge about evidence-based home visit interventions directed at risk factors associated with PTB.