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.

The initiation of Dutch newly qualified hospital-based midwives in practice, a qualitative study

In the Netherlands, a percentage of newly qualified midwives start work in maternity care as a hospital-based midwife, although prepared particularly for working autonomously in the community.

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.

Evidence and guidelines for trauma-informed doula care

Although trauma and trauma-related health conditions are increasingly common among childbearing people (Sperlich et al., 2017; Vignato et al., 2017), there is a dearth of published evidence and guidance on trauma-informed doula care. Trauma refers to an event(s) or circumstances that are experienced as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that have lasting adverse effects on wellbeing (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2014)). This can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and negative pregnancy-related outcomes such as substance use, prematurity, low birth weight, postpartum depression, difficulty bonding with the baby, children with PTSD, or even maternal and infant death (Sperlich et al., 2017; Kilpatrick 2017; Kendig et al., 2017).

Development, psychometric assessment, and predictive validity of the comprehensive breastfeeding knowledge scale

To develop a breastfeeding knowledge scale that aligns with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and psychometrically test it among expectant parents.

Perinatal contraceptive counselling: Effectiveness of a reinforcement intervention on top of standard clinical practice

To assess the effectiveness of supplemental perinatal contraceptive counselling in addition to standard Spanish postpartum contraceptive counselling with regard to contraceptive use and use of effective contraception up to 1 year postpartum. Women's satisfaction with counselling and the method chosen was also assessed.

Magnitude of disrespectful and abusive care among women during facility-based childbirth in Shambu town, Horro Guduru Wollega zone, Ethiopia

Disrespectful care during childbirth causes suffering and discourages women from seeking facility-based care. It is one of the silent causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide, but not yet well recorded especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to measure the magnitude of disrespect and abusive behaviors of health professionals during childbirth and associated factors.

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.

The characteristics and prevalence of phobias in pregnancy

The primary objective was to estimate the population prevalence of specific phobias (including pregnancy related specific phobias) and associated mental disorders. The secondary objective was to investigate the effectiveness of routinely collected screening tools (depression and anxiety screens, Whooley and GAD-2 respectively) in identifying specific phobias. Specific phobias are the most common anxiety disorder to occur during pregnancy, but studies on prevalence and clinical correlates of specific phobias, including pregnancy related specific phobias are lacking.

Women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour

UK policy currently recommends membrane sweeping to avoid prolonged pregnancy and reduce the need for formal induction. Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2008) on induction of labour recommends that at 40- and 41-week antenatal visits, nulliparous women should be offered membrane sweeping prior to formal induction and additional membrane sweeping may be offered if labour does not start spontaneously. Updates to the guideline are expected in July 2020. NICE Quality Standard [QS22] (NICE, 2016) for antenatal care additionally recommends that women having their second or later baby are offered membrane sweeping.