Journal of Perinatal Education

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Doula care improves maternal care, yet barriers exist to incorporating doula care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate interest and barriers to doula care. Overall, 508 women, 26-35 years of age (54.5%), White/Caucasian (89.8%), and married (88.6%), completed this study. Most reported ≥1 previous birth (97.6%). Respondents would "feel comfortable" (73.2%) and "more confident" (54.9%) with doula care at birth, and 57.9% reported their provider would be supportive of doula care. Only 39.0% expressed benefits to doula care during pregnancy compared to 72...

Research suggests that simulation in nursing education is a learning strategy that promotes critical thinking and utilization of clinical judgment in a safe environment without fear of retribution if errors are made. Senior nursing students in a small liberal arts university participated in a complex simulation that involved a pregnant patient with preeclampsia. The students were charged with doing a complete assessment of the patient and unborn baby. Upon completion of the assessment, the students utilized their critical thinking skills to determine the best treatment for the patient and baby that rendered the best outcomes...

Many newly postpartum women and birthing people are sent home from the hospital with their newborn babies, ill-prepared to care for themselves with little to no capacity to learn about newborn care and parenting. Women are often left to fend for themselves in the "black hole" of health care in 6 weeks post-birth that the United States calls postpartum care. Postpartum doulas can be the first line of defense, helping people identify potential postpartum physical and mental health issues, and in many places, they are doing it on the front lines and in the homes of newly postpartum women and families...

Beliefs and decision-making processes associated with breast pump use in first-time mothers providing human milk to healthy, term newborns soon after birth are explored in this qualitative, descriptive study. Eight women participated in an individual semistructured interview in a community hospital in the southeastern United States. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, conventional content analysis about prenatal and early postpartum beliefs of planning and utilizing breast pumps yielded themes of Resource Gathering , Intention Refining , and Behavior Navigating ...

The current study examined the use of immersive technology as a way to improve access to high-quality interpersonal breastfeeding interactions in an undergraduate clinical lactation course. In particular, we investigated the impact of immersive consultation videos and related activities on student self-efficacy, motivational beliefs, and perceived skill level. Results indicate that usability was high, with participants rating videos, interactives, and activities positively. Students did report a significant increase in self-efficacy and their perceived ability to meet the course learning objectives; no significant changes in the level of interest or perceived skill were found...

Since early 2020, the world has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid changing situation led to unforeseeable challenges and questions for many people, including pregnant women. Through a textual analysis of personal narratives told via pregnancy and/or laboring vlogs during COVID-19, this present study aims to understand how women from China who live in another country during pregnancy have utilized YouTube vlogs to share their experiences. Through this analysis, we identify various challenges that these women experienced during their pregnancy...

There are two concepts of neuroendocrine reflexes associated with the expulsion of the fetus through the birth canal during the second stage of birth: the Ferguson reflex and the fetus ejection reflex. These concepts are often confused with one another and treated synonymously, thus interchangeable. However, the two not only refer to different phenomena, but they also represent the birthing woman differently. The Ferguson reflex treats the birthing woman as simply a biomechanical body. In contrast, the fetus ejection reflex does not ignore women's conscious states during birth and recognizes what is currently a well-known empirical fact: The event of birth is a complex biophysical process affected by many mental, social, and environmental factors...

This retrospective study compared knowledge, intention, and satisfaction outcomes between pregnant women who attended prenatal education in person ( n = 202; 55%) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic or virtually ( n = 166; 45%) during the pandemic. Results identified increases in knowledge and intention for a healthy pregnancy and safe infant care for both groups. Virtual participants were less likely to endorse developing a birth plan ( p = 0.035), knowledge of breastfeeding resources ( p = 0.006), confidence in the ability to breastfeed ( p = 0...

Latina women breastfeed at high rates immediately postpartum but also frequently introduce formula. Formula negatively affects breastfeeding, and maternal and child health. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has been shown to improve breastfeeding outcomes. A BFHI-designated hospital must facilitate lactation education for clinical and non-clinical personnel. Housekeepers, often the sole hospital employees sharing the linguistic and cultural heritage of Latina patients, have frequent patient interactions...

A cross-sectional, multicenter study examined the role of intrapartum social support (SS) on postpartum depression (PPD), using survey data that covered eight of the 25 PPD risk factors identified by a recent umbrella review. A total of 204 women participated at an average of 1.26 months after birth. An existing U.S. Listening to Mothers-II/Postpartum survey questionnaire was translated, culturally adapted, and validated. Multiple linear regression found four statistically significant independent variables...

This article is an adaptation for print of Debby Amis's presentation at the 2022 Lamaze Virtual Conference. She discusses worldwide recommendations as to the optimal time for routine labor induction for low-risk pregnant persons, the recent research about the optimal time for routine labor induction, and recommendations to help the pregnant family make an informed decision about routine induction. This article includes an important new study not included in the Lamaze Virtual Conference that found an increase in perinatal deaths for low-risk pregnancies that were induced at 39 weeks as compared to low-risk pregnancies not induced at 39 weeks but were delivered no later than 42 weeks...

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between pregnancy outcomes and childbirth education, identifying any outcomes moderated by pregnancy complications. This was a secondary analysis of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Phase 8 data for four states. Logistic regression models compared outcomes with childbirth education for three subgroups: women with no pregnancy complications, women with gestational diabetes, and women with gestational hypertension. Women with pregnancy complications do not receive the same benefit from attending childbirth education as women with no pregnancy complications...

Socioeconomically disadvantaged women experience barriers to attending postpartum medical visits (PMV). This three-phase pilot study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an educational intervention to increase PMV attendance in mothers enrolled in early childhood home visiting. Phases 1 and 2 occurred prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Phase 3 occurred during the pandemic. Home visitor implementation of the intervention with mothers was feasible and acceptable in all phases...

A plethora of international research has consistently demonstrated the efficacy of both the nurse-midwifery model and the community health worker (CHW) model in improving birth and breastfeeding outcomes, particularly among low-income women. However, these two professional groups rarely work as a team in the U.S. health-care system. Typically, certified nurse midwives are on staff at clinics and hospitals; conversely, CHWs tend to work at non-profit community organizations. Although the Community Preventive Services Task Force concluded that integrating CHWs on clinical care teams is effective, these paraprofessionals remain nearly excluded from the healthcare organization because they are not licensed healthcare professionals, hence, non reimbursable...

In this column, the associate editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education introduces Henci Goer's new book, Labor Pain: What's Your Best Strategy?: Get the Data. Make a Plan. Take Charge of Your Birth . The associate editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.

During the pandemic in Finland, most childbirth education (CBE) programs were canceled or transferred online. We aimed to improve the situation by developing a virtual reality (VR) CBE. This article describes the process of developing a VR CBE pilot program and the results from the preliminary user test. To create the VR experience, we used 360° videos as the main content. The program is usable with VR headsets, a computer, tablet, and smartphone. When using the program with a VR headset, the users felt they were in the birthing room; they did not feel motion sickness, nor did they have usability challenges...

In response to the cessation of in-person prenatal education services during the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted an evidence-based curriculum to a live virtual format entitled Ready, Set, Baby Live COVID-19 Edition (RSB Live). In a sample of 146 pregnant people, participation in RSB Live was associated with high levels of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding, early infant hunger cues, and recommended maternity care practices, as well as high levels of satisfaction with adaptations to the session's content and virtual delivery...

Aim: This concept analysis aims to explore how the concept of maladaptation applies to mental health changes among postpartum women. Background: The concept of maladaptation is utilized throughout various disciplines but minimally in women's health, including a limited focus on maladaptive body dissatisfaction and perfectionistic beliefs of women in the postpartum period. Methods: The Walker and Avant eight-phase model was used to guide this analysis. Data Source: A search for maladaptation articles through Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, ProQuest, and PubMed databases, as well as Google Scholar, was conducted...

In this column Henci Goer shares the stories of her two births and how those births shaped her life's work. With her first birth she believed that her caregivers knew better than she what was right for her. During the birth she was ignored. She was left feeling distressed and diminished. Her second birth was dramatically different. She was an active participant, listened to, respected and part of decision-making. She highlights that no matter how difficult the birth, whether things go as planned or not, the joy, the pride, the satisfaction with birth comes with being listened to, respected, and part of decision-making...