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Midwifery May 2024This study aimed to determine the relationship between birth memory and trauma and maternal functioning in the postpartum period.
AIM
This study aimed to determine the relationship between birth memory and trauma and maternal functioning in the postpartum period.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 584 mothers in the postpartum period between 1 January 2022 and 1 April 2022. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF), the Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ) and the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS).
RESULTS
The participants' mean scores for the overall BIMF, BirthMARQ and CityBiTS were 81.41 ± 9.28, 80.30 ± 21.21 and 15.85 ± 11.30, respectively. Their sociodemographic characteristics did not affect their maternal functioning; however, maternal functioning improved with the number of pregnancies. While emotional memory (BirthMARQ subscale) negatively affected maternal functioning (p < 0.001), the centrality of memory (BirthMARQ subscale) positively affected maternal functioning (p < 0.001). The hyperarousal (CityBiTS subscale) score significantly and negatively affected the total maternal functioning score, explaining 6 % of its variance (F = 9.176, p = 0.001).
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that birth memory and trauma affected maternal functioning. The mother's functional status in the postpartum period reflects the physical and psychosocial changes associated with pregnancy and birth. Therefore, for women to have positive birth memories and emotions when recalling the birth, their emotional health and physical care should be supported during labour and the postpartum period.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pregnancy; Mothers; Postpartum Period; Parturition; Memory; Psychometrics
PubMed: 38503117
DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.103974 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jun 2021It has long been acknowledged that women with children require social support to promote their health and wellbeing, as well as that of their children. However, the...
It has long been acknowledged that women with children require social support to promote their health and wellbeing, as well as that of their children. However, the dominant conceptualizations of support have been heavily influenced by Western family norms. The consequence, at best, has been to stifle our understanding of the nature and consequences of support for mothers and children. At worst, it has led to systematic discrimination negatively impacting maternal-child health. To fully engage with the complexities of social support, we must take multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches spanning diverse cultural and geographical perspectives. However, multidisciplinary knowledge-processing can be challenging, and it is often unclear how different studies from different disciplines relate. To address this, we outline two epistemological frameworks-the scientific approach and Tinbergen's four questions-that can be useful tools in connecting research across disciplines. In this theme issue on 'Multidisciplinary perspectives on social support and maternal-child health', we attempt to foster multidisciplinary thinking by presenting work from a diverse range of disciplines, populations and cultures. Our hope is that these tools, along with papers in this issue, help to build a holistic understanding of social support and its consequences for mothers and their children. Overall, a multidisciplinary perspective points to how the responsibility of childrearing should not fall solely onto mothers. Indeed, this multidisciplinary issue demonstrates that successful childrearing is consistently an activity shared beyond the mother and the nuclear family: an insight that is crucial to harnessing the potential of social support to improve maternal-child health. This article is part of the theme issue 'Multidisciplinary perspectives on social support and maternal-child health'.
Topics: Child Health; Humans; Maternal Health; Mothers; Social Support
PubMed: 33938274
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0019 -
Nursing ResearchThe Movement Control Order (MCO), also known as the partial lockdown, was introduced in Malaysia in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, changing many public...
BACKGROUND
The Movement Control Order (MCO), also known as the partial lockdown, was introduced in Malaysia in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, changing many public sector protocols and regulations. This may have implications for neonatal and maternity care and services, especially among new mothers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the postnatal experiences and feeding practices between mothers who gave birth before MCO (B-MCO) and during MCO (D-MCO).
METHOD
One thousand fifty-one mothers with an infant under 18 months in Malaysia completed an online survey between July 2020 and October 2020. The survey advertisement was disseminated online via various social media platforms.
RESULTS
More D-MCO mothers faced a significant effect on the ability to pay rent/mortgage, with their spouses facing a higher impact on employment. D-MCO mothers were more likely to have changed their birth plans, perceived insufficient breastfeeding support, and experienced changes in postnatal services since MCO. In contrast, more B-MCO mothers had stopped breastfeeding during the MCO and started complementary feeding earlier than planned. Many mothers reported feeling down and lonely and having trouble sleeping and a poor appetite. D-MCO mothers had more time to focus on their health, whereas B-MCO mothers spent more time outdoors.
DISCUSSION
MCO affected mothers' livelihood and postnatal experiences, potentially causing emotional distress. Hence, improved breastfeeding support, particularly at birth, is recommended, as is routine mental health screening during the postnatal checkup. Furthermore, because online contact was readily accessible during the pandemic, the efficacy of online breastfeeding support should be evaluated.
Topics: Breast Feeding; COVID-19; Communicable Disease Control; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Health Services; Mothers; Pandemics; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34818264
DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000568 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... May 2023More than a decade ago, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution recognizing maternal health as a human right. Subsequently, global advocates... (Review)
Review
More than a decade ago, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution recognizing maternal health as a human right. Subsequently, global advocates mobilized to establish the right to respectful maternity care, which has since been formally recognized by the World Health Organization and endorsed by more than 90 international, civil society, and health professional organizations. Despite widespread acknowledgment of this right, traditional approaches to maternity care do not adequately address aspects of quality care that are highly valued by mothers and birthing people, such as respect, dignity, and shared decision-making, and high numbers of women and birthing people worldwide continue to experience disrespect and mistreatment during childbirth. Efforts to reduce maternal mortality have historically overemphasized clinical approaches while failing to listen to mothers and pregnant people, threatening patient autonomy, and contributing to persistent racial disparities and high levels of preventable maternal mortality. This article shares the birth story and evolution of Every Mother Counts, an organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe, respectful, and equitable for every mother, everywhere, and provides tangible examples of how storytelling and listening to women-in film, media, research, advocacy, education, and patient care-can serve as powerful vehicles to create awareness of maternal health issues and transform our maternity care system into one that centers mothers in labor and childbirth and elevates equity and birth justice. There are concrete steps that every participant in the maternity care system can take to help make respectful, equitable care a reality, including implementing patient-reported experience measures as part of standard clinical practice, using individualized care plans and shared decision-making tools in patient care, and developing a grievance process to address instances of disrespectful care and mistreatment. Most importantly, we can listen to mothers, women, and birthing people, hear their concerns, and act promptly to provide the care and support that they deserve.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Mothers; Maternal Health Services; Parturition; Delivery, Obstetric; Health Personnel; Attitude of Health Personnel; Quality of Health Care; Professional-Patient Relations
PubMed: 37164500
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.12.306 -
American Journal of Human Biology : the... Sep 2021We examine infant sleep from evolutionary, historico-cultural, and statistical/epidemiological perspectives and explore the distinct conceptions of "normal" produced by...
OBJECTIVES
We examine infant sleep from evolutionary, historico-cultural, and statistical/epidemiological perspectives and explore the distinct conceptions of "normal" produced by each. We use data from the "Sleeping Like a Baby" study to illustrate how these perspectives influence the ideals and practices of new parents.
METHODS
The "Sleeping Like a Baby" study investigated maternal-infant sleep in north-east England. Sleep data for exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) and formula-feeding (EFF) dyads were captured every 2 weeks from 4 to 18 weeks postpartum through actigraphy and maternal report. Mothers also reported their infant sleep ideals and practices. Results explore objective and maternally-reported infant sleep parameters, and concordance of maternal ideals and practices with public health guidance.
RESULTS
Comparison of sleep measures showed that mothers overestimate infant sleep duration compared with actigraphy; EFF mothers' reports were significantly more inaccurate than those of EBF mothers. For infants moved to a separate bedroom, maternally-reported sleep increases were not borne out by actigraphy. Across the study period, concordance of maternal ideal sleep location with public health recommendations occurred on average for 54% of mothers, while concordance in practice fell from 75% at 4-8 weeks to 67% at 14-18 weeks. Discordance for EBF dyads occurred due to bedsharing, and for EFF dyads due to infants sleeping in a room alone.
CONCLUSIONS
Beliefs about "normal" infant sleep influence parents' perceptions and practices. Clinical and scientific infant sleep discourses reinforce dominant societal norms and perpetuate these beliefs, but biological and evolutionary views on infant sleep norms are beginning to gain traction with parents and health practitioners.
Topics: Breast Feeding; England; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Polysomnography; Sleep
PubMed: 33729618
DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23589 -
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology Sep 2022Women's postpartum health is a public health issue that has lifelong consequences. Timely recognition and treatment of physical and mental health issues can have...
Women's postpartum health is a public health issue that has lifelong consequences. Timely recognition and treatment of physical and mental health issues can have positive health consequences while lack of access to effective treatments or health care services can lead to long-term health problems. To advance knowledge of priority health symptoms and trajectories of postpartum recovery from women's health perspectives, we share findings from the Maternal health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland (MAMMI) study. Data from 3047 first-time mothers recruited to a longitudinal maternal health study in Ireland from 2012 to 2017 reveal the trajectories of maternal health and health problems experienced up to 12 months postpartum. Morbidities explored include urinary incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, and sexual and mental health issues. Viewed together, and over time, the scale and persistent nature of many physical and mental health problems become apparent, yet considerable proportions of women were not asked directly about health problems by health care professionals. When women do not know what is and is not normal postpartum, they may suffer in silence and the consequence is that health problems/issues that are preventable, and treatable, are likely to become chronic. To make positive contributions to women's health, maternity care systems must be truly woman-centered and structured in ways that place emphasis on women's own health needs. In systems where women's voices and concerns are acknowledged and central, women are likely to thrive and flourish in motherhood.
Topics: Female; Humans; Maternal Health Services; Mothers; Pelvic Girdle Pain; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Urinary Incontinence
PubMed: 35797600
DOI: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000726 -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Jun 2021Physician mothers face unique challenges related to family planning, pregnancy, childcare, work-life integration, inequities, and biases that may have serious widespread... (Review)
Review
Physician mothers face unique challenges related to family planning, pregnancy, childcare, work-life integration, inequities, and biases that may have serious widespread implications. There is a paucity of available information on the extent and ramifications of such challenges and related solutions. The purpose of this critical review of the literature was to identify and summarize challenges and solutions pertaining to physician mothers. A comprehensive literature search of databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO MegaFILE, and APA PsycInfo on Ovid) from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018, identified empirical articles that addressed challenges, policies, or solutions specific to physician mothers. Search terms included: physician, doctor, surgeon, specialist, hospitalist, pediatrician, woman, female, gender, mom, mother, maternity, breastfeed, pregnant, baby, infant, parent, parenthood, child,bias, status, stigma, inequity, discrimination, equal, unequal, justice, childcare, daycare, babysit, and nanny in various combinations. Seventy-one articles met inclusion criteria and were analyzed to identify categories and themes related to challenges and solutions for physician mothers. Themes for challenges were categorized by level of influence (individual, organizational and health care system, and societal); themes for solutions were categorized by approach and intervention (mentorship, childbearing and child-rearing support, addressing barriers to career satisfaction and work-life integration, and identification and reduction of maternal bias in medicine). Physician mothers face challenges that have negative implications for individuals, organizations and the health care system, and society. Clear understanding of associated challenges and potential solutions is a critical first step to address biases and barriers affecting physician mothers.
Topics: Female; Humans; Mothers; Physicians, Women; Pregnancy; Work-Life Balance
PubMed: 33840524
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.008 -
Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official... May 2020To explore infant-feeding intentions and behavior of physician mothers as well as their breastfeeding enablers and obstacles. A cross-sectional online survey was...
To explore infant-feeding intentions and behavior of physician mothers as well as their breastfeeding enablers and obstacles. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among female physicians with at least one biological child recruited through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The main outcomes were duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and duration of any breastfeeding (BFD). We determined predictors of EBF and BFD. The 570 participants reported intention to breastfeed at least 12 months in 78.1% of cases. Breastfeeding rates were 97.8%, 85.5%, and 55.4% at birth, 6, and 12 months. EBF rates were 88.5%, 76.3%, and 40.9% at birth, 3, and 6 months. Younger participant age, breastfeeding discontinuation not due to work-related demands, and heightened maternal satisfaction with BFD were associated with longer EBF and BFD. EBF at birth, less maternal stress, availability of time to express milk, and collegial support were associated with longer EBF. Longer maternal BFD goal, longer maternity leave, existence of laws or regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, later child order, and lower level of maternal depression were associated with longer BFD. Maternal infant-feeding intentions and work-related factors both play important roles in physician mothers' infant-feeding behavior. Longer maternity leave, regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, and workplace support might significantly improve physician mothers' BFD.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Breast Feeding; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intention; Maternal Behavior; Middle Aged; Mothers; Physicians, Women; Pregnancy; Women, Working; Workload; Workplace
PubMed: 32182122
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0193 -
Child Development Mar 2017Depression in mothers is a significant risk factor for the development of maladjustment in children. This article focuses on modifiable risk processes linking depression... (Review)
Review
Depression in mothers is a significant risk factor for the development of maladjustment in children. This article focuses on modifiable risk processes linking depression in mothers and adaptation in their young children (i.e., infancy through preschool age). First, the authors present evidence of the efficacy of interventions for reducing the primary source of risk: maternal depression. Second, they describe a central mechanism-parenting behaviors-underlying the relation between maternal depression and children's adjustment. Third, the authors recommend two different integrated interventions that successfully treat mothers' depression and enhance parenting skills with infants and young children. Finally, the authors note the possible need for supplementary interventions to address severity and comorbidity of mothers' depression, barriers to engaging in treatment, and the sustainability of program benefits.
Topics: Child of Impaired Parents; Child, Preschool; Depressive Disorder, Major; Evidence-Based Practice; Humans; Infant; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Parenting; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 28160275
DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12732 -
Maternal and Child Health Journal Jun 2021Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have far reaching negative impact on both maternal mental health and child growth and development. Multimodal group parenting... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have far reaching negative impact on both maternal mental health and child growth and development. Multimodal group parenting programs have been shown to improve maternal mental health symptoms however, they are often costly to provide and not accessible to many mothers, especially those mothers suffering from mental health symptoms. Therefore, the authors sought to answer the following question by undertaking a systematic review of the literature: are parenting interventions aimed at improving maternal-child interaction also a way to address mental health symptoms (i.e. depression, anxiety, stress) in mothers?
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. An online platform that supports the systematic review process and quality assessment according to Cochrane guidelines, Covidence, was used in conjunction with an adapted extraction tool to identify relevant studies and extract data for analysis.
RESULTS
11 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. There was great heterogeneity between study interventions and measurement of outcomes for maternal mental health symptoms which precluded meta-analysis.
CONCLUSION
Studies reviewed did not demonstrate consistent evidence to recommend that parenting interventions leads to improvement in maternal mental health symptoms for depression, anxiety or stress. However, there was evidence that participating in parenting programs does not worsen these symptoms and some encouraging evidence that alternative delivery methods, beyond face to face, could, with more research, lead to more financially feasible and sustainable models of delivery of these types of interventions in the future.
Topics: Anxiety; Female; Humans; Mental Health; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Parenting
PubMed: 33905064
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-021-03130-6