The study was aimed to explore the values of maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) at different stages of pregnancy using Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) with the construction of reference percentile curves and to examine possible associations between the measures of MFA and major demographic and obstetric characteristics. The study covered…

Each year in the U.S., hundreds of individuals die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, and tens of thousands experience unexpected outcomes such as heart failure. In 2022, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that research showed more than half of rural counties lacked hospital-based services for pregnant…

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of follow-up care and health counselling provided by midwives and nurses in maternal-infant attachment level and relationships between sociodemographic factors. The study was designed as a quasi-experimental pattern with a control group on pretest-posttest. The sample size was determined…

Fear of childbirth (FOC) can lead to maternal distress during and after pregnancy. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine whether art therapy as an adjunct to midwife-led counseling (study group) could reduce FOC significantly more than midwife-led counseling alone (control group). The on-treatment analysis included 82…

The aim of this study is to define the changes within the social dimension of the functional status of women and their partners in the months following the birth of their child. A total of 90 participants were included in the study (45 women and 45 partners). Data were collected in two steps via face-to-face interviews. The first step involved…

Objective: This study explored maternal knowledge of pertussis and Tdap vaccine and the use of a Tdap Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) to improve that knowledge. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Two outpatient obstetric clinics at a US academic medical centre. Methods: An electronic survey was administered to pregnant women who…

Relations between maternal mind-mindedness, parenting stress and obstetric history were investigated in a Chinese sample of 96 mother-infant dyads (M[subscript infants' age] = 15.95 months, M[subscript maternal age] = 30 years). Parenting stress and obstetric history were assessed through questionnaires while mind-mindedness was observed through…

The transition to parenthood marks a significant developmental period for the mother. Clinical and preclinical studies evidence neural and hormonal changes that support maternal behavior that is critical to infant survival and development. These changes suggest marked plasticity as a result of reproduction in the mother. Furthermore, multiple…

Purpose: The role of a structured program of exercise training on the low-risk pregnancy in Iranian women undergoing "in vitro" fertilization (IVF) based on the reduction of gestational diabetes was examined. Method: A comparative quasi-experimental clinical trial with 170 IVF-pregnant women in two intervention and control groups was…

Protecting an unborn baby from abuse and neglect presents particular challenges for professionals due to the uncertainties about appraising future harm and functioning of family relationships. This systematic narrative review synthesises studies of professional decision making by health and social care professionals regarding child protection of…

Objective: To assess the knowledge of nurse-midwife educators on the major causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. Setting: Schools of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria. Method: A total of 292 educators from 171 schools of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria were surveyed for their knowledge of the major causes of maternal mortality as a prelude to…

Background: Adverse birth outcomes are more common among adolescent versus adult mothers, but little is known about school-based services that may improve birth outcomes in this group. Methods: Data from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed. Girls and women who gave birth to singleton live infants…

In this study we analyze whether immigrant mothers in Norway can influence their mode of delivery. Patient preferences were measured as the rate of Caesarean section from their home country, and by a survey question measuring the extent to which people believe they have freedom of choice and control over their lives in their home country.…

Purpose: We examined the association between rural residence and birth outcomes in older mothers, the effect of parity on this association, and the trend in adverse birth outcomes in relation to the distance to the nearest hospital with cesarean-section capacity. Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study, including all singleton…

Objective: To investigate a potential relationship between coincidental increases in perinatal Pitocin usage and subsequent childhood ADHD onset in an attempt to isolate a specific risk factor as an early biomarker of this neurodevelopmental disorder. Method: Maternal labor/delivery and corresponding childbirth records of 172 regionally diverse,…