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Problem: Women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic may be at risk of elevated postpartum mental health problems., Background: Social support protects maternal mental health during a pandemic. It is possible that formal supports, such as continuity maternity models of care, may also support maternal wellbeing., Aim: To investigate whether model of care moderates the association between prenatal maternal stress from the COVID-19 pandemic, and postpartum (a) depression and (b) anxiety., Methods: Women in Australia, pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 3048), completed a survey detailing their COVID-19-related objective hardship and subjective distress during pregnancy and completed depression and anxiety measures at birth to six weeks ("Early"), seven to 21 weeks ("Moderate"), and/or 22-30 weeks ("Late") postpartum., Findings: Higher subjective distress was associated with elevated depression and anxiety at all timepoints. Model of care did not moderate the association of objective hardship or subjective distress and depression or anxiety at any timepoint. Compared with Standard Care, women receiving private midwifery care had a 74 % reduction in the odds of elevated anxiety in early postpartum., Discussion: Women receiving private midwifery may have experienced lower anxiety due to a greater duration of postpartum in-home care, fewer changes to service delivery, and the option of homebirth. Women pregnant during a pandemic should be screened for higher subjective distress about the event., Conclusion: These results suggest that continuity of private midwifery care may be beneficial for supporting postpartum mental health during a pandemic, with implications for practice and policy for the current and future pandemics., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obstetric violence, including unconsented interventions, coercion and disrespect, violates human rights; impacting the physical and psychosocial health of women. The perspective and experience of midwives related to obstetric violence have been explored in low and middle-income countries, with limited research into the experience of midwives in high income nations., Aim: To explore Australian midwives' perspectives of obstetric violence., Methods: Thematic analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 midwives experienced in supporting women during birth. Critical feminist theory underpinned each stage of the research., Findings: Interviews with 15 Australian midwives from diverse care settings were analysed thematically. Four key themes were developed from the data: 'the operationalisation of obstetric violence', 'the impact of obstetric violence' 'the historical and situational context' and 'hope for the future'. Midwives considered entrenched patriarchal structures and gender inequity as fundamental to the occurrence of obstetric violence. This societal scaffold is intensified within health care systems where power imbalances facilitate maternal mistreatment through coercion and grooming women for compliance in the antenatal period. Fragmented care models expose women to mistreatment with continuity models being protective only to a point. Midwives experience their own trauma, as a result of what they have witnessed, and due to the lack of support they receive when advocating for women., Conclusions: Obstetric violence occurs in Australian maternity systems with unconsented interventions, overmedicalisation, coercion, and disrespect observed by midwives. Care-related trauma impacts on the mental health of midwives, raising workforce concerns for policy makers, consumer advocates and professional bodies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The present study aimed to understand, relative to standard care, whether continuity of care models (private midwifery, continuity of care with a private doctor, continuity of care with a public midwife), and women's experience of maternity care provision, during the perinatal period buffered the association between prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) and infant birth outcomes (gestational age [GA], birth weight [BW] and birth weight for gestational age [BW for GA])., Methods: 2207 women who were pregnant in Australia while COVID-19 restrictions were in place reported on their COVID-19 related objective hardship and subjective distress during pregnancy and provided information on their model of maternity care. Infant birth outcomes (BW, GA) were reported on at 2-months postpartum., Results: Multiple linear regressions showed no relationship between PNMS and infant BW, GA or BW for GA, and neither experienced continuity of care, nor model of maternity care moderated this relationship. However, compared with all other models of care, women enrolled in private midwifery care reported the highest levels of experienced continuity of care and birthed infants at higher GA. BW and BW for GA were higher in private midwifery care, relative to standard care., Conclusion: Enrollment in continuous models of perinatal care may be a better predictor of infant birth outcomes than degree of PNMS exposure. These results highlight the possibility that increased, continuous support to women during pregnancy may play an important role in ensuring positive infant birth outcomes during future pandemics., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Problem: Although there is robust evidence for the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP) caseload care, there are limited opportunities for women to access this model in Australia. There is also limited knowledge on how to sustain these services., Background: MGP can benefit childbearing women and babies and improve satisfaction for women and midwives. However, sustainability of the model is challenging. While MGPs are often supported and celebrated, in Australia some services have closed, while others struggle to adequately staff MGPs., Aim: To investigate midwives and managers opinions on the management, culture, and sustainability of MGP., Methods: A national survey of MGP midwives and managers was distributed (2021 and 2022). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis., Results: A total of 579 midwives and 90 managers completed the survey. The findings suggest that many MGPs do not support new graduates and students to work in MGP. Over half (59.8%) the participants (midwives and managers) reported that the women and families were the best aspect about working in MGP, while 44.3% said the effects on midwives' lifestyle and families were the worst aspect., Discussion: The relationship with women remains the major motivator for providing MGP care. However, work-life imbalance is a deterrent, exacerbated by staffing shortages. Staffing might be improved by adequate renumeration, strengthening orientation, and attracting new graduates and students through experience in MGP., Conclusions: There is a need to attract midwives to MGP and improve work-life balance and sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: 'Collegial Midwifery Assistance' (CMA) is a clinical practice aiming to reduce severe perineal trauma (SPT) during childbirth. This practice involves two midwives being present during the active second stage of labour rather than one, which is the case in standard care. The effectiveness of CMA was evaluated in the Oneplus trial and a 30% reduction in SPT was shown., Aim: The aim was to investigate the experience of women who received the CMA intervention in the trial and to explore factors influencing their experiences., Methods: A cohort study using data from the Oneplus trial and a one-month postpartum follow-up questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed., Results: A total of 1050 women who received the CMA intervention responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 35.8% reported that they strongly agreed with feeling safe during the second stage of labour and 42.6% were inclined to have an additional midwife present at a subsequent birth. The intervention was favourably received by women who experienced fear of birth, who were non-native Swedish speakers, and had lower educational attainment. Furthermore, women were more positive towards CMA the longer the intervention lasted., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the CMA intervention is accepted well by women and can be safely implemented into standard care. The duration of the CMA intervention was an important factor that influenced women's experiences and should be used to guide future practice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: To reduce transmission risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'telehealth' (health care delivered via telephone/video-conferencing) was implemented into Australian maternity services. Whilst some reports on telehealth implementation ensued, there was scant evidence on women and midwives' perspectives regarding telehealth use., Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Australia during 2020-2021 using two data sources from the Birth in the Time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) study: i) interviews and ii) surveys (open-text responses). Content analysis was utilised to analyse the data and explore telehealth from the perspective of midwives and women accessing maternity care services. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women and 16 midwives. Survey responses were provided from 687 midwives and 2525 women who were pregnant or gave birth in 2021, generating 212 and 812 comments respectively., Findings: Telehealth delivery was variable nationally and undertaken primarily by telephone/videoconferencing. Perceived benefits included: reduced COVID-19 transmission risk, increased flexibility, convenience and cost efficiency. However, women described inadequate assessment, and negative impacts on communication and rapport development. Midwives had similar concerns and also reported technological challenges., Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth offered flexibility, convenience and cost efficiency whilst reducing COVID-19 transmission, yet benefits came at a cost. Telehealth may particularly suit women in rural and remote areas, however, it also has the potential to further reduce equitable, and appropriate care delivery for those at greatest risk of poor outcomes. Telehealth may play an adjunct role in post-pandemic maternity services, but is not a suitable replacement to traditional face-to-face maternity care., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no personal or financial relationships that influence the development of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite robust evidence on the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP), there remains difficulties with implementing and sustaining the model. However, contemporary data on the MGP workforce and how each model has been operationalised are limited. This constrains an understanding of the factors that help or hinder implementation and sustainability of MGP., Aim: To describe the characteristics of Australian MGPs and the factors that help or hinder sustainability., Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Australia between March 2021 and July 2022, inclusive. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis., Findings: Of 669 survey responses, 579 were midwives and 90 were managers. The mean years of experience for clinical midwives was eight years, and 47.8% (almost twice the national average) completed a Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid). Half (50.2%) the models provided care for women of all risk. Midwives resigned from MGP because of the MGP work conditions (30%) and how the service was managed or supported (12.7%). Managers resigned from MGP because of role changes, conflict with their manager, and limited support. Almost half (42.6%) of MGP managers also managed other areas, leading to heavy workloads, competing demands, and burnout., Conclusion: The BMid appears to be a common educational pathway for MGP midwives, and many MGP services are providing care to women with complexities. Flexible practice agreements, organisational support and appropriate workloads are vital for recruitment, retention, and sustainability of MGP., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Midwives provide reproductive healthcare to women, including during termination of pregnancy (TOP) after 12 weeks (late TOP). Their expertise, knowledge and woman-centred care approach sees them ideally placed for this role. However, the medical, social and emotional complexities of late TOP can cause midwives significant distress. An integrative review methodology was used to examine the research on midwifery care for late TOP and identify support strategies and interventions available to midwives in this role. Five databases and reference lists were searched for relevant studies published between 2000 and 2021. A total of 2545 records were identified and 24 research studies included. Synthesis of research findings resulted in three themes: Positive aspects, negative aspects and carers need care. Midwives reported a high level of job satisfaction when caring for women during late TOP. Learning new skills and overcoming challenges were positive aspects of their work. Yet, midwives felt unprepared to deal with challenging aspects of late TOP care such as the grief and the psychological burden of the role. Caring for the baby with dignity had both positive and negative aspects. Midwives relied predominantly on close colleagues for help and debriefing as they felt poorly supported by management, judged by co-workers and lacked appropriate support to reduce the emotional effects of late TOP care. Midwives need support, although current evidence has not identified the most appropriate and effective strategy to support them in this role., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Childbirth education, which includes providing information and practical techniques to help manage childbirth, aims to support women and their birth partners. It is unknown how birth partners and care providers influence the utilisation of childbirth education information and techniques during women's labour and birth., Aim: To explore the literature that investigates the influence that birth partners and care-providers have on the application of childbirth education information and techniques used by women during childbirth., Methods: A meta-ethnography was performed using a systematic synthesis of reciprocal translation and refutational investigation. There were 22 papers included in the final synthesis. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBIQARI) quality appraisal tool for qualitative studies., Findings: An over-arching theme of 'you are either with me on this or not' emerged from the data, which expressed the positive and negative influences on the use of childbirth education information and techniques during labour and birth. The influence of birth partners was captured in the themes 'stepping up to their full potential' and 'a spare part'. The themes 'in alignment with the woman' and 'managed by another' were conceptualised from the data in relation to care-providers' influence. A theme, 'the right fit', described organisational and contextual influences., Conclusion: Birth partners and care-providers who are present during a woman's labour have significant potential to influence her use of childbirth education strategies in labour, which provides important insights for translation of evidence into practice., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pregnant women are entitled to quality care during pregnancy. Some health districts offer a variety of maternity care models but, not all women are aware of what is available and there is limited research on the experiences of women within their chosen or allocated model of care., Aim: The aim of this integrative review is to explore the available literature on women's experiences of the model of care accessed during pregnancy., Method: A database search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, OVID, JBI and Cochrane Database was conducted to identify original research articles published in English between 2011 and 2021. In total, 20 articles met the inclusion criteria., Findings: The included papers came from nine different countries and reported on eight different models of care. Following analysis of the articles one overarching theme 'Model of care matters', and six sub themes were identified: 1.'Choosing a model', 2.'Learning about pregnancy and birth', 3.'Being known', 4.'Making social and emotional connections', 5.'Receiving enabling or disabling care' and 6.'Integrated care is best'. Some women disclosed that they had no choice in the model they were allocated, while others stated they were not provided with information about all available models of care., Conclusion: A lack of integrated care between medical and midwifery models led to feelings of dissatisfaction and distress during pregnancy. Positive experiences were reported when women developed a connection with the care provider. The development of a well-informed decision aid could alleviate deficits of information, and clarify the subtle differences that occur within various models., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2023 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Maternity care in Australia is predominantly provided by midwives, many who give birth. There is a paucity of research on midwives' own childbearing preferences and experiences., Aim: To explore midwives childbirth preferences and outcomes when giving birth to their first child in Australia, after qualifying as a midwife., Methods: An online national survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics., Findings: 447 midwives responded, with the majority of midwives indicating a preference for a normal vaginal birth with a known care provider under a continuity of midwifery care model. For midwives who were first time mothers, 66% had normal vaginal births, 16.3% had an instrumental birth, and 16.8% had caesarean births. Over 85% of midwives received the model of care they wanted and 45% had continuity of midwifery care. While a quarter of midwives wanted a homebirth,11.2% achieved this. Over three quarters (75.4%) of midwives were cared for by a care provider of their choosing., Discussion: There was a difference in models of care accessed and birth outcomes between midwives and other women giving birth for the first-time in Australia. Australian midwives appear to have the advantage of clinical and scientific knowledge to navigate the maternity care system to get the birth care and outcomes they want., Conclusion: It is possible that professional experience, insider knowledge, and existing relationships with other midwifery friends and colleagues, affords midwives a higher degree of agency and autonomy when it comes to getting the maternity care and birth outcomes that they want., (Crown Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In 2019 the Australian government released a guiding document for maternity care: Woman-centred care strategic directions for Australian maternity services (WCC Strategy), with mixed responses from providers and consumers. The aims of this paper were to: examine reasons behind reported dissatisfaction, and compare the WCC Strategy against similar international strategies/plans. The four guiding values in the WCC strategy: safety, respect, choice, and access were used to facilitate comparisons and provide recommendations to governments/health services enacting the plan., Methods: Maternity plans published in English from comparable high-income countries were reviewed., Findings: Eight maternity strategies/plans from 2011 to 2021 were included. There is an admirable focus in the WCC Strategy on respectful care, postnatal care, and culturally appropriate maternity models. Significant gaps in support for continuity of midwifery care and place of birth options were notable, despite robust evidence supporting both. In addition, clarity around women's right to make decisions about their care was lacking or contradictory in the majority of the strategies/plans. Addressing hierarchical, structure-based obstacles to regulation, policy, planning, service delivery models and funding mechanisms may be necessary to overcome concerns and barriers to implementation. We observed that countries where midwifery is more strongly embedded and autonomous, have guidelines recommending greater contributions from midwives., Conclusion: Maternity strategy/plans should be based on the best available evidence, with consistent and complementary recommendations. Within this framework, priority should be given to women's preferences and choices, rather than the interests of organisations and individuals., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Lynne Johnson is on the Board of the Canberra Mothercraft Society (CMS) and Mary Kirk is a member of CMS., (Copyright © 2023 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There has been an increased focus on clinical practice that may reduce severe perineal trauma due to awareness of the associated morbidity. Knowledge regarding the best practice to reduce these injuries is limited. Collegial midwifery assistance during the second stage of labour that involves an additional midwife being present has recently been implemented into many Swedish birth units with the aim of reducing severe perineal trauma. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate midwives' experiences and views of this practice., Aim: The aim of this study was to explore midwives' experiences of collegial midwifery assistance during the second stage of labour., Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken with five focus groups conducted with 37 midwives who were part of a multisite randomised controlled trial. The data was analysed with reflexive thematic analysis., Findings: Four key themes were generated: (i) "challenging the professional role"; (ii) "a balancing act between different roles"; (iii) "not just why and how - but who"; (iv) "a potential arena for learning"., Conclusion: This practice enabled valuable collegial support and learning. The midwives' experiences were multifaceted and influenced by several factors, including norms and culture in the birth units as well as personal relationships and the midwives' views on their role and childbirth. Staffing should be adapted in clinical practice to optimise the conditions for collegial support and learning while avoiding unintended consequences., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest No conflicts of interest declared., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Adopting an upright sacrum flexible position may facilitate physiological childbirth, which many pregnant women wish for. A positive association between women's choice on birthing position and birthing experience has been found., Objective: The aim of this study was to examine women's preferred birth position, self-efficacy at term and their actual birth position at time of birth., Methods: A survey of 554 pregnant Danish women at gestational week 38. Data was collected using an online survey and information was retracted from the woman's medical record. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between self-efficacy and fulfilled wish of birth position., Findings: The majority of women (>70 %) wished to give birth in a sacrum flexible position but more than 80 % gave birth in a non-flexible position. Less than 50 % had their wish of birth position fulfilled. All women reported overall high self-efficacy. No difference in having wish for birth position fulfilled was found comparing women with high and low self-efficacy., Conclusions: Most women wished for a sacrum flexible position but more than 80% gave birth in a sacrum non-flexible position and less than 50% had their wish for birth position fulfilled. Level of self-efficacy did not affect the likelihood of having wish of birth position fulfilled indicating that the culture at the birth setting and skills and attitudes among birth providers may have a considerable impact on women's choice of birth position., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Even in maternity care systems with free midwifery care, some women intentionally choose to birth unattended by any health professional (freebirth). Women who choose freebirth represent an enigma for many, and a provocation to some. However, people who do not conform to dominant medical practices are a source of valuable insights that can reveal shortcomings in the mainstream health care system. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore and understand women's motivations and preparations for freebirth., Methods: The study was informed by the theoretical lens of the 'undisciplined patient'. Qualitative, in-depth interviews were performed with ten Danish women, who for their most recent birth had planned to freebirth. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis., Results: Four themes were identified. "The standard system is not for me" describes negative experiences during previous births and the desire for more individualised support. "Re-establishing trust in myself" describes the women's quest for recognizing their own needs and re-building autonomy and inner strength. "I do my research" describes how the women sought new ways of knowing and prioritised experiential knowledge. And finally, "I create my safe space" describes the women's efforts to create the best possible physical and emotional space for themselves and their babies in order to have a safe and autonomous birth experience., Conclusion: Freebirth is not undertaken lightly or without preparation by women. Improved continuity of care as well as greater flexibility in hospital guidelines could accommodate some of these women's demand for autonomy in birth., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) are recommended for treatment of urinary incontinence with less evidence available about the effect on female sexual function (FSF) and childbirth., Aim: To investigate the effect of antenatal PFME on FSF during pregnancy and the first three months following birth as a primary outcome, and on labour and birth outcomes as a secondary outcome., Method: 200 nulliparous women were randomised to control (n = 100) and intervention (n = 100) groups. The women in the intervention group (IG) undertook PFME from 20 weeks gestation until birth and had routine antenatal care, while those in the control group (CG) received routine antenatal care only. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to measure FSF at 36 weeks gestation and three months postnatal. Baseline characteristics and childbirth data were also collected and analysed using SPSS., Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of FSF scores during pregnancy and on childbirth outcomes. Sexual satisfaction was slightly higher in the CG [Mean ± SD, CG: 4.35 ± 1.45 vs. IG: 3.70 ± 1.50, (P = 0.03)] at three months after birth. However, 50% of women adhered to the PFME, and 40% of women did not resume sex by three months after the birth., Conclusion: Though some trends were observed, the results showed no effect of PFME on sexual function or labour and birth outcomes. This needs to be interpreted considering the 50% adherence to PFME. More research is recommended., (Copyright © 2022 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Perineal trauma requiring suturing is increasing, along with the associated physiological and psychological morbidities for women. Provider training appears to focus more on technical aspects rather than respectful, relational care for women. Studies exploring women's experiences have identified that how women are cared for can significantly impact upon overall experiences., Aim: To identify areas of improvement to the perineal suturing process and provide robust recommendations for urgent change by investigating what aspects are most traumatic to women and which are most supportive., Methods: A pragmatic qualitative analysis of data generated from 15 in-depth interviews with women who were sutured following birth., Findings: Regardless of tear severity, what was identified as helpful included anything that made the process better by increasing feelings of trust and reassurance, and providing women with a sense of being seen and heard. Harmful experiences were identified as those that worsened the experience, by increasing feelings of fear and vulnerability and leaving women with a sense of being disregarded or disrespected., Conclusion: The study confirmed that how the suturing process is conducted can have a significant detrimental impact upon women's short- and longer-term physical and psychological well-being., Implications for Practice: An improved experience for women is most likely with kind professionals who explain the process as it goes along, check-in regularly and validate how the women feel. Women prefer to be sutured by a known professional, only if this provider is also kind and respectful., (Copyright © 2022 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is a need for evidence-based guidance on complementary medicines and therapies (CMT) use during pregnancy due to high prevalence of use and lack of guidance on the balance of benefit and harms., Aim: Evaluate the extent to which current clinical practice guidelines relevant to Australian healthcare professionals make clear and unambiguous recommendations about CMT use in pregnancy, and synthesise these recommendations., Methods: The search included EMBASE, PubMed, the National Health and Medical Research Council's Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal, and websites of Australian maternity hospitals and professional/not-for-profit organisations for published guidelines on pregnancy care. Data were synthesised narratively. Guidelines were appraised by two independent reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument., Findings: A total of 48 guidelines were found, of which 41% provided recommendations that were not limited to routine vitamin and mineral supplementation. There were wide variations in recommendations, particularly for vitamin D and calcium. There was some consensus on recommending ginger and vitamin B6 for nausea and vomiting, and additional supplementation for women with obesity. Guidelines generally scored poorly in the domains of editorial independence and rigour of development., Discussion: There is a lack of guidance with regard to appropriate CMT use during pregnancy, which may result in less-than-optimal care. Inconsistency between guidelines may lead to variations in care., Conclusion: Guidelines should include clear and unambiguous guidance on appropriate CMT use during pregnancy, be based on a structured search of the evidence and informed by stakeholder engagement., (Copyright © 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Severe perineal trauma (SPT) affecting the anal sphincter muscle complex is a serious complication following childbirth, associated with short-term and long-term maternal morbidity. Effective preventive strategies are still scarce. The aim of the Oneplus trial was to test the hypothesis that the presence of a second midwife during the second stage of labour, with the purpose of preventing SPT, would result in fewer injuries affecting the anal sphincter than if attended by one midwife., Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, controlled parallel group, unmasked trial done at five obstetric units in Sweden, women were randomly assigned to be assisted by either one or two midwives in late second stage. Nulliparous women and women planning the first vaginal birth after caesarean section who were age 18-47 years were randomly assigned to an intervention when reaching the second stage of labour. Further inclusion criteria were gestational week 37+0, carrying a singleton live fetus in vertex presentation, and proficiency in either Swedish, English, Arabic, or Farsi. Exclusion criteria were a multiple pregnancy, intrauterine fetal demise, a planned caesarean section, or women who were less than 37 weeks pregnant. Randomisation to the intervention group of two midwives or standard care group of one midwife (1:1) was done using a computer-based program and treatment groups were allocated by use of sealed opaque envelopes. All women and midwives were aware of the group assignment, but the statistician from Clinical Studies Forum South, who did the analyses, was masked to group assignment. Midwives were instructed to implement existing prevention models and the second midwife was to assist on instruction of the primary midwife, when asked. Midwives were also instructed to complete case report forms detailing assistance techniques and perineal trauma prevention techniques. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who had SPT, for which odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated, and logistic regression was done to adjust for study site. All analyses were done according to intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0377096., Findings: Between Dec 10, 2018, and March 21, 2020, 8866 women were assessed for eligibility, and 4264 met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. 3776 (88·5%) of 4264 women were randomly assigned to an intervention after reaching the second stage of labour. 1892 women were assigned to collegial assistance (two midwives) during the second stage of labour and 1884 women were assigned to standard care (one midwife). 13 women in each group did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded. After further exclusions, 1546 women spontaneously gave birth in the intervention group and 1513 in the standard care group. 1546 women in the intervention group and 1513 in the standard care group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome. There was a significant reduction in SPT in the intervention group (3·9% [61 of 1546] vs 5·7% [86 of 1513]; adjusted OR 0·69 (0·49-0·97)., Interpretation: The presence of two midwives during the active second stage can reduce SPT in women giving birth for the first time., Funding: The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare; Jan Hains Research Foundation; and Skane County Council's Research and Development Foundation., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Women experience pain from a number of causes during the postpartum period. Although pharmacological pain relief has shown to be effective, the efficacy of non-pharmacological methods of pain relief will be of interest to breastfeeding women. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the efficacy and safety of complementary approaches to manage postpartum pain., Methods: A search of English language databases from their inception to 2020 was undertaken for randomised controlled trials and included primiparous and multiparous women who experienced postpartum pain up to two weeks post birth. The primary outcome was pain. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool., Results: Thirty trials were included in the review, 25 trials (2,413 women) were included in the meta-analysis. Two trials of massage found a reduction in pain following caesarean birth within the first 24 h post birth (MD -2.64, 95-2.82 to -2.46, 184 women, I 2 0%), and at seven days postpartum (MD -1.91, 95%CI -2.42 to -1.40, 2 trials, 120 women I 2 37%). Two trials conducted with women receiving an episiotomy found reduction in perineal pain from herbal ointments within 24 h (MD -1.33, 95% CI -.96 to -0.70, 221 women) and at 14 days postpartum (MD -0.74, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.47, 4 trials). Few trials reported on safety, few trials were at an overall low risk of bias, and overall the quality of evidence was very low., Conclusion: Further high quality trials are needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of herbal ointment and massage during the early postpartum period., (© 2021 Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Although there is high-level evidence supporting positive perinatal outcomes for midwifery group practice (MGP) care, not all women can access this model due to a failure to implement or sustain it. The way that MGPs are managed could be an important factor in whether they are successful in the long-term., Aim: To explore what determines optimal management of MGP in Australia, and the influence it has on sustainability of MGP., Methods: Interviews were conducted with MGP midwives (n=8). Transcriptions of the audio recordings were analysed thematically and lexically for triangulation., Findings: Following a thematic analysis of the data, an over-arching theme emerged - namely - being valued and supported, with three sub-themes: a nice little sweet spot, someone to stand up for you, and building relationships and support beyond the model. This revealed that value and support by all stakeholders, including the midwives themselves, was necessary to sustain an MGP. The lexical analysis revealed the themes: support, the system, and the caseload. This analysis highlighted the importance of the system - specifically, the impact of the institution on how MGP is operationalised., Conclusion: For MGP to be sustained in Australia, it needs to be prioritised, nurtured, and embraced by the whole maternity care system. Management plays an important role in ensuring the right people are employed to pivotal positions and that midwifery-led models of care are valued and supported throughout the system., (Copyright © 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Organisational culture and place of birth have an impact on the variation in birth outcomes seen in different settings., Aim: To explore how childbirth is constructed and influenced by context in three birth settings in Australia., Method: This ethnographic study included observations of 25 healthy women giving birth in three settings: home (9), two birth centres (10), two obstetric units (9). Individual interviews were undertaken with these women at 6-8 weeks after birth and focus groups were conducted with 37 midwives working in the three settings: homebirth (11), birth centres (10) and obstetric units (16)., Results: All home birth participants adopted a forward leaning position for birth and no vaginal examinations occurred. In contrast, all women in the obstetric unit gave birth on a bed with at least one vaginal examination. One summary concept emerged, Philosophy of childbirth and place of birth as synergistic mechanisms of effect. This was enacted in practice through 'running the gauntlet', based on the following synthesis: For women and midwives, depending on their childbirth philosophy, place of birth is a stimulus for, or a protection from, running the gauntlet of the technocratic approach to birth. The birth centres provided an intermediate space where the complex interplay of factors influencing acceptance of, or resistance to the gauntlet were most evident., Conclusions: A complex interaction exists between prevailing childbirth philosophies of women and midwives and the birth environment. Behaviours that optimise physiological birth were associated with increasing philosophical, and physical, distance from technocratic childbirth norms., (Copyright © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.)

Background: In Australia there have been regulatory and insurance changes negatively affecting homebirth., Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics, needs and experiences of women choosing to have a homebirth in Australia., Methods: A national survey was conducted and promoted through social media networks to women who have planned a homebirth in Australia. Data were analysed to generate descriptive statistics., Findings: 1681 surveys were analysed. The majority of women indicated a preference to give birth at home with a registered midwife. However, if a midwife was not available, half of the respondents indicated they would give birth without a registered midwife (freebirth) or find an unregistered birthworker. A further 30% said they would plan a hospital or birth centre birth. In choosing homebirth, women disclosed that they wanted to avoid specific medical interventions and the medicalised hospital environment. Nearly 60% of women reported at least one risk factor that would have excluded them from a publicly funded homebirth programme. Many women described their previous hospital experience as traumatic (32%) and in some cases, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 6%). Only 5% of women who reported on their homebirth experience considered it to be traumatic (PTSD, 1%). The majority of these were associated with how they were treated when transferred to hospital in labour., Conclusion: There is an urgent need to expand homebirth options in Australia and humanise mainstream maternity care. A potential rise in freebirth may be the consequences of inaction., (Copyright © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In Australia the majority of homebirths are attended by privately practising midwives (PPMs). In recent years PPMs have been increasingly reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) mostly by other health professionals., Purpose: to explore the experiences of PPMs in Australia who have been reported to the AHPRA., Methods: A qualitative interpretive approach, employing in-depth interviews with eight PPMs was undertaken and analysed using thematic analysis. A feminist theoretical framework was used to underpin the research., Results: The majority of reports made to AHPRA occurred when midwives supported women who chose care considered outside the recommended Australian College of Midwives (ACM) Consultation and Referral Guidelines. During data analysis an overarching theme emerged, "Caught between women and the system", which described the participants' feelings of working as a PPM in Australia. There were six themes and several sub-themes: The suppression of midwifery, A flawed system, Lack of support, Devastation on so many levels, Making changes in the aftermath and Walking a tight rope forever. The findings from this study reveal that midwives who are under investigation suffer from emotional and psychological distress. Understanding the effects of the process of investigation is important to improve the quality of professional and personal support available to PPMs who are reported to AHPRA and to streamline processes., Conclusion: It is becoming increasingly difficult for PPMs to support the wishes and needs of individual women and also meet the requirements of the regulators, as well as the increasingly risk averse health service., (Copyright © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many women living in Middle Eastern countries report negative, dehumanising experiences of childbirth. Finding effective ways of changing maternity care to improve women's experience is needed but is challenging., Aim: This paper explores the potential strategies to improve birthing experiences of women in Jordan and identifies the facilitators and obstacles to change., Method: A qualitative interpretive research design underpinned by a feminist approach was used. Seventeen community women, 14 midwives and midwifery leaders were engaged in workshops and face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis undertaken., Results: An overarching theme "From hopelessness to some hope" emerged from data analysis and comprised of two themes: 'It's hopeless-there are so many obstacles'; and 'Finding some hope for the way forward'. The community women were unhappy with the current maternity services but accepted the situation. Midwives offered explanations for the way women are treated, including that women have no voice. For these participants, the obstacles seemed almost insurmountable; however, there was some hope expressed about potential for small changes to occur., Conclusions: This study highlights the value of women and midwives sharing experiences and listening to the stories of women. Listening to women's birth stories may also be an important element of undergraduate and continuing education in Jordan. Small changes, such as promoting women's dignity by ensuring they are covered during birth are possible, but real change needs to be generated at a professional and societal level., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Problem: The COVID-19 pandemic response has required planning for the safe provision of care. In Australia, privately practising midwives are an important group to consider as they often struggle for acceptance by the health system., Background: There are around 200 Endorsed Midwives eligible to practice privately in Australia (privately practising midwives) who provide provide the full continuum of midwifery care., Aim: To explore the experience of PPMs in relation to the response to planning for the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: An online survey was distributed through social media and personal networks to privately practising midwives in Australia in April 2020., Results: One hundred and three privately practising midwives responded to the survey. The majority (82%) felt very, or well informed, though nearly half indicated they would value specifically tailored information especially from professional bodies. One third (35%) felt prepared regarding PPE but many lacked masks, gowns and gloves, hand sanitiser and disinfectant. Sixty four percent acquired PPE through social media community sharing sites, online orders, hardware stores or made masks. Sixty-eight percent of those with collaborative arrangements with local hospitals reported a lack of support and were unable to support women who needed transfer to hospital. The majority (93%) reported an increase in the number of enquiries relating to homebirth., Conclusion: Privately practising midwives were resourceful, sought out information and were prepared. Support from the hospital sector was not always present. Lessons need to be learned especially in terms of integration, support, education and being included as part of the broader health system., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Privacy is related to a person's sense of self and the need to be respected and it is a key factor that contributes to women's satisfaction with their birth experiences., Aim: To examine the meaning of privacy for Jordanian women during labour and birth., Method: A qualitative interpretive design was used. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 27 Jordanian women. Of these women, 20 were living in Jordan while seven were living in Australia (with birthing experience in both Jordan and Australia). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data., Results: The phrase 'there is no privacy' captured women's experience of birth in Jordanian public hospitals and in some private hospital settings. Women in public hospitals in Jordan had to share a room during their labour with no screening. This experience meant that they were, "lying there for everyone to see", "not even covered by a sheet" and with doctors and others coming in and out of their room. This experience contrasted with birth experienced in Australia., Conclusions: This study explicates the meaning of privacy to Jordanian women and demonstrates the impact of the lack of privacy during labour and birth. Seeking a birth in a private hospital in Jordan was one of the strategies that women used to gain privacy, although this was not always achieved. Some strategies were identified to facilitate privacy, such as being covered by a sheet; however, even simple practices are difficult to change in a patriarchal, medically dominated maternity system., (Copyright © 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The postpartum period can be challenging for many women. For migrant women, the arrival of a new baby brings unique issues. This study aimed to explore the experiences of motherhood and postpartum support of Indian migrant mothers., Methods: A qualitative descriptive naturalist inquiry was adopted, with data collected through face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 11 English speaking Indian migrant women over 18 years old, (6 weeks to 6 months postpartum) in 2016. The data were thematically analysed., Findings: Four themes were found in this study: the role of social support in postpartum care, support from health services, a psycho-emotional journey with socio-cultural expectations and struggling to bridge two cultures. Many of the women felt alone and were distressed with undertaking household duties and caring for older children, as this would not have happened in India. The women expressed needing practical support until they settled back into their normal lives. Women never sought professional advice for their ongoing mental health concerns. Conflicting advice from health professionals left some women confused about their expectations of traditional and modern postnatal care., Conclusion: This study gives a unique insight into the experiences of Indian migrant women following birth. There is a need for culturally sensitive and appropriate postnatal services that encourage Indian men to support their partners and help women to find alternative sources of culturally appropriate support. It is vital that mental health support is a key component of any such program of care., (Copyright © 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To undertake a systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of mind body approaches for women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP)., Design: A search was undertaken of databases from inception to 2019 for randomised and quasi randomised controlled trials., Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was a reduction in systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure for women with hypertension and or preeclampsia in pregnancy., Results: 121 studies were identified and eight studies were included in this review. These included mind body interventions examining yoga, guided imagery, relaxation, music, and acupuncture for HDP. Two studies of relaxation found a reduction in systolic (MD -11.3, 95%CI -13.23 to -9.39) and diastolic blood pressure (MD -6.59, 95%CI -9.43 to -3.75) and reduced stress (MD -11.4, 95%CI -16.5 to -6.3). In one study of yoga, the risk of developing HDP was reduced (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.91, 59 women) and a second study found a reduction in stress at the end of the intervention of yoga. One trial of guided imagery found a reduction in mean arterial blood pressure compared to the control (4.35, 95% -8.04 to -0.66, p=0.02). Overall there was no effect on the development of preeclampsia, use of anti-hypertensive medication and any neonatal outcomes from the interventions evaluated. Few trials reported on safety outcomes, one trial of acupuncture reported one case of placental abruption and three cases of acupuncture related side effects., Conclusion: Few high quality trials have examined the effectiveness and safety of mind body interventions to manage HDP. Relaxation, yoga, guided imagery and music may have some potential benefit. Safety issues are completely unclear and thus the risk-benefit ratio of all interventions could not be determined. Further research is recommended., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although induction of labor can be crucial for preventing morbidity and mortality, more and more women (and their offspring) are being exposed to the disadvantages of this intervention while the benefit is at best small or even uncertain. Characteristics such as an advanced maternal age, a non-native ethnicity, a high Body Mass Index, an artificially assisted conception, and even nulliparity are increasingly considered an indication for induction of labor. Because induction of labor has many disadvantages, a debate is urgently needed on which level of risk justifies routine induction of labor for healthy women, only based on characteristics that are associated with statistically significant small absolute risk differences, compared to others without these characteristics. This commentary contributes to this debate by arguing why induction of labour should not routinely be offered to all women where there is a small increase in absolute risk, and no any other medical risks or complications during pregnancy. To underpin our statement, national data from the Netherlands were used reporting stillbirth rates in groups of women based on their characteristics, for each gestational week from 37 weeks of gestation onwards., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anecdotally, the number of Australian women who choose unregulated birthworkers to support a homebirth without a registered midwife present is increasing., Aim: To explore the experiences and reasons why some women choose unregulated birthworkers for a homebirth, and examine what they might do if changes in legislation removed this choice., Methods: A survey was distributed via social media networks and data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Content analysis was undertaken on open-ended questions., Findings: Eighty-two women completed the survey. Most reported they achieved an undisturbed homebirth with a flexible carer who provided continuity of care and respect for their choices irrespective of risk factors. Three women whose babies died described their homebirth with an unregulated birthworker as the worst experience of their life. Motivators for choosing an unregulated birthworker to support homebirth were: previous negative and traumatising birth experiences; limited choice; and lack of access to midwifery led models of care within mainstream services. Only a third of the women in this study said they would birth in a hospital if legislation prevented their access to an unregulated birthworker's support for a future birth., Conclusion: Maternity services in Australia do not meet all women's needs, leaving some feeling no other option exists but to seek an unregulated birthworker to support a homebirth. Previous negative experiences with maternity healthcare providers, inflexible systems of care, and limited access to funding for homebirth with privately practising midwives were identified as motivating factors. These issues require solutions to prevent homebirth going underground., (Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite links between poor maternal oral health, adverse pregnancy outcomes and early childhood decay there is limited emphasis on maternal oral health in Australia. To address this, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in collaboration with the Australian College of Midwives., Aims: To undertake a process evaluation and explore perceptions of midwives involved in the MIOH-DS program to determine its practicability, acceptability and feasibility if it were to be up-scaled and implemented into clinical practice., Methods: Qualitative content analysis was undertaken on data from three focus groups with 21 midwives., Findings: Midwives generally found the MIOH-DS to be acceptable and feasible with potential for widespread scalability. The trust women had in midwives was an important factor in gaining women's attention about oral health in pregnancy. The program assisted in increasing midwives' knowledge and awareness, though some felt it was outside their scope of practice. The oral health assessment tool was acceptable to midwives but some concerns were expressed about undertaking a visual oral inspection. Most midwives stated they were now confident with referring individuals to a dentist. Significant barriers to widespread implementation included the cost of dental care and the continued lack of awareness and misconceptions pregnant women had towards oral health., Conclusion: Midwives found the MIOH-DS to be acceptable and feasible which are two important barriers to potential implementation at scale. Misconceptions over the importance of oral health by women and cost of accessing dental services still need resolving., (Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite well-known benefits of continuity of midwifery care, less than 10% of women have access to this model of care in Australia. Staff retention and satisfaction are strongly related to the quality of management; however, little is known about the attributes required to effectively manage a midwifery group practice., Purpose: To explore the attributes midwifery group practice managers require to be effective managers and how these attributes can be developed to promote service sustainability., Methods: A qualitative interpretive approach, employing in-depth interviews with eight midwifery leaders was undertaken and analysed using thematic analysis., Results: The overarching theme described the ideal midwifery group practice manager as someone who stands up for midwives and women and is 'Holding the ground for midwifery, for women'. Subthemes demonstrate midwifery group practice management is complex: 'having it', describes the intrinsic traits of an effective leader; 'someone with their hand on the steering wheel' illustrates the day to day job of being a manager and the role of 'juggling the forces' that surround group practice; 'helping managers to manage better' explored the need for managers to be educated and supported for the role., Conclusions: Managers require certain attributes to effectively manage these unique services, whilst also juggling the needs of the organisation as a whole. Having transformational leadership qualities with vision to lead the practice into the future are key. There needs to be better support and preparation for the role if midwifery group practice is to be a sustainable option for women and midwives., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: In Australia, the provision of homebirth services by unregulated birthworkers (doulas, ex-registered midwives, traditional midwives and lay workers) has increased. Accessing a homebirth with a registered midwife via mainstream services is limited. Concern is growing that new legislation aimed at prohibiting unregulated birthworkers practice may result in homebirth going underground., Aim: To explore the role, practice and training of unregulated birthworkers in Australian and establish what they would do if legislation prohibited their practice., Methods: This study used a mixed methods sequential exploratory design to explore the practice, training and role of unregulated birthworkers in Australia. In phase one, four unregulated birthworkers were interviewed in-depth and the findings informed the development of a survey in phase two. This was distributed nationally through two consumer websites, social media, Facebook and email. Data from both phases were integrated., Findings: Unregulated birthworkers in Australia provide homebirth services to women with high and low-risk pregnancies when this choice is unavailable or unacceptable within mainstream services. They operate covertly to protect their practice and avoid the scrutiny of authorities. Unregulated birthworkers can be experienced and trained in childbirth care and practice, much like a midwife working within a holistic paradigm of care., Conclusion: Unregulated birthworkers believe they provide women with the homebirth service they want but cannot access. Mainstream service providers need to listen to consumer criticisms, as women seek answers outside the system. Change is needed to improve and align services with women's expectations of homebirth., (Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Problem: Providing skin-to-skin contact in the operating theatre and recovery is challenging., Background: Barriers are reported in the provision of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact following a caesarean section., Aim: To explore how health professionals' practice impacts the facilitation of skin-to-skin contact within the first 2h following a caesarean section., Methods: Video ethnographic research was conducted utilising video recordings, observations, field notes, focus groups and interviews., Findings: The maternal body was divided in the operating theatre and mothers were perceived as 'separate' from their baby in the operating theatre and recovery. Obstetricians' were viewed to 'own' the lower half of women; anaesthetists were viewed to 'own' the top half and midwives were viewed to 'own' the baby after birth. Midwives' responsibility for the baby either negatively or positively affected the mother's ability to 'own' her baby, because midwives controlled what maternal-infant contact occurred. Mothers desired closeness with their baby, including skin-to-skin contact, however they realised that 'owning' their baby in the surgical environment could be challenging., Discussion: Health professionals' actions are influenced by their environment and institutional regulations. Further education can improve the provision of skin-to-skin contact after caesarean sections. Skin-to-skin contact can help women remain with their baby and obtain a sense of control after their caesarean section., Conclusion: Providing skin-to-skin contact in the first 2h after caesarean sections has challenges. Despite this, health professionals can meet the mother's desire to 'own' her baby by realising they are one entity, encouraging skin-to-skin contact and avoiding maternal and infant separation., (Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Research indicates some women experiencing depression during pregnancy are dissatisfied with conventional depression treatments due to incomplete effectiveness, dislike of side effects, unsatisfactory experiences with providers and concerns regarding in-utero and breastfeeding safety. Consequently, many explore alternative options including acupuncture. To further understand women's views, preferences and motivations in this regard, as well as their experiences of receiving acupuncture as part of a three-armed pragmatic randomised controlled trial evaluating acupuncture for antenatal depression in Sydney, Australia, in-depth interviews were conducted with a group of acupuncture recipients., Methods: Eight participants who had completed the eight-treatment intervention were interviewed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis., Results: The overarching theme to emerge was that women 'felt trapped between a rock and a hard place', in not wanting to feel the way they did, but also not knowing what else to do, as conventional treatments had been inadequate or unsatisfactory, or were now unacceptable during pregnancy. With a mixture of curiosity and open-mindedness, or scepticism and desperation, the women in this study decided to try acupuncture, to 'give it a go', in the hope of receiving benefits. After treatment, these women reported being surprised by 'gaining relief' from symptoms, that they also felt were cumulative and ongoing., Conclusions: The women in this study described gaining benefits from acupuncture that they felt enabled them to better manage their lives and the changes that pregnancy brings. These findings provide new understanding regarding the possible role acupuncture could provide as a supportive treatment for antenatal depression., (Copyright © 2017 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Problem: Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms following birth occur amongst a small proportion of women but can lead to poor maternal mental health, impairment in mother-infant bonding and relationship stress. This integrative review aims to examine the associated risk factors and women's own experiences of postnatal post-traumatic stress in order to better understand this phenomenon., Method: Fifty three articles were included and critically reviewed using the relevant Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklists or Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology assessment tool., Findings: Risk factors for postnatal post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorder include factors arising before pregnancy, during the antenatal period, in labour and birth and in the postnatal period. Potential protective factors against postnatal post-traumatic stress have been identified in a few studies. The development of postnatal post-traumatic stress can lead to negative outcomes for women, infants and families., Discussion: Risk factors for post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorder are potentially identifiable pre-pregnancy and during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods. Potential protective factors have been identified however they are presently under researched. Predictive models for postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder development have been proposed, however further investigation is required to test such models in a variety of settings., Conclusions: Postnatal post-traumatic stress symptoms and disorder have been shown to negatively impact the lives of childbearing women. Further investigation into methods and models for identifying women at risk of developing postnatal post-traumatic stress following childbirth is required in order to improve outcomes for this population of women., (Copyright © 2017 Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.)

Background: Treatment strategies for the management of antenatal depression are limited by varied and often modest response rates, unpleasant medication side effects and uncertainty regarding foetal safety. Consequently, many pregnant women experiencing depression seek alternative non-pharmaceutical options. Acupuncture may provide a safe and potentially effective additional treatment, however further investigation is required. In this qualitative study, we explored the views of health professionals regarding the possible incorporation of acupuncture into mainstream care., Methods: Two separate focus groups were run with 16 midwives. In-depth interviews were conducted with two maternity service managers and nine doctors (3 obstetricians, 2 psychiatrists and 4 general practitioners). Data was analysed using thematic analysis., Results: Participants were generally positive about acupuncture and open to its possible inclusion in conventional care, on the proviso that it was safe and could be shown to be effective. The overarching theme to emerge was 'acupuncture for antenatal depression: it's worth giving it a go', which participants concluded after considering 'the dilemma of mental health' treatment during the antenatal period and the additional limitations this presented, along with the belief that 'if it doesn't do any harm, I'm not against it'. Practical considerations regarding potential 'barriers' and facilitators' to implementation were additionally explored in 'making it mainstream', whereby the different 'philosophical beliefs' held by participants were seen to influence perspectives., Conclusion: Participants expressed an overall positive attitude towards the possible inclusion of acupuncture into mainstream care for antenatal depression, suggesting various hospital barriers could be overcome with further safety and effectiveness evidence., (Copyright © 2017 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Induction of labour (IOL) is a common procedure yet we have little information on the efficacy of the process for women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP)., Objective: To describe the birth type and associated factors in nulliparous HDP women undergoing an induction of labour., Study Design: Statutorily collected datasets on every birth and hospital admission which occurred in the state of NSW Australia between the years 2000-2011 were analysed. Hypertensive women were compared to normotensive women., Results: Of the nulliparous women, 9.9% had a HDP. IOL for HDP women were 56.2% in a cohort of 447 558 women. The AOR for a woman with a HDP undergoing an IOL resulting in a vaginal delivery when compared to a normotensive woman is 0.86 (95% CI 0.83-0.88). Prior to 33 weeks, the lowest perinatal mortality rates (PMR) are seen in women who undergo elective caesarean section (C/S). For women with preeclampsia (PE), lower PMR are seen in women who undergo IOL., Conclusion: For women with PE and SPE, IOL resulted in lower rates of vaginal delivery than spontaneous labour when compared to normotensive women who also underwent IOL. Women with PE at ≥33 weeks who underwent IOL had the lowest PMR., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Vaginal birth after caesarean can be a safe and satisfying option for many women who have had a previous caesarean, yet rates of vaginal birth after caesarean remain low in the majority of countries. Exploring women's experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean can improve health practitioners' understanding of the factors that facilitate or hinder women in the journey to have a vaginal birth after caesarean., Methods: This paper reports on a meta-ethnographic review of 20 research papers exploring women's experience of vaginal birth after caesarean in a variety of birth locations. Meta-ethnography utilises a seven-stage process to synthesise qualitative research., Results: The overarching theme was 'the journey from pain to power'. The theme 'the hurt me' describes the previous caesarean experience and resulting feelings. Women experience a journey of 'peaks and troughs' moving from their previous caesarean to their vaginal birth after caesarean. Achieving a vaginal birth after caesarean was seen in the theme 'the powerful me,' and the resultant benefits are described in the theme 'the ongoing journey'., Conclusion: Women undergo a journey from their previous caesarean with different positive and negative experiences as they move towards their goal of achieving a vaginal birth after caesarean. This 'journey from pain to power' is strongly influenced by both negative and positive support provided by health care practitioners. Positive support from a health care professional is more common in confident practitioners and continuity of care with a midwife., (Copyright © 2017 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: This paper examines the barriers to evidence-based episiotomy practice in Jordan and identifies strategies that may be effective in introducing evidence-based practice., Background: Episiotomy is routinely undertaken during birth in many parts of the world, including in the Middle East with little scientific evidence of benefit. There is a paucity of research examining the underlying drivers for episiotomy rates, and why they are higher in some countries., Method: This study, conducted in Jordan, used a quality improvement approach and comprised three phases. In phase one, a retrospective file review of 300 births was conducted. In phase two, 15 face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 midwives and five key stakeholders (managers and doctors). A feedback and discussion session using the audit and review model was conducted in phase three with 23 health professionals to identify strategies to reduce the episiotomy rate., Results: The episiotomy rate was 41.4% overall (91% of primiparous women and 24% of multiparous women). Six major themes emerged from the thematic analysis of data: 'Policy: written but invisible and unwritten and assumed'; 'the safest way'; 'doctors set the rules'; 'midwives swimming with the tide; 'uncooperative and uninformed women' and 'the way forward'., Conclusions: Non-evidence based episiotomy practices are widely used during birth in this Jordanian hospital and numerous barriers to change exist. Medical professionals dictate childbirth practice and midwives fear recrimination if they go against the 'unwritten policy'. Strategies to change practice include development of evidence-based information for women, education of midwives and doctors, and policy review., (Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Antenatal care providers are now recommended to promote oral health during pregnancy and provide dental referrals. However, midwives in Australia are not trained to undertake this role. To address this shortcoming, an online evidence based midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) education program was systematically developed as a professional development activity., Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in improving the oral health knowledge of midwives and assess their confidence to promote maternal oral health post training., Methods: The program was evaluated using a pre-post test design involving 50 midwives purposively recruited from two states in Australia. The pre-post questionnaire contained 24 knowledge items previously pilot tested as well as items exploring confidence in promoting oral health and perceptions of the program., Findings: The results showed a significant improvement in the oral health knowledge (↑21.5%, p<0.001) of midwives after completion of the program. The greatest improvement in knowledge occurred in key areas vital in promoting maternal oral health namely the high prevalence of dental problems and its impact on birth and infant outcomes. The majority also reported being confident in introducing oral health into antenatal care (82%) and referring women to dental services (77.6%) after undertaking the education program., Conclusion: The MIOH education program is a useful resource to equip midwives with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote oral health during pregnancy. The program is accessible and acceptable to midwives and can potentially be transferable to other antenatal care providers., (Copyright © 2015 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is evidence that a significant number of women are fearful about birth but less is known about the fears of maternity health providers and how their fear may impact on the women they care for., Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the top fears midwives in Australia and New Zealand hold when it comes to caring for childbearing women., Method: From 2009 to 2011, 17 workshops were held in Australia and New Zealand supporting over 700 midwives develop skills to keep birth normal. During the workshop midwives were asked to write their top fear on a piece of paper and return it to the presenters. Similar concepts were grouped together to form 8 major categories., Findings: In total 739 fears were reported and these were death of a baby (n=177), missing something that causes harm (n=176), obstetric emergencies (n=114), maternal death (n=83), being watched (n=68), being the cause of a negative birth experience (n=52), dealing with the unknown (n=36) and losing passion and confidence around normal birth (n=32). Student midwives were more concerned about knowing what to do, while homebirth midwives were mostly concerned with being blamed if something went wrong., Conclusion: There was consistency between the 17 groups of midwives regarding top fears held. Supporting midwives with workshops such as dealing with grief and loss and managing fear could help reduce their anxiety. Obstetric emergency skills workshops may help midwives feel more confident, especially those dealing with shoulder dystocia and PPH as they were most commonly recorded., (Copyright © 2014 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)