Search

Background/Aims 'Labour hopscotch' is a visual tool that encourages activity during pregnancy and childbirth. It has been used in one advanced midwife practitioner service since 2017 and more widely across in Ireland since 2020. The biomechanics for birth toolkit was added to advanced midwife practitioner care in 2022. This study's aim was to ascertain if the biomechanics for birth toolkit impacted gestation of spontaneous onset of labour rates and birth outcomes. Methods A retrospective study of onset of labour and birth outcomes was conducted for women before (n=155) and after (n=154) the biomechanics for birth toolkit was incorporated into care. Results Before the toolkit was included, there was a 57.2% spontaneous onset of labour rate, with 33.2% birthing before 41 weeks. After the kit's inclusion, there was a 72.2% spontaneous onset of labour, with 91.8% birthing before 41 weeks. Induction rates dropped from 42.8% to 27.8%, with emergency caesarean section rates following induction dropping from 33.1% to 23.8%. Conclusions Using the biomechanics for birth toolkit alongside the labour hopscotch tool could increase spontaneous onset of labour rates, optimise physiological birth, reduce inductions and emergency caesarean section following induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: In January 2017, a continuity of care advanced midwife practitioner service was introduced in an Irish maternity unit. Continuity is central to high-quality maternity care, but little is known about it at an advanced practice level or about women's experiences of this model of caregiving. This study's aim was to provide insight into the experiences of women accessing a continuity of care service in Ireland. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design and thematic analysis was used. A total of 11 women, who attended the advanced midwifery practitioner service and had experienced a different model of care in a previous pregnancy, were interviewed. Results: Two themes were identified. Positive comparison to previous care, which had three subthemes, and access to the advanced midwifery practitioner, with four subthemes. Conclusions: Continuity from an approachable and competent practitioner with time for discussion and unscheduled access to the service was rated highly. Participants wanted to 'future proof' the service and recommended that continuity of care needs to be available to all pregnant women and at the forefront of service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author of Lennon (2024) responds to the Letter to the Editor on their research article on biomechanics and fetal positioning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus occurs in one in every 275 pregnancies and can result in increased morbidity and mortality for both mother and baby. Several pregnancy complications can be reduced or prevented by attendance at pre‐pregnancy care (PPC). Despite this, less than 40% of pregnant women with pre‐gestational diabetes receive formal PPC. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the barriers to PPC attendance among women with type 1 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a scoping review by searching five databases (Ebsco, Embase, Ovid and PubMed for literature and the ProQuest for any grey/unpublished literature) for studies in English between 2000 and 2022. Studies that evaluated attendance at PPC for women with type 1 diabetes were included. Results: There are multiple barriers to PPC attendance, and many of these barriers have been unchanged since the 1990s. Identified barriers can be grouped under patient‐centered and clinician‐centered headings. Patient factors include knowledge and awareness, unplanned pregnancies, negative perceptions of healthcare and communication issues, unclear attendance pathways and logistical issues including time off work and childcare. Clinician factors include physician knowledge, time constraints and lack of comfort discussing pregnancy/contraception. Conclusion: This review highlights the ongoing problem of poor attendance at PPC and identifies key barriers to be addressed when developing and implementing PPC programs for women with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]