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Background: Postpartum hospital care and individualized discharge preparedness should be part of person-focused health services. Yet, there are limited descriptions of birthing parents' experiences to identify clinical practice strengths and opportunities to improve systems of care. Objective: To explore birthing parents' perspectives on supportive healthcare practices and areas for improvement around postpartum hospital discharge. Methods: In this mixed-methods study, participants completed an online questionnaire and a semistructured, telephone interview at 2 to 3 weeks postpartum. Researchers summarized responses to 2 quantitative questions and conducted a thematic content analysis of interview data. Results: Forty birthing parents participated (90% non-White). According to quantitative responses, most birthing parents were prepared to be discharged (82.5%). Responses to the interview generated 6 broad factors related to postpartum hospital discharge preparedness: inpatient postpartum support, physical and emotional health, patient priorities and agency, clear and relevant information, holistic care, and scheduling and continuity of care. Researchers further identified themes around specific healthcare practices participants described to be supportive and opportunities for improvement. Conclusion: Birthing parents articulated multiple contributors to their preparation for postpartum hospital discharge. These perspectives offer insights for strengthening systems of perinatal care and inform measures of quality postpartum care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Centering birthing parents is critical for improving reproductive health policies and practices. This study investigates patient perspectives on measuring the quality of perinatal care. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative research study was conducted at an academic medical center in the Southeastern United States. Individuals who had recently given birth participated in audio-recorded interviews between May 2020 and September 2020. This analysis addresses the research question, "If we were providing quality healthcare for families, how would we know?" Transcribed and translated responses were inductively coded to develop categories and identify themes. Results: Forty birthing parents participated in the study. Metrics, timing, and process were identified as important components of meaningfully measuring the quality of perinatal care. Recommended metrics included asking patients whether their health priorities were addressed. Additional metrics of importance were whether coping strategies were provided, the clarity of information provided, patient comprehension of health information, the extent to which care planning was collaborative among patients and their healthcare team members, whether clinicians alleviated patient doubts, patient feelings of being taken care of, healthcare team mannerisms, clinician demonstrations of respect for patient autonomy, and postpartum visit attendance. With regard to timing, patients desired that their healthcare team members "check-in" with them as part of an ongoing, direct dialog. Birthing parents also wanted opportunities to provide feedback soon after encounters. As part of a robust measurement process, they wanted to share their insights with someone who was not a part of their healthcare team, for maintaining confidentiality. The patients desired a "serious platform" with accessible methods for all birthing parents to be able to convey nuanced accounts of their care. They also wanted to hear from the healthcare institutions about their feedback. Birthing parents sought assurances for their perinatal care feedback to be de-identified to protect them from potential retaliation. The participants recognized that they might need to utilize healthcare services from the same institution and individuals in the future. Conclusion: Birthing parents expressed desire for their perinatal healthcare experiences to be understood. Meaningful quality measurement may be promoted through transparent and multimethod opportunities for patients to securely share insights. In addition to healthcare systems communicating assurances of patient confidentiality, institutional feedback in response to patient-reported experiences is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two‐thirds of pregnancy‐related deaths occur from 1 day to 1 year after birth, and medical complications frequently occur after birth. Postpartum health concerns are often urgent, requiring timely medical care, which may contribute to a reliance on acute care. One approach to improving postpartum health is to investigate birthing parents' accounts of acute care use in the months after birth, which is what we did in this study. Methods: This mixed‐methods study included questionnaire responses, semi‐structured interviews, and chart review of 18 English‐speaking individuals who used acute care in the 90 days after birth in the southeastern United States. Interviews were conducted remotely, recorded, and professionally transcribed. Qualitative data were inductively coded to iteratively develop categories and themes with respect to contributors and barriers to postpartum acute care use. Results: Birthing parents engaged in complex decision‐making processes to decide where and when to seek postpartum acute care in response to their urgent health concerns. Many described fear and uncertainty about their postpartum health. Most participants contacted a healthcare practitioner before using acute care, followed their guidance, and were treated or otherwise reassured at the acute care visit. Discussion: These findings suggest multilevel opportunities for strengthening healthcare systems, including better‐preparing individuals for the postpartum period and structuring care to accommodate birthing parents and include their support systems. The insights from this study can inform multilevel strategies for strengthening healthcare so that birthing parents are safe and well postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) protocols improve patient safety and reduce utilization of blood products; however, few data exist on sustainability of PPH checklist use, how use affects care delivery, and variation of use among patient subgroups. This study aimed to (1) examine compliance with PPH checklist use during vaginal deliveries, (2) evaluate whether checklist use varied by patient and/or care team characteristics, and (3) evaluate whether checklist use was associated with increased use of recommended medications/interventions. Study Design This was a quality improvement study performed from April 2021 through June 2023. A multidisciplinary team developed a revised PPH checklist and used quality improvement methodology to increase checklist use following vaginal birth. Data were collected from medical records and clinician survey. Control charts were generated to track checklist use and evaluate special cause variation. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to evaluate variation in medications/interventions and across subgroups. Results During the study period, there were 342 cases of PPH at the time of vaginal birth. The checklist was used in 67% of PPH cases during the 20-month period after implementation in a setting where no checklist was previously being used. We found no statistically significant differences in checklist use by patient or health care team characteristics. Use of tranexamic acid, carboprost, and misoprostol were significantly associated with checklist use. Conclusion This study demonstrated successful implementation of a checklist protocol where no checklist was previously being used, with sustained use in an average of 67% of PPH cases over 20 months. Checklist use was consistent across subgroups and was associated with higher use of interventions shown to lower blood loss. Key Points Our study showed sustainability of PPH checklist use over a 20-month period. PPH checklist use was associated with increased use of interventions known to reduce blood loss. Checklist was used consistently across patient subgroups; may help address inequities in obstetric outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the universal nature of postpartum vaginal bleeding after childbirth and the importance of managing vaginal bleeding in the postpartum period to monitor health status, little is known about the information or products that birthing individuals are provided. Investigating current practices may offer insights to enacting more supportive and equitable postpartum care. Objective: To evaluate the patterns and content of vaginal bleeding counseling provided to birthing parents while on a postnatal inpatient unit. Design: Observational study of inpatient postpartum care. Birthing parents and their companions consented to video and audio recording of themselves, their infants, and healthcare team members during their postnatal unit stay. Methods: Following IRB approval and in coordination with clinicians at a tertiary hospital in the southeastern United States, data were collected with 15 families from August to December 2020. A multidisciplinary team coded video and audio data from each family from 12 h before hospital discharge. This analysis evaluates patterns of vaginal bleeding counseling timing, content, and language concordance and thematic content of this communication. Results: Birthing parent participants were self-identified Hispanic White (n = 6), non-Hispanic Black (n = 5), non-Hispanic White (n = 3), and non-Hispanic multi-race (n = 1). Six were Spanish-speaking and eight had cesarean section births. The timing, content, and language concordance of vaginal bleeding communication varied, with these topics mainly addressed in the hour preceding discharge. Twelve of the 15 birthing parents had communication on these topics between 2 and 5 times, 2 had one exchange, and 1 had no counseling on postpartum bleeding observed. Four of the six Spanish-speaking birthing parents had counseling on these topics that was not language concordant. Postpartum vaginal bleeding management involved the themes of access to products, patient safety, and meaningful counseling. There was a lack of adequate access, variation in accurate and respectful care, and a busy clinical environment with differences in information provided. Conclusion: Findings suggest that there are opportunities to strengthen clinical practices for more consistent, proactive, and language concordant vaginal bleeding and subsequent menstrual care postpartum. Menstrual equity is an important part of dignified and safe care. Plain language summary: Video analysis of when and what information on vaginal bleeding was shared between people who just gave birth and their healthcare team at the hospital. Why did we do the study? After birth, people must take care of vaginal bleeding. It is important for people in the hospital to recognize warning signs for too much bleeding, have access to pads, and feel supported by their healthcare team before discharging to home. There has been little research on experiences with inpatient counseling on postpartum vaginal bleeding—a part of the reproductive life cycle—for new parents. We wanted to watch and listen in hospital rooms so we could think about the best ways for healthcare providers to talk about vaginal bleeding. What did we do? We asked 15 people who just gave birth, people staying with them at the hospital, and their healthcare team if we could video and sound record in their hospital rooms. They could start and stop recording anytime. We only recorded people who agreed to be in the study. What did we learn? We watched recordings of the last 12 hours at the hospital before each family went home. We found that most of the time, the healthcare workers did not talk about vaginal bleeding. People who spoke Spanish did not always have someone interpreting into their language. Sometimes family members had to translate and ask for pads. Some people did not have enough pads or underwear and had to wait after asking for more. What does it mean? We found ways to improve teaching about vaginal bleeding after birth. We recommend always having an interpreter when needed, giving people enough pads and underwear in their rooms, including companions in the teaching, and having enough healthcare workers to answer requests. These ideas would improve the counseling and give everyone the support needed after giving birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. The primary objective of this study was to compare the frequency of documentation of postpartum blood pressure through remote blood pressure monitoring with text-message delivered reminders versus office-based follow-up 7–10 days postpartum. The secondary objective was to examine barriers and facilitators of both care strategies from the perspectives of individuals who experienced a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. We conducted a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary care academic medical center in the southeastern US with 100 postpartum individuals (50 per arm) from 2018 to 2019. Among 100 trial participants, blood pressure follow-up within 7–10 days postpartum was higher albeit not statistically significant between postpartum individuals randomized to the remote assessment intervention versus office-based standard care (absolute risk difference 18.0%, 95% CI −0.1 to 36.1%, p = 0.06). Patient-reported facilitators for remote blood pressure monitoring were maternal convenience, clarity of instructions, and reassurance from the health assessments. These positive aspects occurred alongside barriers, which included constraints due to newborn needs and the realities of daily postpartum life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "4th trimester" refers to the transition period after childbirth when infants are adjusting to life outside the womb and mothers are adjusting to new parenthood. This critical period is marked by significant biological, psychological, and social changes, which are currently insufficiently supported. The 4th trimester perspective draws attention and calls for resources to address overlapping maternal health domains. Multiple issues intersect during this critical time: maternal mood and emotional well-being; infant care and feeding; sexuality, contraception, and birth spacing; sleep and fatigue; physical recovery from childbirth; and medications, substances, and exposures. By comprehensively addressing these interconnecting needs, service providers can improve health and well-being across two generations.

This article outlines a human-centered approach to developing digital patient stories, for sharing their experiences in health care, while preserving patient and others' privacy. Employing a research-through-design approach, the study proposes a design solution using visualization and digital storytelling to document patients' and families' experiences and emotions, as well as their interactions with healthcare professionals in the postnatal unit. By transforming selected observational data into animated stories, this approach has the potential to elicit empathy, stimulate stakeholder engagement, and serve as a practical training tool for clinicians. This work was conducted as part of a broader study that aims to contribute to the existing knowledge base by advancing our understanding of stakeholder needs in birthing facilities and through postpartum discharge. This study primarily focuses on strategies for the development of digital stories and summarizes the factors that contributed to the production of digital stories within the context of sensitive data. It may serve as a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners interested in utilizing digital stories to encourage discussions, education and ultimately to enhance systems of health care for respect, equity and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Kristin P. Tully[sup.1] , Diane Holditch-Davis[sup.2] , Debra Brandon[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Center for Developmental Science, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 100 East [...], To compare maternal report of planned and practiced home sleep locations of infants born late preterm (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 gestational weeks) with those infants born term ([greater than or equal to]37 0/7 gestational weeks) over the first postpartum month. Open-ended semi-structured maternal interviews were conducted in a US hospital following birth and by phone at 1 month postpartum during 2010-2012. Participants were 56 mother-infant dyads: 26 late preterm and 30 term. Most women planned to room share at home with their infants and reported doing so for some or all of the first postpartum month. More women reported bed sharing during the first postpartum month than had planned to do so in both the late preterm and term groups. The primary reason for unplanned bed sharing was to soothe nighttime infant fussiness. Those participants who avoided bed sharing at home commonly discussed their fear for infant safety. A few parents reported their infants were sleeping propped on pillows and co-sleeping on a recliner. Some women in both the late preterm and term groups reported lack of opportunity to obtain a bassinet prior to childbirth. The discrepancy between plans for infant sleep location at home and maternally reported practices were similar in late preterm and term groups. Close maternal proximity to their infants at night was derived from the need to assess infant well-being, caring for infants, and women's preferences. Bed sharing concerns related to infant safety and the establishment of an undesirable habit, and alternative arrangements included shared recliner sleep.