Birthing Experience (birthing + experience)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A pilot study for a randomised controlled trial of waterbirth versus land birth

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Joanne Woodward
Objectives To assess the feasibility of undertaking an adequately powered multicentre study comparing waterbirth with land birth. To assess whether women are willing to participate in such a trial and whether participation has a negative effect on their birthing experience. Design A randomised controlled trial (RCT) with ,preference arm'. Setting District general hospital with 3600 deliveries annually. Population Women with no pregnancy complications and no anticipated problems for labour/delivery. Methods Women were recruited and randomised between 36 and 40 weeks of gestation. Comparison of randomised and ,preference arm' to assess any impact of randomisation on women's birthing experience. Main outcome measures Data were collected at delivery concerning the labour, the pool water and baby's condition at birth and six weeks of age. The main outcome measures are means and standard deviation of cord O2, CO2, haemoglobin, haematocrit and base excess; medians and ranges of time to first breathe and cord pH; bacterial growth from pool water samples and neonatal swabs; and maternal satisfaction. Results Eighty women participated,60 women were randomised. Twenty women participated in a non-randomised ,preference arm'. The babies randomised to a waterbirth demonstrated a significantly lower umbilical artery pCO2 (P= 0.003); however, it is recognised that this study is underpowered. Women were willing to participate and randomisation did not appear to alter satisfaction. Conclusion This small study has shown that a RCT is feasible and demonstrated outcome measures, which can be successfully collected in an average delivery suite. [source]


DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATERNITY EXPERIENCES OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN AN ACUTE CARE SETTING

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2002
Jennifer Watson
ABSTRACT: This project emerged from the concerns of health care professionals at a large acute care hospital in the Northern Territory of Australia. The aim of the project was to develop educational resources through information and experiences provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and health care professionals. The objectives are to optimise collaboration and participation by Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander women in sharing their maternity experiences about the birthing of their baby either in hospital, or out of hospital before arrival. Stage one of a three stage project is reported here. In stage one a modified Delphi method was used to interview ten purposefully chosen professional Indigenous women with insight into the research process and changing social arrangements. Stage two involved the development of an interview schedule and face-to-face interviews. Stage three includes the development of a questionnaire to be answered by health care professionals. Discussion of the background to the study, reviewed literature and issues identified from interviews with the professional Indigenous women regarding best methods and appropriate data collection processes is presented. Research described here explores issues of concern for Indigenous women from the Northern Territory around their child birthing experiences in an acute care setting. [source]


THE MATERNITY EXPERIENCES OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN ADMITTED TO AN ACUTE CARE SETTING

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2002
Jennifer Watson
ABSTRACT: This is the report of stage two of a three-stage project. The aim of the project is to develop educational resources through information and experiences provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and health care professionals. The objectives were to optimise collaboration and participation by Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander women in sharing their maternity experiences about the birthing of their babies either in hospital, or out of hospital before arrival. The descriptive research of stage two explores issues that existed for twelve Indigenous women during and after their birthing experiences in an acute care setting. The results will inform patient and professional educational programs and policy in order to enhance the experiences for Indigenous women admitted to the acute care setting before or following birth. The results show broad variation in responses related to antenatal care, preparation for hospital and for birth, coming into town, accommodation, family support, experiences while in hospital, relationship with hospital staff and being away from home. Miscommunication and lack of cultural and spiritual understanding by health care professionals generally is a constant theme. The need for preparation of Indigenous women generally, prior to admission to an acute care setting, is confirmed. [source]