Effects of providing hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals

Gender-Oriented Mental Health Prevention: A Reappraisal

Many studies have investigated the impact of gender on mental health, but only a few have addressed gender differences in mental health risk and prevention. We conducted a narrative review to assess the current state of knowledge on gender-specific mental health preventive interventions, along with an analysis of gender-based risk factors and available screening strategies. Out of 1598 articles screened using a comprehensive electronic search of the PubMed, Web-of-Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, 53 were included for review. Among risk factors for mental health problems, there are individual, familiar, social, and healthcare factors. Individual factors include childhood adversities, which show gender differences in distribution rates. However, current childhood abuse prevention programs are not gender-specific. Familiar factors for mental health problems include maternity issues and intimate partner violence, and for both, some gender-specific preventive interventions are available. Social risk factors for mental health problems are related to education, employment, discrimination, and relationships. They all display gender differences, but these differences are rarely taken into account in mental health prevention programs. Lastly, despite gender differences in mental health service use being widely known, mental health services appear to be slow in developing strategies that guarantee equal access to care for all individuals.

Transitions in Black and Latinx Community-Based Doula Work in the US During COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, many doulas, including community-based doulas (CBDs), have shifted to virtual doula work, placing aspects of doula care online. CBDs typically center Black and Brown mothers and come from the same community as their clients, granting access to doula care for many individuals who would traditionally not have access. Two partner CBD organizations in Central New York-Village Birth International and Doula 4 a Queen-transitioned to virtual doula work, continuing to center Black and Afro-Latinx people. As CBDs began to transition their work online, they had to create new ways to include both the community and doula aspects of their work. My research has captured these doulas' experiences since mid-2019 and has documented their transition from in-person doula work to virtual work. This also included their experiences of hosting doula trainings that were originally designed to be held in person. To understand this turn to virtual doula work, in this article I draw on social media engagement, online interviews, Zoom discussions, and personal experience to capture how CBD work shifted to virtual platforms can still center Black and Afro-Latinx folks in their communities and beyond.

Nonpharmacological approaches to improve women's childbirth experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Childbirth is considered a significant experience in women's life. Different models of care and interventions without pharmacological approaches have been used to enhance women's positive childbirth experiences, but the most effective interventions have not been clearly identified.Objective: To assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological approaches in improving women's childbirth experiences.Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Persian databases (Magiran, Scientific Information Database, and Barakat) from inception until December 2017. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing interventions designed to improve women's childbirth experiences with standard cares were included in this review. Pharmacological interventions were excluded from the study. The outcome measure was women's childbirth experience. Heterogeneity was determined using the Cochrane's test and I² index. The standardized mean differences were pooled based on random effect models.Results: We included 19 studies (10,141 women) in the review. Results of the meta-analysis of 18 studies (8487 women) demonstrated that all the interventions with nonpharmacological approaches improved childbirth experiences (standardized mean difference: 0.49; 95% confidence interval: 0.33-0.66). But, subgroup meta-analysis showed that different models of midwifery care, support during labor and natural therapies were the most effective interventions in improving women's childbirth experience.Conclusions: Nonpharmacological interventions that enable women to feel supported, safe and respected can lead to improved childbirth experiences. However, there is a need for further studies with larger sample sizes and standardized tool to better assess the effectiveness of specific interventions on women's childbirth experiences.

Optimal continuous support accompanying labor - the midwives' and laboring women's point of view

Background

Women who have continuous intrapartum support are more likely to have a shorter labor and spontaneous vaginal birth, and are less likely to need intrapartum analgesia than women who receive usual care without support. We aimed to determine what women in labor and midwives regard as the optimal number of labor supporters and whether they should be present during medical interventions.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to midwives participating in a national midwifery conference in June 2015. In addition, an anonymized questionnaire concerning the preferred number and type of supporters was distributed to laboring women at the beginning of labor and repeated post-partum in the maternity unit of a single tertiary medical center between March 2017 and January 2018.

Results

Of 124 midwives from 18 hospitals throughout Israel attending the conference, 92 (74%) completed the questionnaire. Eighty-three percent of the midwives who responded felt that more than two supporters interferes with their work. Eighty percent of the midwives work in obstetrical units that allow up to two labor supporters, and 82% of them felt that one or two supporters is optimal. Similarly, of the 140 laboring women surveyed, 84% preferred one or two supporters. There was no difference in the preferred number of supporters between the maternal pre- and post-partum questionnaires.

The laboring women and midwives had differing opinions regarding supporter presence during vacuum extraction and perineal suture. Sixty-four percent of the midwives preferred that the supporter not be present during vacuum extraction, and 45% of them preferred that the supporter not be present during perineal suture. In contrast, among the laboring women, 78% preferred supporter presence during vacuum extraction, 76% during perineal suture and 74% during vaginal examination.

Interestingly, even among the midwives, 82% preferred that the supporter remain during vaginal examination and 84% preferred the supporter remain during medical rounds.

Conclusions

Serious consideration should be given to restricting the number of labor supporters to two, as both laboring woman and midwives consider that to be the optimal number. In light of the difference of opinion regarding presence of supporters during certain medical procedures, additional surveys concerning the points of view of obstetricians and laboring women in additional hospitals should be considered before establishing a national policy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13584-019-0299-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Creating a positive perception of childbirth experience: systematic review and meta-analysis of prenatal and intrapartum interventions

Background

A negative experience in childbirth is associated with chronic maternal morbidities. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify currently available successful interventions to create a positive perception of childbirth experience which can prevent psychological birth trauma.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials of interventions in pregnancy or labour which aimed to improve childbirth experience versus usual care were identified from 1994 to September 2016. Low risk pregnant or childbearing women were chosen as the study population. PEDRO scale and Cochrane risk of bias tool were used for quality assessment. Pooled effect estimates were calculated when more than two studies had similar intervention. If it was not possible to include a study in the meta-analysis, its data were summarized narratively.

Results

After screening of 7832 titles/abstracts, 20 trials including 22,800 participants from 12 countries were included. Successful strategies to create a positive perception of childbirth experience were supporting women during birth (Risk Ratio = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.07 to 1.71), intrapartum care with minimal intervention (Risk Ratio = 1.29, 95% Confidence Interval:1.15 to 1.45) and birth preparedness and readiness for complications (Mean Difference = 3.27, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.66 to 5.88). Most of the relaxation and pain relief strategies were not successful to create a positive birth experience (Mean Difference = − 2.64, 95% Confidence Intervention: − 6.80 to 1.52).

Conclusion

The most effective strategies to create a positive birth experience are supporting women during birth, intrapartum care with minimal intervention and birth preparedness. This study might be helpful in clinical approaches and designing future studies about prevention of the negative and traumatic birth experiences.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12978-018-0511-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Companion of choice at birth: factors affecting implementation

BACKGROUND

Two recent recommendations made by the World Health Organization confirm the benefits of companion of choice at birth on labour outcomes; however institutional practices and policies do not always support its implementation in different settings around the world. We conducted a review to determine factors that affect implementation of this intervention considering the perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders and other institutional, systemic barriers and facilitators.

METHODS

Forty one published studies were included in this review. Thirty one publications were identified from a 2013 Cochrane review on the effectiveness of companion of choice at birth. We also reviewed 10 qualitative studies conducted alongside the trials or other interventions on labour and birth companionship identified through electronic searches. The SURE (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence) framework was used to guide the thematic analysis of implementation factors.

RESULTS

Women and their families expressed appreciation for the continuous presence of a person to provide support during childbirth. Health care providers were concerned about the role of the companion and possible interference with activities in the labour ward. Allocation of resources, organization of care, facility-related constraints and cultural inclinations were identified as implementation barriers.

CONCLUSION

Prior to introducing companion of choice at birth, understanding providers' attitudes and sensitizing them to the evidence is necessary. The commitment of the management of health care facilities is also required to change policies, including allocation of appropriate physical space that respects women's privacy. Implementation research to develop models for different contexts which could be scaled up would be useful, including documentation of factors that affected implementation and how they were addressed. Future research should also focus on documenting the costs related to implementation, and on measuring the impact of companion of choice at birth on care-seeking behavior for subsequent births.

Continuous support for women during childbirth

BACKGROUND

Historically, women have generally been attended and supported by other women during labour. However, in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has often become the exception rather than the routine.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to assess the effects, on women and their babies, of continuous, one-to-one intrapartum support compared with usual care, in any setting. Secondary objectives were to determine whether the effects of continuous support are influenced by:1. Routine practices and policies in the birth environment that may affect a woman's autonomy, freedom of movement and ability to cope with labour, including: policies about the presence of support people of the woman's own choosing; epidural analgesia; and continuous electronic fetal monitoring.2. The provider's relationship to the woman and to the facility: staff member of the facility (and thus has additional loyalties or responsibilities); not a staff member and not part of the woman's social network (present solely for the purpose of providing continuous support, e.g. a doula); or a person chosen by the woman from family members and friends;3. Timing of onset (early or later in labour);4. Model of support (support provided only around the time of childbirth or extended to include support during the antenatal and postpartum periods);5. Country income level (high-income compared to low- and middle-income).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 October 2016), ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (1 June 2017) and reference lists of retrieved studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials, cluster-randomised trials comparing continuous support during labour with usual care. Quasi-randomised and cross-over designs were not eligible for inclusion.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. We sought additional information from the trial authors. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included a total of 27 trials, and 26 trials involving 15,858 women provided usable outcome data for analysis. These trials were conducted in 17 different countries: 13 trials were conducted in high-income settings; 13 trials in middle-income settings; and no studies in low-income settings. Women allocated to continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (average RR 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.12; 21 trials, 14,369 women; low-quality evidence) and less likely to report negative ratings of or feelings about their childbirth experience (average RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79; 11 trials, 11,133 women; low-quality evidence) and to use any intrapartum analgesia (average RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96; 15 trials, 12,433 women). In addition, their labours were shorter (MD -0.69 hours, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.34; 13 trials, 5429 women; low-quality evidence), they were less likely to have a caesarean birth (average RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.88; 24 trials, 15,347 women; low-quality evidence) or instrumental vaginal birth (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.96; 19 trials, 14,118 women), regional analgesia (average RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99; 9 trials, 11,444 women), or a baby with a low five-minute Apgar score (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.85; 14 trials, 12,615 women). Data from two trials for postpartum depression were not combined due to differences in women, hospitals and care providers included; both trials found fewer women developed depressive symptomatology if they had been supported in birth, although this may have been a chance result in one of the studies (low-quality evidence). There was no apparent impact on other intrapartum interventions, maternal or neonatal complications, such as admission to special care nursery (average RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.25; 7 trials, 8897 women; low-quality evidence), and exclusive or any breastfeeding at any time point (average RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.16; 4 trials, 5584 women; low-quality evidence).Subgroup analyses suggested that continuous support was most effective at reducing caesarean birth, when the provider was present in a doula role, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available. Continuous labour support in settings where women were not permitted to have companions of their choosing with them in labour, was associated with greater likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth and lower likelihood of a caesarean birth. Subgroup analysis of trials conducted in high-income compared with trials in middle-income countries suggests that continuous labour support offers similar benefits to women and babies for most outcomes, with the exception of caesarean birth, where studies from middle-income countries showed a larger reduction in caesarean birth. No conclusions could be drawn about low-income settings, electronic fetal monitoring, the timing of onset of continuous support or model of support.Risk of bias varied in included studies: no study clearly blinded women and personnel; only one study sufficiently blinded outcome assessors. All other domains were of varying degrees of risk of bias. The quality of evidence was downgraded for lack of blinding in studies and other limitations in study designs, inconsistency, or imprecision of effect estimates.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Continuous support during labour may improve outcomes for women and infants, including increased spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter duration of labour, and decreased caesarean birth, instrumental vaginal birth, use of any analgesia, use of regional analgesia, low five-minute Apgar score and negative feelings about childbirth experiences. We found no evidence of harms of continuous labour support. Subgroup analyses should be interpreted with caution, and considered as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, but evidence suggests continuous support with certain provider characteristics, in settings where epidural analgesia was not routinely available, in settings where women were not permitted to have companions of their choosing in labour, and in middle-income country settings, may have a favourable impact on outcomes such as caesarean birth. Future research on continuous support during labour could focus on longer-term outcomes (breastfeeding, mother-infant interactions, postpartum depression, self-esteem, difficulty mothering) and include more woman-centred outcomes in low-income settings.

Doula Support During Childbearing—Aiming for the Best Birthing Experience: A Phenomenological Study

A growing body of evidence indicates that doula support improves childbirth outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine women’s lived experience of such support. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used to carry out and analyze in-depth interviews with 14 women who had doulas for support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the immediate postpartum period. Six main themes were revealed. The women were aiming for the best birthing experience, and they believed to achieve this they needed extra support and to have a full say in their childbirth experiences. The doulas helped the women to have peace of mind prenatally, and all but one woman had an overall satisfying experience with their doulas. Whether satisfied or dissatisfied with their personal doulas, all the women believed that having a doula is valuable. However, choosing the right doula matters because a comfortable relationship between a woman and her doula is essential to achieving the best birthing experience. Health care providers and policymakers must recognize the importance women place on constant and personalized support during childbirth and endeavor to provide such care.

Interventions for promoting the initiation of breastfeeding

BACKGROUND

Despite the widely documented risks of not breastfeeding, initiation rates remain relatively low in many high-income countries, particularly among women in lower-income groups. In low- and middle-income countries, many women do not follow World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. This is an update of a Cochrane Review, first published in 2005.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and describe health promotion activities intended to increase the initiation rate of breastfeeding.To evaluate the effectiveness of different types of breastfeeding promotion activities, in terms of changing the number of women who initiate breastfeeding.To evaluate the effectiveness of different types of breastfeeding promotion activities, in terms of changing the number of women who initiate breastfeeding early (within one hour after birth).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register (29 February 2016) and scanned reference lists of all articles obtained.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with or without blinding, of any breastfeeding promotion intervention in any population group, except women and infants with a specific health problem.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trial reports for inclusion, extracted data and assessed trial quality. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion and a third review author was involved when necessary. We contacted investigators to obtain missing information.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-eight trials involving 107,362 women in seven countries are included in this updated review. Five studies involving 3,124 women did not contribute outcome data and we excluded them from the analyses. The methodological quality of the included trials was mixed, with significant numbers of studies at high or unclear risk of bias due to: inadequate allocation concealment (N = 20); lack of blinding of outcome assessment (N = 20); incomplete outcome data (N = 19); selective reporting (N = 22) and bias from other potential sources (N = 17). Healthcare professional-led breastfeeding education and support versus standard care The studies pooled here compare professional health workers delivering breastfeeding education and support during the prenatal and postpartum periods with standard care. Interventions included promotion campaigns and counselling, and all took place in a formal setting. There was evidence from five trials involving 564 women for improved rates ofbreastfeeding initiation among women who received healthcare professional-led breastfeeding education and support (average risk ratio (RR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 1.92; Tau² = 0.07, I² = 62%, low-quality evidence) compared to those women who received standard care. We downgraded evidence due to design limitations and heterogeneity. The outcome of early initiation of breastfeeding was not reported in the studies under this comparison. Non-healthcare professional-led breastfeeding education and support versus standard care There was evidence from eight trials of 5712 women for improved rates of breastfeeding initiation among women who received interventions from non-healthcare professional counsellors and support groups (average RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.40; Tau² = 0.02, I² = 86%, low-quality evidence) compared to women who received standard care. In three trials of 76,373 women, there was no clear difference between groups in terms of the number of women practicing early initiation of breastfeeding (average RR 1.70, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.95; Tau² = 0.18, I² = 78%, very low-quality evidence). We downgraded the evidence for a combination of design limitations, heterogeneity and imprecision (wide confidence intervals crossing the line of no effect). Other comparisonsOther comparisons in this review also looked at the rates of initiation of breastfeeding and there were no clear differences between groups for the following comparisons of combined healthcare professional-led education with peer support or community educator versus standard care (2 studies, 1371 women) or attention control (1 study, 237 women), breastfeeding education using multimedia (a self-help manual or a video) versus routine care (2 studies, 497 women); early mother-infant contact versus standard care (2 studies, 309 women); and community-based breastfeeding groups versus no breastfeeding groups (1 study, 18,603 women). None of these comparisons reported data on early initiation of breastfeeding.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review found low-quality evidence that healthcare professional-led breastfeeding education and non-healthcare professional-led counselling and peer support interventions can result in some improvements in the number of women beginning to breastfeed. The majority of the trials were conducted in the USA, among women on low incomes and who varied in ethnicity and feeding intention, thus limiting the generalisability of these results to other settings.Future studies would ideally be conducted in a range of low- and high-income settings, with data on breastfeeding rates over various timeframes, and explore the effectiveness of interventions that are initiated prior to conception or during pregnancy. These might include well-described interventions, including health education, early and continuing mother-infant contact, and initiatives to help mothers overcome societal barriers to breastfeeding, all with clearly defined outcome measures.

'The greatest feeling you get, knowing you have made a big difference': survey findings on the motivation and experiences of trained volunteer doulas in England

BACKGROUND

Support from a doula is known to have physical and emotional benefits for mothers, but there is little evidence about the experiences of volunteer doulas. This research aimed to understand the motivation and experiences of volunteer doulas who have been trained to support women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

METHODS

A postal questionnaire survey was sent to volunteer doulas at five volunteer doula projects working in low-income areas in England. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed in parallel using summary statistics and content analysis respectively.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine volunteer doulas (response rate 34.5 %) from diverse backgrounds responded to the survey. Major motivators for volunteering included a desire to help others and, to a lesser extent, factors related to future employment. Most reported that the training was effective preparation for their role. They continued volunteering because they derived satisfaction from the doula role, and valued its social aspects. Their confidence, skills, employability and social connectedness had all increased, but many found the ending of the doula-mother relationship challenging. For a minority, negative aspects of their experience included time waiting to be allocated women to support and dissatisfaction with the way the doula service was run.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Most respondents found the experience rewarding. To maintain doulas' motivation as volunteers, services should: ensure doulas can start supporting women as soon as possible after completing the training; consider the merits of more flexible endings to the support relationship; offer opportunities for ongoing mutual support with other doulas, and ensure active support from service staff for volunteers.

Trained or professional doulas in the support and care of pregnant and birthing women: a critical integrative review

The professionalisation of doula care and research interest in this area of maternity care/support have both grown internationally in recent years highlighting important broader issues around the access, continuity and delivery of maternity care services. However, no work to date has provided a critical appraisal of the international literature on this topic. In response, this paper presents the first critical review of international empirical literature examining professional doula care for pregnant and birthing women. A database search of AMED, CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care, and MEDLINE using the search term, "doula" was undertaken. A total of 48 papers published between 1980 and March 2013 involving trained or professional doulas were extracted. Four descriptive categories were identified from the review: 'workforce and professional issues in doula care'; 'trained or professional doula's role and skill'; 'physical outcomes of trained or professional doula care'; and 'social outcomes of trained or professional doula care'. Of the studies evaluating outcomes of doula care, there were a number with design and methodology weaknesses. The review highlights a number of gaps in the research literature including a lack of research examining doula workforce issues; focus upon the experience and perspective of significant stakeholders such as expectant fathers with regard to trained or professional doula care; clinical trials measuring both subjective experiences and physical outcomes of trained or professional doula support; synergy between the design of clinical trials research examining trained or professional doula care and the clinical reality of professional doula practice. It is imperative that key aspects of trained doula care be subject to further rigorous, empirical investigation to help establish an evidence base to guide policy and practice relating to this area of support and care for pregnant and birthing women.

Multisite implementation of trained volunteer doula support for disadvantaged childbearing women: a mixed-methods evaluation

Background

The research examined an innovative volunteer doula service, established in one city and rolled out to four other sites. The initiative offers support to disadvantaged women with the aim of enhancing well-being and improving the uptake of health services.

Aims

The project addressed four broad questions: implications for the NHS; health and psychosocial impacts for women; impacts on doulas; and the processes of implementing and sustaining a volunteer doula service for disadvantaged childbearing women.

Design

A mixed-methods study using interviews, focus groups and questionnaires to obtain primary data from a range of stakeholders. Existing data sets were used to examine clinical and public health outcomes and contributed to a cost–consequence analysis. A realistic evaluation perspective supported investigation of a complex intervention in its real-world context.

Outcomes

We assessed impacts, perceptions and experiences of women, doulas, midwives and heads of midwifery. Clinical and public health outcomes included epidural use, rates of caesarean section, low birthweight, admission to neonatal unit, smoking and breastfeeding. The costs of running a doula service and cost implications for the NHS were calculated.

Data sources

Data sources included the service database at the original site; available outcomes were compared against those in reference data sets. Women completed questionnaires and a small number participated in focus groups. Doulas contributed information through focus groups, postal questionnaires and telephone interviews. Staff, commissioners and local champions of doula services provided information through interviews and focus groups. Midwives and heads of midwifery took part in focus groups and telephone interviews respectively.

Results

Although doula-supported women in the original site used fewer epidurals and generally required fewer caesarean sections than women in reference groups, these differences were not statistically significant. The utility of comparisons is constrained by the absence of parity information from comparison data. For outcomes with a low incidence, data were pooled across years; this included comparisons for low birthweight and admission to neonatal units where no significant differences were observed. Reductions in rates of smoking at birth were not consistently statistically significantly different from available comparators. More doula-supported women initiated breastfeeding and were continuing at 6 weeks. Initiation rates were significantly higher for most years than in reference groups and significantly higher for continued breastfeeding for all years. The majority of women who accepted doula support valued it highly for its continuity and doulas’ availability and flexibility, being listened to by someone who was non-judgemental and having fears allayed, together with building self-esteem. Women also appreciated volunteer doulas for the knowledgeable companionship, relief of isolation and help with accessing services. Nearly all doulas enjoyed the role and felt well prepared by their training and the majority felt well supported. Midwifery staff appreciated volunteer doulas for their commitment and support to women. Doula services’ challenges in implementing and sustaining their services included funding, balancing referrals and volunteer availability, and relationships with other organisations. The costs of providing a doula service varied considerably, with some costs absorbed by host organisations. Some improved clinical outcomes point to potential cost benefits to the NHS although these were less than the per birth costs of the service in the original site.

Conclusions

This is the largest independent evaluation of volunteer doula support in the UK. Limitations include lower than optimal questionnaire response rates and the relatively small sample size available for outcome measurement. Our findings of positive psychosocial impacts reflect those reported among women in other settings, where women may not have access to midwifery support. Significant improvements in maintaining breastfeeding were particularly striking. Volunteer doulas were highly regarded by women and doula support was accepted by NHS midwives. Doulas enjoyed the role and reported positive impacts for various areas of their lives. Funding was a continuing challenge for doula services.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Doula support during first-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of doula support on first-trimester abortion care.

STUDY DESIGN

Women were randomized to receive doula support or routine care during first-trimester surgical abortion. We examined the effect of doula support on pain during abortion using a 100 mm visual analog scale. The study had the statistical power to detect a 20% difference in mean pain scores. Secondary measures included satisfaction, procedure duration, and patient recommendations regarding doula support.

RESULTS

Two hundred fourteen women completed the study: 106 received doula support, and 108 received routine care. The groups did not differ regarding demographics, gestational age, or medical history. Pain scores in the doula and control groups did not differ at speculum insertion (38.6 [±26.3 mm] vs 43.6 mm [±25.9 mm], P = .18) or procedure completion (68.2 [±28.0 mm] vs 70.6 mm [±23.5 mm], P = .52). Procedure duration (3.39 [±2.83 min] vs 3.18 min [±2.36 min], P = .55) and patient satisfaction (75.2 [±28.6 mm] vs 74.6 mm [±27.4 mm], P = .89) did not differ between the doula and control groups. Among women who received doula support, 96.2% recommended routine doula support for abortion and 60.4% indicated interest in training as doulas. Among women who did not receive doula support, 71.6% of women would have wanted it. Additional clinical staff was needed to provide support for 2.9% of women in the doula group and 14.7% of controls (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Although doula support did not have a measurable effect on pain or satisfaction, women overwhelmingly recommended it for routine care. Women receiving doula support were less likely to require additional clinic support resources. Doula support therefore may address patient psychosocial needs.

Nonpharmacologic approaches for pain management during labor compared with usual care: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of nonpharmacologic approaches to pain relief during labor, according to their endogenous mechanism of action, on obstetric interventions, maternal, and neonatal outcomes.

DATA SOURCE

Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and the MRCT databases were used to screen studies from January 1990 to December 2012.

STUDY SELECTION

According to Cochrane criteria, we selected randomized controlled trials that compared nonpharmacologic approaches for pain relief during labor to usual care, using intention-to-treat method.

RESULTS

Nonpharmacologic approaches, based on Gate Control (water immersion, massage, ambulation, positions) and Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control (acupressure, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, water injections), are associated with a reduction in epidural analgesia and a higher maternal satisfaction with childbirth. When compared with nonpharmacologic approaches based on Central Nervous System Control (education, attention deviation, support), usual care is associated with increased odds of epidural OR 1.13 (95% CI 1.05-1.23), cesarean delivery OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.18-2.18), instrumental delivery OR 1.21 (95% CI 1.03-1.44), use of oxytocin OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.01-1.43), labor duration (29.7 min, 95% CI 4.5-54.8), and a lesser satisfaction with childbirth. Tailored nonpharmacologic approaches, based on continuous support, were the most effective for reducing obstetric interventions.

CONCLUSION

Nonpharmacologic approaches to relieve pain during labor, when used as a part of hospital pain relief strategies, provide significant benefits to women and their infants without causing additional harm.

Nonpharmacologic labor analgesia

A supportive medical team should be well informed on the various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities of coping with or mitigating labor pain to appropriately support and respectfully care for parturients. Using the methodical rigor of previously published Cochrane systematic reviews, this summary evaluates and discusses the efficacy of nonpharmacologic labor analgesic interventions.

Foreign-born women's experiences of Community-Based Doulas in Sweden--a qualitative study

In this study our aim was to explore the experiences of doula support among foreign-born women in Sweden in the context of a "Community-Based Doula" (CBD) intervention project. We conducted interviews with 10 women and analyzed the data using content analysis. Participating women reported that, in addition to support during labor, doulas provided important information and continuity of care, which apparently increased their satisfaction with and trust in maternity health care. Training of CBDs, therefore, has implications for the delivery of equitable maternity care, which applies not only to Sweden and other European countries but wherever there are increasingly diverse populations.

Continuous support for women during childbirth

BACKGROUND

Historically, women have been attended and supported by other women during labour. However, in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has become the exception rather than the routine.

OBJECTIVES

Primary: to assess the effects of continuous, one-to-one intrapartum support compared with usual care. Secondary: to determine whether the effects of continuous support are influenced by: (1) routine practices and policies; (2) the provider's relationship to the hospital and to the woman; and (3) timing of onset.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 June 2012).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials comparing continuous support during labour with usual care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methods of The Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group. Two review authors independently evaluated methodological quality and extracted the data. We sought additional information from the trial authors. We used random-effects analyses for comparisons in which high heterogeneity was present, and we reported results using the average risk ratio (RR) for categorical data and mean difference (MD) for continuous data.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-two trials involving 15,288 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Results are of random-effects analyses, unless otherwise noted. Women allocated to continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (RR 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.12) and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96) or to report dissatisfaction (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79). In addition, their labours were shorter (MD -0.58 hours, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.31), they were less likely to have a caesarean (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.91) or instrumental vaginal birth (fixed-effect, RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.96), regional analgesia (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99), or a baby with a low five-minute Apgar score (fixed-effect, RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.95). There was no apparent impact on other intrapartum interventions, maternal or neonatal complications, or breastfeeding. Subgroup analyses suggested that continuous support was most effective when the provider was neither part of the hospital staff nor the woman's social network, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available. No conclusions could be drawn about the timing of onset of continuous support.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.

Intimate space within institutionalized birth: women's experiences birthing with doulas

Childbirth in the American context is only peripherally conceptualized in the domain of the family and home, demonstrating the primacy of the biomedical model of childbirth in the institutional setting of the hospital. Medical research has found positive outcomes when women labor with 'doulas', paraprofessionals who are trained and experienced in childbirth. However, medical research has yet to explore the complexity of the labor experience of women with doulas, offering potential insights into how those positive outcomes may come about. Doulas define what they do in birth as 'holding the space'. This research explored what 'holding the space' meant in terms of the experience of childbirth with women who employed doulas. The findings suggest that doulas' conceptualizations of the space of birth were framed in terms of creating/maintaining intimacy and that doulas and women maintained this intimate space even within the institutionalized medical-clinical birth experience. Implications of this research do not point to the generalization of doula attributes for implementation on an institutional level, but rather validate the contributions of external caregivers to producing positive outcomes.

Continuous support for women during childbirth

BACKGROUND

Historically, women have been attended and supported by other women during labour. However in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has become the exception rather than the routine.

OBJECTIVES

Primary: to assess the effects of continuous, one-to-one intrapartum support compared with usual care. Secondary: to determine whether the effects of continuous support are influenced by: (1) routine practices and policies; (2) the provider's relationship to the hospital and to the woman; and (3) timing of onset.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 December 2010).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published and unpublished randomized controlled trials comparing continuous support during labour with usual care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group. Two authors independently evaluated methodological quality and extracted the data. We sought additional information from the trial authors. We used random-effects analyses for comparisons in which high heterogeneity was present, and we reported results using the risk ratio for categorical data and mean difference for continuous data.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-one trials involving 15061 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Results are of random-effects analyses, unless otherwise noted. Women allocated to continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.12) and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97) or to report dissatisfaction (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79). In addition their labours were shorter (mean difference -0.58 hours, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.30), they were less likely to have a caesarean (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.92) or instrumental vaginal birth (fixed-effect, RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96), regional analgesia (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99), or a baby with a low 5-minute Apgar score (fixed-effect, RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.96). There was no apparent impact on other intrapartum interventions, maternal or neonatal complications, or on breastfeeding. Subgroup analyses suggested that continuous support was most effective when provided by a woman who was neither part of the hospital staff nor the woman's social network, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available. No conclusions could be drawn about the timing of onset of continuous support.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.

Midwives' experiences of doula support for immigrant women in Sweden--a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To describe and analyse midwives' experiences of doula support for immigrant women in Sweden.

DESIGN

Qualitative study, analysed using content analysis. Data were collected via interviews.

SETTING

Interviews were conducted at the midwives' workplaces. One midwife was interviewed at a cafe.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten midwives, who participated voluntarily and worked in maternity health care in western Sweden.

FINDINGS

The interview data generated three main categories. (1) 'A doula is a facilitator for the midwife' has two subcategories, 'In relation to the midwife' and 'In comparison with an interpreter', (2) 'Confident women giving support,' has two subcategories, 'Personal characteristics and attitudes' and 'Good support,' (3) 'Doulas cover shortcomings' has two subcategories, 'In relation to maternity care' and 'In relation to ethnicity'.

KEY CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The findings of this study show that midwives experience that doulas are a facilitator for them. Doulas provide support by enhancing the degree of peace and security and improving communication with the women in childbirth. Doulas provide increased opportunities for transcultural care. They may increase childbearing women's confidence and satisfaction, help meet the diverse needs of childbearing women and improve care quality.

Update on Nonpharmacologic Approaches to Relieve Labor Pain and Prevent Suffering

The control of labor pain and prevention of suffering are major concerns of clinicians and their clients. Nonpharmacologic approaches toward these goals are consistent with midwifery management and the choices of many women. We undertook a literature search of scientific articles cataloged in CINAHL, PUBMED, the Cochrane Library, and AMED databases relating to the effectiveness of 13 non-pharmacologic methods used to relieve pain and reduce suffering in labor. Suffering, which is different from pain, is not an outcome that is usually measured after childbirth. We assumed that suffering is unlikely if indicators of satisfaction were positive after childbirth. Adequate evidence of benefit in reducing pain exists for continuous labor support, baths, intradermal water blocks, and maternal movement and positioning. Acupuncture, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and hypnosis are promising, but they require further study. The effectiveness of childbirth education, relaxation and breathing, heat and cold, acupressure, hypnosis, aromatherapy, music, and audioanalgesia are either inadequately studied or findings are too variable to draw conclusions on effectiveness. All the methods studied had evidence of widespread satisfaction among a majority of users.

Female relatives or friends trained as labor doulas: outcomes at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum

BACKGROUND

Data collected on more than 12,000 women in 15 randomized controlled trials provide robust evidence of the beneficial effects of doula support on medical outcomes to childbirth. The objective of this paper was to examine the association between doula support and maternal perceptions of the infant, self, and support from others at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. The doula was a minimally trained close female relative or friend.

METHODS

Six hundred low-risk, nulliparous women were enrolled in the original clinical trial and randomized to doula support (n = 300) or standard care (n = 300). The mother-to-be and her doula attended two 2-hour classes about providing nonmedical, continuous support to laboring women. For the secondary study, presented here, research participants (N = 494) were interviewed by telephone using a 42-item questionnaire.

RESULTS

Overall, when doula-supported mothers (n = 229) were compared with mothers who received standard care (n = 265), they were more likely to report positive prenatal expectations about childbirth and positive perceptions of their infants, support from others, and self-worth. Doula-supported mothers were also most likely to have breastfed and to have been very satisfied with the care they received at the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Labor support by a minimally trained female friend or relative, selected by the mother-to-be, enhances the postpartum well-being of nulliparous mothers and their infants, and is a low-cost alternative to professional doulas.

Continuous support for women during childbirth

BACKGROUND

Historically, women have been attended and supported by other women during labour. However, in recent decades in hospitals worldwide, continuous support during labour has become the exception rather than the routine. Concerns about the consequent dehumanization of women's birth experiences have led to calls for a return to continuous support by women for women during labour.

OBJECTIVES

Primary: to assess the effects, on mothers and their babies, of continuous, one-to-one intrapartum support compared with usual care. Secondary: to determine whether the effects of continuous support are influenced by: (1) routine practices and policies in the birth environment that may affect a woman's autonomy, freedom of movement and ability to cope with labour; (2) whether the caregiver is a member of the staff of the institution; and (3) whether the continuous support begins early or later in labour.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (February 2007).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published and unpublished randomized controlled trials comparing continuous support during labour with usual care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group. All authors participated in evaluation of methodological quality. One author and a research assistant independently extracted the data. We sought additional information from the trial authors. We used relative risk for categorical data and weighted mean difference for continuous data to present the results.

MAIN RESULTS

Sixteen trials involving 13,391 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Primary comparison: women who had continuous intrapartum support were likely to have a slightly shorter labour, were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia or to report dissatisfaction with their childbirth experiences. Subgroup analyses: in general, continuous intrapartum support was associated with greater benefits when the provider was not a member of the hospital staff, when it began early in labour and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

All women should have support throughout labour and birth.

Support to woman by a companion of her choice during childbirth: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the support given to women by a companion of their choice during labor and delivery.

METHODS

A total of 212 primiparous women were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial carried out between February 2004 and March 2005. One hundred and five women were allocated to the group in which support was permitted and 107 to the group in which there was no support. Variables regarding patient satisfaction and events related to obstetrical care, neonatal results and breastfeeding were evaluated. Student's t-test or Wilcoxon's test, chi-square or Fisher's exact test, risk ratios, and their respective 95% confidence intervals were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, the women in the support group were more satisfied with labor (median 88.0 versus 76.0, p < 0.0001) and delivery (median 91.4 versus 77.1, p < 0.0001). During labor, patient satisfaction was associated with the presence of a companion (RR 8.06; 95%CI: 4.84 - 13.43), with care received (RR 1.11; 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.22) and with medical guidance (RR 1.14 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.28). During delivery, satisfaction was associated with having a companion (RR 5.57, 95%CI: 3.70 - 8.38), with care received (RR 1.11 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.22) and with vaginal delivery (RR 1.33 95%CI:1.02 - 1.74). The only factor that was significantly lower in the support group was the occurrence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (RR 0.51; 95%CI: 0.28 - 0.94). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to any of the other variables.

CONCLUSION

The presence of a companion of the woman's choice had a positive influence on her satisfaction with the birth process and did not interfere with other events and interventions, with neonatal outcome or breastfeeding.

Lower epidural anesthesia use associated with labor support by student nurse doulas: Implications for intrapartal nursing practice

Interventions of baccalaureate nursing students, trained as doulas, were examined for their association with epidural anesthetic use. Doulas, trained to support laboring mothers, are associated with shorter labors and fewer medical interventions. Data from a convenience sample of 89 vaginal births attended between 1999 and 2002 were analyzed. Analysis showed an association of lower epidural use with increased complementary doula interventions (.62 OR, P=.003) and an association of higher epidural use with longer labors (1.22 OR, P=.004). No significant association was found between epidural use and parity, income, education and type of health care provider. These findings support previous research of decreased analgesia use by doula-supported women and suggest benefits of the interventions by student nurse doulas. Students trained in providing low-tech supportive care may change the environment for intrapartum nursing practice. Institutional changes may be required to allow greater opportunity for intrapartal nurses to provide support to laboring women.

Psychosocial and psychological interventions for prevention of postnatal depression: systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of psychosocial and psychological interventions compared with usual antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum care on the risk of postnatal depression.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Cochrane pregnancy and childbirth group trials register, Cochrane depression, anxiety, and neurosis trials register, secondary references and review articles, and experts in the field.

STUDY SELECTION

All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials of preventive psychosocial or psychological interventions in which the primary or secondary aim was a reduction in the risk of postnatal depression. All trials recruited pregnant women or new mothers less than six weeks postpartum. Eligible studies were abstracted, assessed for methodological quality, and pooled with relative risk for categorical data and weighted mean difference for continuous data.

RESULTS

Fifteen trials with 7697 women were included. Although there was no overall statistically significant effect on the prevention of postnatal depression in the meta-analysis of all types of interventions (15 trials, n = 7697; relative risk 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.02), these results suggest a potential reduction in postnatal depression. The only intervention to have a clear preventive effect was intensive postpartum support provided by a health professional (0.68, 0.55 to 0.84). Identifying women "at risk" assisted in the prevention of postnatal depression (0.67, 0.51 to 0.89). Interventions with only a postnatal component were more beneficial (0.76, 0.58 to 0.98) than interventions that incorporated an antenatal component. In addition, individually based interventions were more effective (0.76, 0.59 to 1.00) than group based interventions (1.03, 0.65 to 1.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Diverse psychosocial or psychological interventions do not significantly reduce the number of women who develop postnatal depression. The most promising intervention is the provision of intensive, professionally based postpartum support.

Doulas as childbirth paraprofessionals: results from a national survey

Fourteen randomized trials have demonstrated that continuous caregiver support during childbirth can lead to shorter labors and decrease the need for intervention. In response, there has been a significant increase in the number and use of doulas as paraprofessionals who provide social and emotional support to women during labor/birth for a fee. We conducted a mailed survey of a nationally representative sample of certified and certification-in-process doulas in the United States (n = 626, 64.4% response rate) to gather some descriptive information on their sociodemographic backgrounds, practice characteristics, and beliefs/attitudes on a number of salient issues. The survey results suggest that, in 2003, doulas were primarily white, well-educated married women with children. The majority of certified doulas worked in solo practice and provided childbirth support services on average to nine clients per year. Very few doulas were earning more than 5,000 dollars per year from this work, and only 10% of certified doulas reported receiving third-party reimbursement for their services. Thus, while almost all doulas found their work emotionally satisfying, only one in three saw their work as financially rewarding. Doulas also reported challenges in getting support/respect from clinicians and in balancing doula work and family life. In addition, one in four doulas reported that they were preparing for a career in midwifery. Doulas can play an important and unique role in the childbirth process and reap many personal rewards engaging in this type of work. However, a number of financial, personal, and professional challenges present significant obstacles to the growth of doulas as childbirth paraprofessionals in the United States.

Psychosocial and psychological interventions for preventing postpartum depression

BACKGROUND

The cause of postpartum depression remains unclear, with extensive research suggesting a multi-factorial aetiology. However, epidemiological studies and meta-analyses of predictive studies have consistently demonstrated the importance of psychosocial and psychological variables. While interventions based on these variables may be effective treatment strategies, theoretically they may also be used in pregnancy and the early postpartum period to prevent postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVES

Primary: to assess the effect of diverse psychosocial and psychological interventions compared with usual antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum care to reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression. Secondary: to examine (1) the effectiveness of specific types of psychosocial and psychological interventions, (2) the effectiveness of individual versus group-based interventions, (3) the effects of intervention onset and duration, and (4) whether interventions are more effective in women selected with specific risk factors.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (January 27 2004), the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group trials register (October 2003), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (October 2003), MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1980 to 2004) and CINAHL (1982 to 2004). We scanned secondary references and contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials of acceptable quality comparing a psychosocial or psychological intervention with usual antenatal, intrapartum, or postpartum care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Both reviewers participated in the evaluation of methodological quality and data extraction. Additional information was sought from several trial researchers. Results are presented using relative risk for categorical data and weighted mean difference for continuous data.

MAIN RESULTS

Fifteen trials, involving over 7600 women, were included. Overall, women who received a psychosocial intervention were equally likely to develop postpartum depression as those receiving standard care (relative risk (RR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 1.02). One promising intervention appears to be the provision of intensive postpartum support provided by public health nurses or midwives (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.84). Identifying mothers 'at-risk' assisted the prevention of postpartum depression (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.89). Interventions with only a postnatal component appeared to be more beneficial (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.98) than interventions that also incorporated an antenatal component. While individually-based interventions may be more effective (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.00) than those that are group-based, women who received multiple-contact intervention were just as likely to experience postpartum depression as those who received a single-contact intervention.

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS

Overall psychosocial interventions do not reduce the numbers of women who develop postpartum depression. However, a promising intervention is the provision of intensive, professionally-based postpartum support.

Douleur et analgésie obstétricales

GOAL AND METHODS

Labor pain is of major concern since most parturients experience significant pain of extremely severe intensity for many. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the mechanisms and pathways of labor pain (including new insights on integration of the nociceptive signal) and to emphasize the need of effective labor pain relief.

RESULTS

Labor pain can have deleterious effects on the mother, on the fetus and on labor outcome itself. Among the current methods of obstetric analgesia, regional analgesia (the most widespread technique being epidural analgesia) offers the best effectiveness/safety ratio thanks to pharmacological innovations. Systemic analgesia (parenteral opioids, nonopioid painkillers and inhaled anesthetic agents) provides an alternative to regional analgesia but remains less effective and more hazardous. Non-drug approaches (namely psychoprophylaxis and physical methods) may be effective when used with epidural analgesia but are often not potent enough when used alone.

CONCLUSION

Despite its complex pathophysiology, labor pain can be efficiently managed. Thanks to multidisciplinary care, obstetric analgesia (mainly epidural analgesia) prevents deleterious effects of labor pain on the mother and fetus.

Adolescents' perception of support during labor

Childbirth is a pivotal event in a woman's life. Labor support plays an important role in this experience because it influences the woman's classification of the birth experience as positive or negative. Studies of adult women have identified the type of labor support that enhances the childbirth experience. Few studies, however, have identified the type of labor support that adolescents perceive as being helpful. The purpose of this study was to identify the nursing behaviors that adolescents perceive as being helpful during labor. A descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample of 16 adolescents. Findings indicated that adolescents' needs focus on pain relief, nonjudgmental nursing care, and emotional support.

What interventions may reduce postpartum depression

Postnatal depression is a major public health problem affecting about one in seven women after childbirth. Depression is also common during pregnancy and throughout the perinatal period it is associated with symptoms of anxiety. Apart from the adverse consequences for women themselves becoming depressed when they are going through demanding physical and social changes, there are additional concerns. There is the possible negative impact of maternal depression on the relationship between mother and child and on the child's emotional, behavioural and cognitive development. Primary prevention and early intervention/secondary prevention strategies are potentially important in view of the frequent contact pregnant women, new mothers and infants have with health services, but the effectiveness of these strategies needs to be tested. In the past year there have been five new studies of antenatal screening for postnatal depression. These studies are consistent with nine earlier studies in showing that there is no evidence to support routine antenatal screening for postnatal depression. Seven new primary prevention/early intervention trials add evidence on a wide range of interventions ranging from practical support to individual interpersonal therapy, but without identifying significant differences in depression as an outcome. Two new trials of secondary prevention, one involving interpersonal therapy and the other including partners in a series of psychoeducational visits, show promise but neither is large enough to form a basis for practice change. Novel interventions, or promising findings, with a strong basis in theory need to be tested in trials which are appropriately sized and which comply with internationally accepted design and reporting guidelines.

Monitoring, risk adjustment and strategies to decrease cesarean rates

Cesarean rate as a clinical indicator for health care quality continues to be a focus of discussion and research among clinicians and health policy advocates. Over the review period, there were several studies regarding statistical strategies for monitoring and reporting cesarean rates, clinical and nonclinical risk factors for cesarean, and clinical interventions related to the management of labor that may help to decrease the likelihood of cesarean delivery. Future research should focus on developing and refining the statistical strategies for monitoring and adjusting cesarean rates to allow for meaningful comparisons.

Prenatal screening

The prenatal period is an ideal time to look at screening issues in an effort to maximize the health of the woman and effect a good outcome for her baby. As primary care providers for family, it is important to look beyond a traditional medical model for screening to examine a woman in the context of her family and her experiences. This article takes a broader view of screening to include some social and family issues. It also seeks to examine the evidence around some of the controversial issues in screening to help the provider be a thorough advisor to his or her patients.

The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth

The purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding the effectiveness of continuous support provided by a trained laywoman (doula) during childbirth on obstetrical and postpartum outcomes. Twelve individual randomized trials have compared obstetrical and postpartum outcomes between doula-supported women and women who did not receive doula support during childbirth. Three meta-analyses, which used different approaches, have been performed on the results of the clinical trials. Emotional and physical support significantly shortens labor and decreases the need for cesarean deliveries, forceps and vacuum extraction, oxytocin augmentation, and analgesia. Doula-supported mothers also rate childbirth as less difficult and painful than do women not supported by a doula. Labor support by fathers does not appear to produce similar obstetrical benefits. Eight of the 12 trials report early or late psychosocial benefits of doula support. Early benefits include reductions in state anxiety scores, positive feelings about the birth experience, and increased rates of breastfeeding initiation. Later postpartum benefits include decreased symptoms of depression, improved self-esteem, exclusive breastfeeding, and increased sensitivity of the mother to her child's needs. The results of these 12 trials strongly suggest that doula support is an essential component of childbirth. A thorough reorganization of current birth practices is in order to ensure that every woman has access to continuous emotional and physical support during labor.