Background: The benefits and harms of early induction of labour to reduce shoulder dystocia in fetuses suspected to be large for gestational age (LGA) are uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether early induction of labour is associated with a reduced risk of shoulder dystocia compared with standard care.
Methods: In this open-label, randomised controlled phase 3 trial, women aged ≥18 years with a suspected LGA fetus (estimated fetal weight >90th customised percentile) as identified by ultrasound scan between 35 weeks and 0 days (35 weeks) of gestation and 38 weeks' gestation, recruited from 106 hospitals across England, Scotland, and Wales in the UK, were randomly assigned (1:1) by web app to standard care or induction of labour between 38 weeks' gestation and 38 weeks' gestation using minimisation, balancing site, estimated fetal weight percentile (≤95th EFW percentile or >95th EFW percentile), and maternal age (≤35 years or >35 years).
Poor teamwork is often implicated in serious healthcare delivery failings, leading to calls for effective team improvement interventions. Taking a complex, adaptive systems perspective, we adapted an oncology team quality improvement program to make it appropriate for other areas of clinical care. Study phases included: (1) meetings with National Health Service, policy and service user representatives (n = 19), a rapid review of existing maternity teamwork interventions, and mapping of the proposed program content to an evidence-based model of team effectiveness; (2) feasibility and acceptability testing of the team questionnaire component, and content analysis of free-text responses with four maternity teams within two NHS Trusts (n = 26).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To assess the feasibility of an intervention of midwifery support for antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) to prevent postnatal urinary incontinence (UI).
Design: Feasibility and pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. Clusters were community midwifery teams.
Background: There is no clear evidence about how to support people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the perinatal period. Perinatal emotional skills groups (ESGs) may be helpful, but their efficacy has not been tested.
Aims: To test the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of perinatal ESGs for women and birthing people with BPD.
Background: Perinatal anxiety is common: up to 40% of pregnant women and new mothers experience high levels of anxiety. Given its prevalence, interventions that are low-intensity, highly accessible and cost-efficient, and target modifiable risk factors for anxiety are needed. Repetitive negative thinking (RNT)-such as worrying about ways things will go wrong in the future or ruminating about past negative events-is a risk factor for the development of anxiety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a long-term condition affecting the digestive tract and is an umbrella term for two main conditions: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), which can cause diarrhoea, anaemia, weight loss, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. Approximately 500,000 people live with IBD in the UK, with half being diagnosed before the age of 35 years (Ferguson, Mahsud-Dornan, and Patterson 2008). IBD increases the risk of pregnancy complications, with symptoms being unpredictable during pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Since 2020, the General Medical Services contract requires GP practices in England to offer women a GP appointment 6-8 weeks after birth: the '6-8 week postnatal check' or 'consultation'. Historically, provision of checks was variable, and women still frequently report poor experiences.
Aim: To explore GPs' and women's perspectives of the 6-8 week postnatal check, including key components and timing.
Background: Perinatal outcomes are poor among migrant women in vulnerable situations, but little is known about their health preconception. We investigated preconception health inequalities between migrant women in vulnerable situations and non-migrant women.
Methods: This national cross-sectional study used data from the NHS Maternity Services Data Set (MSDS) version 1.
Purpose: Early treatment is advised for breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema (BCRL), a common sequelae of breast cancer treatment. Expert guidance recommends two-phase decongestive lymphoedema treatment (DLT), although evidence is lacking for current treatment protocols and UK women are routinely offered self-treatment with hosiery. This systematic review considered evidence regarding treatment of early BCRL, that is, within 12 months of developing BCRL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
July 2024
Introduction: Breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits for both women and their newborns. Exclusive breastfeeding has been recommended for at least 6 months to optimise infant growth, development and health. In addition to standard care, community-based peer support is recommended to help mothers improve breastfeeding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Gen Pract
September 2024
Background: Obstetric anal sphincter injury is the most common cause of anal incontinence for women, which often has profound impacts on women's lives. GPs offer a first line of contact for many women, but we know that very few women experiencing anal incontinence postnatally report discussing it with their GPs.
Aim: To identify key ways in which GPs can support women with anal incontinence caused by childbirth injuries.
Objective: This study aims to describe the lived experiences of couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies and their perception of clinic support and cytogenetic investigations.
Design: A qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted using video conferencing software.
Background: Economic evaluations are being conducted with increasing frequency in the maternity care setting, with more randomized controlled trials containing a health economic component. Key emerging criticisms of economic evaluation in maternity care are lack of robust data collection and measurement, inconsistencies in methodology, and lack of adherence to reporting guidelines.
Methods: This article provides a guide to the design of economic evaluations alongside clinical trials in maternal health.
Background: Approximately one in ten women have high blood pressure during pregnancy. Hypertension is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, and as treatment improves maternal outcomes, antihypertensive treatment is recommended. Previous trials have been unable to provide a definitive answer on which antihypertensive treatment is associated with optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes and the need for robust evidence evaluating maternal and infant benefits and risks remains an important, unanswered question for research and clinical communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aimed to explore experiences of women with anal incontinence following a childbirth injury, and to identify areas of missed opportunities within care they received.
Design: This is a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews.
Setting: Participants were recruited via five hospitals in the UK, and via social media adverts and communication from charity organisations.
There are many benefits of breastfeeding to women and their infants but meeting the recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding is likely to be more challenging for women with severe mental illness (SMI). This is the first systematic review that aims to examine evidence of (a) infant feeding outcomes in women with SMI and the factors associated with this, (b) the experiences of infant feeding and infant feeding support for women with SMI, (c) interventions for supporting infant feeding among these women and (d) health care professionals' attitudes toward supporting infant feeding in women with SMI. Mixed methods systematic review was carried out using the principles of Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) 'convergent integrated' methodology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Develop an understanding of the views and experiences of general practitioners (GPs) about their role in postnatal care, including barriers and facilitators to good care, and timing and content of planned postnatal checks.
Design: Qualitative systematic review.
Data Sources: Electronic database searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, PsychINFO from January 1990 to September 2021.
Aims: The aim of the study was to examine the content and impact of interventions that have been used to increase the uptake of pre-pregnancy care for women with type 2 diabetes, and their impact on maternal and fetal outcomes.
Methods: A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted in November 2021, and updated July 2022, to identify studies assessing interventions to enhance pre-pregnancy care for women with type 2 diabetes. Over 10% of articles were screened by two reviewers at title and abstract phase, after which all selected full-text articles were screened by two reviewers.
Problem: There has been little focus on women's views of care and recovery following pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [HDP] despite long-term implications for maternal health.
Background: Increasingly in clinical research, areas of interest include the extent to which women are involved in postnatal care planning, perceived value of routine postnatal contacts, lifestyle behaviour advice, and extent to which ongoing concerns about HDP could be discussed with healthcare professionals.
Aim: This study explored women's experiences of birth-recovery up to 12 months following HDP.
Introduction: Large-for-gestational age (LGA) fetuses have an increased risk of shoulder dystocia. This can lead to adverse neonatal outcomes and death. Early induction of labour in women with a fetus suspected to be macrosomic may mitigate the risk of shoulder dystocia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Health Serv Res
June 2022
Background: Although the effectiveness of screening tools for detecting depression in pregnancy has been investigated, there is limited evidence on the cost-effectiveness. This is vital in providing full information to decision makers. This study aimed to explore the cost-effectiveness of different screening tools to identify depression in early pregnancy compared to no screening.
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