Abstract
Background: Cesarean birth may negatively affect mother-infant interactions, while professional support may positively affect these interactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a process-oriented training program for antenatal midwives and postnatal nurses on first time mothers’ perceptions of professional support and on their relation to and feelings for their baby after a cesarean or a normal birth. Methods: An intervention through process-oriented training for health professionals regarding professional support in childbearing was conducted between 1999 and 2003. Ten municipalities were paired and within each pair, randomly assigned to intervention (five) or control (five) municipality. Mothers having caesarean (n=94) or normal birth (n=301) were included. Mothers received routine care (Control Group=CG) or care from health professionals having received training (Intervention Group=IG). The mothers answered questionnaires three days, three and nine months after birth. Factor analysis identified three factors: “Taking in baby,” “Confidence in relation to baby,” and “Feelings for baby.” Results: Mothers in the IG with cesarean birth reported more positive for the “Taking in baby” factor (p=0.002) three days after birth, more positive for the “Confidence in relation to baby” factor (p=0.004) and for the “Feelings for baby” factor (p=0.004) nine months after birth compared to Mothers in the CG. Mothers in the IG reported stronger professional support from health professionals compared to CG. Conclusion: Our result suggests that improved professional support during pregnancy may buffer negative effects of caesarean birth for first-time mothers in relation to and feelings for the baby.
Highlights
In Western societies, the incidence of cesarean births increased during the last decades of the 20th century
With regard to demographic and obstetrical data, no significant differences existed between the mothers in the intervention group (IG) compared to the mothers in the control group (CG) (Table 2).There were no significant differences regarding demographic and obstetrical data, perceived professional support and relation and feelings for the baby, between the mothers who had answered just the first questionnaire compared to those who had answered all three questionnaires
Caesarean birth: intervention group versus control group: When asked three days after birth, the mothers in the IG with a cesarean birth reported significantly stronger emotional professional support from the midwife in antenatal care compared to the mothers in the CG
Summary
In Western societies, the incidence of cesarean births increased during the last decades of the 20th century. Cesarean births for first-time mothers in Sweden increased from 6.4% to 18.8% from1974 to 2010 [1]. The mother may initially spend less time with her baby [7], and this may have a negative effect on the contact between them [8]. A less than optimal hormonal adaptation to breastfeeding has been observed in mothers who have had a cesarean birth [10,11]. Cesarean birth may negatively affect mother-infant interactions, while professional support may positively affect these interactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a process-oriented training program for antenatal midwives and postnatal nurses on first time mothers’ perceptions of professional support and on their relation to and feelings for their baby after a cesarean or a normal birth
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
