History Of Midwifery Research Articles

Midwifery-led care in South Australia: Looking back to move forward

BackgroundFrom the 1980s to the turn of the century, Australia saw an evolution of midwifery-led models of care, in part due to legislative reform and federal funding, but largely owing to the efforts of strong midwifery leaders and consumers who rallied for the implementation of alternative models of care. Through persistence and extensive collaboration, the first South Australian birth centres were established. AimTo better understand the evolution of midwifery-led care in South Australia and identify the drivers and impediments to inform the upscaling of midwifery models into the future. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with ten midwifery leaders and/or those instrumental in setting up birth centres and midwifery-led care in South Australia. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. FindingsThree overarching themes and several sub-themes were identified, these included: ‘Midwifery suffragettes’ which explored ‘activism’, ‘adversity’ and ‘advocacy’; ‘Building bridges’ captured the importance of ‘gathering midwives’, a ‘movement of women’ and ‘champions and influencers’; and ‘Recognising midwifery’ identified the strong ‘sense of identity’ needed to outface ‘ignorance and opposition’ and the importance of ‘role reformation’. ConclusionThese midwifery leaders provide insight into an era of change in the history of midwifery in South Australia and contribute valuable learnings. In order to move forward, midwives must continue to embrace the political nature of midwifery, enact authentic, transformational leadership and engage women across all levels of influence. It is critical that midwives pursue equity in professional recognition, work collaboratively to provide quality, woman-centred maternity care and expand midwifery continuity of care models.

Disrupting dominant discourse: Indigenous women as trained nurses and midwives 1900s–1950s

ABSTRACT Background The history of Indigenous nurses and midwives in Australia is yet to be fully examined. There is a dearth of Indigenous-led research that identifies the rich and complex involvement of Indigenous women in Australia’s nursing and midwifery labour force. Aim This paper contributes to the history of Indigenous women’s participation in nursing and midwifery in Australia by examining how it was possible for some Indigenous women to pursue nursing and midwifery qualifications when this was not widely acceptable. The paper specifically seeks to investigate the enablers and limitations placed on Aboriginal women in accessing training. Methods Underpinned by historical methods and using an Indigenous lens for interpretation, this paper adopts a descriptive case study methodology to make visible the little-known yet important contributions of Indigenous nurses and midwives before 1950. It positions the case studies within the context of the Acts of Administration that controlled the lives of Indigenous Australians. Findings Through three case studies, this paper exposes the consequences of the debilitating, racialised laws of the time, which rendered Indigenous people invisible. The case studies demonstrate that Indigenous women did train as nurses and midwives in the early 1900s, even though they are largely absent in the historical record. Discussion Writing historical accounts of Indigenous Australian nurses and midwives is challenging, partly because they are largely excluded from the historical record, and partly because of the normalised technique used to frame history in Australia. Much historical discussion fails to account for Australia’s racialised biases and produces (race) obstructionist histories. An alternative approach is offered, centred on Indigenous women’s work to meet the individual, institutional and ideological racialised limitations set by context (nursing and midwifery history), historical period (1900s–1950s) and place (Australia). Conclusion Obstructionist histories mean that the history of Indigenous nursing and midwifery in Australia has not been well researched, interrogated or published. There is a need to document these histories and recognise the Indigenous women of the era who, in spite of the challenges they faced, forged careers in nursing and midwifery and laid the foundations for the Indigenous nurses and midwives who followed.

Effects of home visit on perceived social support of mothers and the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding: A randomized clinical trial study

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding does not continue until six months in many places. It is seem, many factors are involved. The interventions for increase mothers’ social support during breastfeeding could be effective. The aim of this study was to examine effect of home visit on social support and the continuity exclusive breastfeeding in Bokan city from kurdestan province. Materials and Methods: In this research, 108 mothers which have 3-5 day’s old neonates that were referred to 8 health care centers of Bokan (Iran). They were entered into the study by random allocation using randomized block design and were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of six home-based training programs of about 30 minutes. The instruments used included demographic questionnaire and midwifery history, perceived social support tool of Zimet, and a researcher-made questionnaire on exclusive breastfeeding. Results: Most mothers in the intervention group continued exclusive breastfeeding until the fourth month, and the majority in the control group continued exclusive breastfeeding until the first and second months. In general, the mean number of breastfeeding months in the intervention group was 3.15±1.01 months and in the control group 1.71±0.906 months. Also, most people in the intervention group (76%) had more than 8 times breastfeeding per day, while most mothers in the control group (88%) had less than 8 times breastfeeding. Mothers’ perception social support score were not significant difference in two groups. Conclusion: Home visit and follow-ups have led to a long-term exclusive breastfeeding and more often overnight, so it's possible to set up such plans to enhance breastfeeding status. Home visit did not effect on mothers’ perceive social support and fathers’ attitude. It is seem to need future further interventions in this field with long time follow up and qualitative study with influence in deep layer in culture people in Bokan city. Keywords: Exclusive Breastfeeding, Home Visit, social support, Mothers * Corresponding author. +98 9192266207 jamshidimanesh.m@iums.ac.ir Received: 2 Oct 2018; Accepted: 12 Jul 2020 Downloaded from koomeshjou

Independent midwives in early twentieth century New South Wales: A biographical history

ABSTRACT Background Histories of nursing and hospitals rarely focus on midwives nor reference the private hospitals established by these women. Aim The aim of this study was to explore primary source material, archival and library records and a range of digitised and paper material, and record the biographies, training, career details and family life of individual midwives who established or worked in private hospitals in rural New South Wales. Method Central to the article is a biographical method and feminist theory that conceptualises women as historical agents. The articles draw on microhistory to focus on individual lives but, at the same time, there is an acknowledgement of the wider, social and political dimensions of nursing and midwifery history. Discussion The midwives in this study were ordinary working-class and lower middle-class women seeking out work and life experience at a time when it was difficult for women in the public domain. All of these women established managed or shared in the work of a small hospital. They were energetic entrepreneurs pursuing a career, living independently and caring for the health of women and babies. Conclusion The work and midwifery practice of twentieth century midwives and their participation in their communities were a significant focal point for women’s reproductive care in country New South Wales. Their personal and professional lives provide a rich tapestry of stories about women’s lives and their professional careers.

Julia ChinyereOparah and Alicia D.Bonaparte (Eds.), Birthing justice: Black women, pregnancy, and childbirth. New York, NY: Routledge, 2016, 234 pp., ISBN: 978‐1‐61205‐837‐5

Julia ChinyereOparah and Alicia D.Bonaparte (Eds.), Birthing justice: Black women, pregnancy, and childbirth. New York, NY: Routledge, 2016, 234 pp., ISBN: 978‐1‐61205‐837‐5

The Effect of Supportive Counseling on the Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder Following Emergency Cesarean Section

Background & aim: Adverse childbirth experiences can lead to the emergence of mental disorders, such as acute stress disorder (ASD), in mothers in the postpartum period. Birth trauma can occur following aggressive procedures such as emergency cesarean section. This study aimed to determine the effect of supportive counseling intervention on the symptoms of ASD in women after emergency cesarean delivery. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 126 women with traumatic emergency cesarean section at Payambar-E Azam and Afzalipoor hospitals in Kerman, Iran. The participants were selected based on DSM-IV criteria. The subjects were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received individual and face-to-face supportive counseling. The data collection tool was the Acute Stress Disorder Questionnaire, which was completed one and three weeks post-intervention. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS, version 13. Results: The two groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics, pregnancy complications, and midwifery history. Also, there was no significant difference between two groups regarding the depression and anxiety mean scores at the pre-intervention stage. The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of all acute stress disorder symptoms after one and three weeks of the intervention (p <0.05). Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the provision of supportive counseling for the mothers with a traumatic emergency cesarean section had a significant impact on the reduction of ASD symptoms.

Problems and prospect existing in the development of midwifery in China

Midwifery plays an important role in guaranteeing the maternal and newborn health. This paper elaborated the developing history of midwifery in our country and the developing status home and abroad. This paper also pointed out the problems existing in the development of midwifery in our country such as the shortage of midwivies, functional shrinkage, technology degeneration and imperfect education system, etc. We should promote the construction and development of midwifery in our country through building higher education system, forming a larger midwifery team, and promoting the midwifery legislation. Key words: Review; Midwifery; Problems; Prospect

A History of Midwifery in the United States: The Midwife Said Fear Not

A History of Midwifery in the United States: The Midwife Said Fear Not

The relationship between the dietary protein intake and functional ovarian cysts

Summary. Objective: Although ovarian cysts are of an unknown etiology, there is some information about the associated risk factors. To considering the high prevalence of ovarian cysts and the associated complications. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary protein intake and the functional ovarian cysts in women at reproductive age. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 264 women, aged 15-49 years. The case group consisted of women with the functional ovarian cysts (n=132) and the control group included the healthy individuals (n=132). The Pregnant women, females with a prior history of infertility, and the menopausal women were excluded in the study. A demographic questionnaire was used for collecting the patients’ demographic information, medical and midwifery history. The dietary protein intake was measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. For the data analysis, t-test, χ2, and regression analysis were performed, using SPSS version 16. Results: The mean levels of protein intake were 104.62±93.63 and 86.20±41.52 g in the case and control groups, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between the dietary protein intake and the functional ovarian cysts (P=0.04). Conclusion: To considering the direct relationship between high protein consumption and the functional ovarian cysts, appropriate educational programs are needed.

A history of midwifery in the United States: the midwife said fear not

A history of midwifery in the United States: the midwife said fear not

A History of Midwifery in the United States: The Midwife Said Fear Not by Helen Varney and Joyce Beebe Thompson

A History of Midwifery in the United States: The Midwife Said Fear Not by Helen Varney and Joyce Beebe Thompson

Regulating Birth: Locating Power at the Intersection of Private and Public in Oregon History

Historicizing birth — working to understand how and why the practices and experiences of childbirth have developed and changed and how efforts to “regulate birth” have shaped both its practice and experience — allows us to chart shifting dominant values as well as the impacts of those changes. Social anxieties about citizenship, family, and life itself often underlay birthing regulations. From the impact of federal Indian policies on Native communities, to the role of labor unions in advocating for access to birth control, to the unfolding history of genetic testing and its influence on birth choices, to the history of midwifery and home birth, the regulation of birth both reflects and shapes community assumptions regarding inclusion and exclusion. The articles in this special issue present a compelling case for focusing historical attention on childbirth. As historians of women and gender have long argued, centering historical inquiry on experiences previously dismissed as merely “women's issues” can both deepen our historical knowledge and challenge traditional narratives.

Effect of Acupressure on Cervical Ripening.

Background:Cervical ripening is one of the main stages of initiation labor. Acupressure in Chinese medicine is considered as an invasive technique, which through reliving oxytocin ripens the cervix. Acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) was selected in this study because it is the acupoint selected in gynecology and it is easy for women to locate and apply pressure without medical assistance.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acupressure on cervical ripening.Patients and Methods:In this randomized clinical trial, 150 primigravida with term pregnancy who had referred to Deziani hospital in Gorgan were chosen and divided to three groups: in the first group acupressure was done by the researcher while in the second groups this was performed by the mother her self, and the third group served as a control and only received routine care. For both intervention groups the pressure was applied on Sp6 for about 20 minutes during one to five days. Elements were checked from cervical ripening at 48 and 96 hours after intervention and at the time of hospitalization. The tools for gathering information included demographic characteristics and midwifery history questionnaire, daily records and follow up forms. Content validity was used for validity of tools. Reliability of the observation check-list and physical examination was confirmed by inter-rater scores (inter observer), and daily records by test-re-test. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared tests (P ≤ 0.05).Results:There was a significant difference between mothers’ educations in the three groups. Most of the mothers (59.5%) in the researcher-performed acupressure group had secondary education. Cervical ripening was significantly different between the three groups after 48 hours (P ≤ 0.05), yet there was no significant difference after 96 hours and at the time of admission. Mean Bishop score was enhanced after 48 hours in the researcher-performed acupressure group (P ≤ 0.021) and the self-performed acupressure group (P ≤ 0.007) in comparison to the control group.Conclusions:The results showed that acupressure is a safe technique and leads to cervical ripening. Thus, regarding the desired results that were achieved when mothers applied acupressure themselves, it could be suggested that it is beneficial for mothers to be trained to apply this method at home.

Help at the end of the line: Trialling a telephone-based health-coaching service for achieving healthy weight gain during pregnancy

Alliance of North America (MANA), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), and North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) have formed an alliance to translate these standards for midwifery across the United States, resulting in a cohesive and stronger midwifery voice across the country. Conclusion: The combined evidence establishes a mandate for changing health care. How do we use it to forge the future of midwifery and to achieve the triple aim of (a) improving the health of populations; (b) improving the care experience (including quality and satisfaction); and (c) reducing the per capita cost of health care? It is both an opportunity and challenge, but represents one of the most critical moments in the history of midwifery!

Janet Greenlees and Linda Bryder (eds), Western Maternity and Medicine, 1880-1990

The Wellcome Trust funded much of the research presented in this valuable book. In partnership with the Economic History Society it also funded the 2010 symposium in Glasgow at which most of the ideas in these chapters were first presented as papers. The money was well spent. These discussions between scholars have culminated in this fine contribution to the social history of maternal health and medicine. The book makes bold arguments about changes in the practice and experience of maternity and motherhood. The editors argue that there were dramatic transformations in women's experiences of pregnancy and childbirth in the Western world since 1880 as more women gave birth within hospitals than at home. That much we knew, but our knowledge has been framed by a powerful historiographical and ideological divide between historians of medicine who valorised the efforts of progressive medical practitioners throughout this period and feminist historians writing from the 1970s onwards who argued that midwives and mothers were left powerless in the face of medical ‘advances’. The introduction outlines these significant debates on women's agency and the marginalisation of midwives. The editors are concerned to emphasise that women's agency has been misunderstood and misrepresented in the history of maternity presented thus far. This volume redresses that neglect. Contributors do not reject feminist readings of the history of midwifery and maternity, indeed many remain informed by them, but they do provide a powerful critique of ‘victimization theories’ (p. 6). All urge us to appreciate the variety of stakeholders involved in the history of maternity, the complicated nature of their relationships and the ways in which they have shifted over time.

Happiness and related factor in pregnant woman

Introduction: Happiness is accounted for one of the psychological health criteria, and it is person's judgment from satisfaction of quality of life. Pregnancy is an experience that changes physical, social and mental of women. But the attitude of women towards their pregnancy are important and for a woman who has healthy pregnancy according to psychological, it is a Manifestation of a sense of self-actualization and feminine identity. This study aimed to determine the related factors with happiness in pregnancy. Aim: To determine factors associated with happiness in Pregnancy Methods: In this study, 300 low risk pregnant women who have referred to health centers for prenatal care, were selected by multistage sampling and demographic questionnaire, history of midwifery, lifestyle, Oxford happiness questionnaire and the personality traits of NEO- FFI complete. Content validity of the questionnaire was performed and the reliability was measured with Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed with spss software and Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann- Whitney tests and One- way ANOVA were used. Results: The mean age of subjects 25.1 years, with a standard deviation of 4.9 at the age of 18 to 35 years. The frequency of low, medium and high level of happiness was 11.3%, 72.5%, and 16.2% respectively. Happiness are related to employment status (p0.002, chi-square= 12.9, df= 2), exercise (p=0.000 and Z=3.36), entertainment (p= 0.043, f= 3.3, df= 78), duration of Religious activity (p=0.001, F=1.8, df=2), Neuroticism (p=0.000 and r=0.294), Extroversion (p=0.000 and r=0.289) Conclusions: Regarding to importance positive emotions such as happiness in mental health, programs is recommended for promotion of related factors in pregnancy .

Midwifery in Scotland – A HistoryMidwifery in Scotland – A History

This is an important work for midwifery in Scotland and for the history of midwifery in general. Nurse, midwife and author Lindsay Reid has put together a most readable illustrated social history from written and verbal sources. She recounts the despair of unemployment, coals that really were kept in the bath and midwives who ‘lived our lives in fleas’.

Notes on Contributors

<i>Notes on Contributors</i>

LIMINAL CRAFT, EXCEPTIONAL LAW: PRELIMINARY NOTES ON MIDWIVES IN MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC WRITINGS

In this article, the first fruit of an ongoing research on the sociocultural history of midwifery in medieval Muslim societies, I trace the attitudes toward midwives as revealed in Arabic biographical, medical, and legal texts. These texts, the product of male scholars, mirror an ambivalent attitude toward midwives: a mixture of repressed admiration, open repulsion, and fear. Thus, midwives are almost totally absent from Islamic scriptures, and Muslim writers make them play only a minor role in biographical and hagiographic literature, where the midwives of the Prophet's family are consciously or unconsciously “blocked” from becoming mythological figures. Women, sometimes hesitatingly identified as midwives, nevertheless played a role through their very presence at the moment of the Prophet's birth. In a storylike manner, they set an example for the implication of the legal rules concerning the midwife's exceptional status as a witness in court, rules that were formulated and consolidated in the formative period of Islamic law side by side with the traditions on the Prophet Muhammad's birth.

Nothing to Work With but Cleanliness: The Training of African American Traditional Midwives in the South

The article discusses the history of midwifery in the U.S. Although midwives had been mostly displaced by physicians in the Northeastern cities by the 1920s, African American midwives continued to practice in rural communities in the Southern U.S. Reformers who wanted to end midwifery compromised by registering midwives with local health departments and requiring them to attend classes.