Research Midwives Research Articles

Social construction of episiotomy

This article explores the meaning of episiotomy. A review of the literature examines the definition, procedure, perceptions and outcomes of episiotomy to create a better understanding for those using or experiencing its practice. The article highlights that episiotomy means more than just a cut in the perineum. Episiotomy means different things to different individuals and groups, the meaning being socially constructed depending on social context, professional background and personal experience. It is concluded that midwives need to understand what an episiotomy means to women, and that through research midwives need to develop their own body of knowledge of childbirth from the viewpoints of those who are actually experiencing it.

A strategy for developing research in practice

The problems of utilising research findings in practice and the need for evidence-based practice are being increasingly recognised. This paper shows how one NHS trust, in partnership with a university, has formulated and developed a strategy for developing research in nursing practice. The strategy aims to support nurses and midwives in understanding research and applying it, where appropriate, to their practice, and also to promote a culture of evidence-based care.

Women's evaluations of their experience with fetal intrapartum oxygen saturation monitoring and participation in a research project

Objective: to evaluate women's perceptions of their participation in a research project in labour and their experience with fetal oxygen saturation monitoring. Design: survey using a questionnaire of women's ratings of ten aspects of their experience with the project. Setting: Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. Participants: women who had participated in clinical observational studies of fetal intrapartum oxygen saturation monitoring. Findings: 78 questionnaires were distributed and 77 returned. Overall, women evaluated their participation in this research project favourably, in terms of both their involvement in the research study and the use of fetal oxygen saturation monitoring. Several women commented that they appreciated the additional support they received from the research midwife. Key conclusions: responses indicated that the women surveyed appreciated the opportunity to participate in research, were not averse to this new technology, and benefited from the perceived additional human contact and support they received. The high response rate to the questionnaire indicates that childbearing women are willing to be included in assessing the appropriateness of new birth technologies that may affect the well-being of women and babies in the future.

Book reviews

The book set out to provide information on studies from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU). It is commendable that there is a considerable input by research midwives in the activities of the unit, and it buttresses the important role midwives play in scientific research.

MATERNAL DEPRESSION FOLLOWING VERY PRETERM BIRTH † 1584

Aim: To ascertain the prevalence of depression in mothers following a very preterm (VP < 33weeks) or VLBW delivery and to test if a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention (CBTI) program reduces the prevalence. Design: Randomized single blind control trial; stratified for gestation < 28 weeks and parity. Subjects: English speaking mothers of VP/VLBW infants admitted to KEMH nursery.Intervention: A 6 session CBTI program provided by a research midwife between weeks 3 to 6 after birth. Outcome: Depression and stress disorders assessed by a research clinical psychologist at structured interview, the Schedule for Affective Disorders & Schizophrenia (SADS), using Research Diagnostic Criteria at 2 weeks, 2,6 and 12 months.Results: Of 220 mothers enrolled 21 were depressed at initial interview and not randomized, 199 mothers were randomized (102 CBTI: 97 Control). There were no differences in gestation, parity, previous history of depression or other demographic or obstetric factor between the groups.There was no effect of the CBTI on the prevalence of depression; 25/102 (24.5%) CBTI v 20/97 (20.6%) Control [Relative Risk 1.2 (95% CI 0.71,2.0)]. Overall 66/220(30%) of mothers experienced a minor or major depressive illness in the first 6-12 months. An additional 12 mothers had a diagnosed stress reaction giving a total prevalence of psychiatric disorder of 88/220 (40%).Conclusions: Maternal depression is common after VP delivery. A CBTI program did not reduce this prevalence. Paediatricians have a duty of care to assess maternal psychological well-being during follow-up of these infants. Maternal depression may account for some of the increased behavioural and cognitive problems reported in very preterm or very low birthweight infants.

Social support and pregnancy outcome

A total of 509 women with a history of a low-birthweight (LBW, less than 2500 g) baby were recruited from the antenatal booking clinics of four hospitals and randomized to receive either a social support intervention in pregnancy in addition to standard antenatal care (the intervention group) or standard antenatal care only (the control group). At recruitment to the study, mean gestational age was 6 weeks, mean maternal age was 28.0 years, 86% of the women had one previous LBW baby, 11% had two and 2% had had three or more. The study population was socially disadvantaged: 77% of the women were working class, 18% had unemployed partners and 41% were smoking at booking. Social support was given by four research midwives in the form of 24-h contact telephone numbers and a programme of home visits, during which the midwives provided a listening service for the women to discuss any topic of concern to them, gave practical information and advice when asked, carried out referrals to other health professionals and welfare agencies as appropriate, and collected social and medical information. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed using obstetric case-note data (obtained for 507 women) and a postal questionnaire sent to all mothers 6 weeks after delivery (94% replied). Babies of intervention group mothers had a mean birthweight 38 g higher than that of control group babies; there were fewer very low-birthweight babies in the intervention group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Social Support and Pregnancy Outcome

A total of 509 women with a history of a low-birthweight (LBW, less than 2500 g) baby were recruited from the antenatal booking clinics of four hospitals and randomized to receive either a social support intervention in pregnancy in addition to standard antenatal care (the intervention group) or standard antenatal care only (the control group). At recruitment to the study, mean gestational age was 6 weeks, mean maternal age was 28.0 years, 86% of the women had one previous LBW baby, 11% had two and 2% had had three or more. The study population was socially disadvantaged: 77% of the women were working class, 18% had unemployed partners and 41% were smoking at booking. Social support was given by four research midwives in the form of 24-h contact telephone numbers and a programme of home visits, during which the midwives provided a listening service for the women to discuss any topic of concern to them, gave practical information and advice when asked, carried out referrals to other health professionals and welfare agencies as appropriate, and collected social and medical information. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed using obstetric case-note data (obtained for 507 women) and a postal questionnaire sent to all mothers 6 weeks after delivery (94% replied). Babies of intervention group mothers had a mean birthweight 38 g higher than that of control group babies; there were fewer very low-birthweight babies in the intervention group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Social support and pregnancy outcome

A total of 509 women with a history of a low-birthweight (LBW, less than 2500 g) baby were recruited from the antenatal booking clinics of four hospitals and randomized to receive either a social support intervention in pregnancy in addition to standard antenatal care (the intervention group) or standard antenatal care only (the control group). At recruitment to the study, mean gestational age was 6 weeks, mean maternal age was 28.0 years, 86% of the women had one previous LBW baby, 11% had two and 2% had had three or more. The study population was socially disadvantaged: 77% of the women were working class, 18% had unemployed partners and 41% were smoking at booking. Social support was given by four research midwives in the form of 24-h contact telephone numbers and a programme of home visits, during which the midwives provided a listening service for the women to discuss any topic of concern to them, gave practical information and advice when asked, carried out referrals to other health professionals and welfare agencies as appropriate, and collected social and medical information. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed using obstetric case-note data (obtained for 507 women) and a postal questionnaire sent to all mothers 6 weeks after delivery (94% replied). Babies of intervention group mothers had a mean birthweight 38 g higher than that of control group babies; there were fewer very low-birthweight babies in the intervention group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CORRESPONDENCE

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & GynaecologyVolume 88, Issue 1 p. 80-80 CORRESPONDENCE M. St. C. Hopper, M. St. C. Hopper Clinical Tutor Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this authorP. Donnai, P. Donnai Senior Lecturer/Consultant Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this authorM. Palmer, M. Palmer Research Midwife Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this author M. St. C. Hopper, M. St. C. Hopper Clinical Tutor Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this authorP. Donnai, P. Donnai Senior Lecturer/Consultant Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this authorM. Palmer, M. Palmer Research Midwife Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St Mary's Hospital Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH.Search for more papers by this author First published: January 1981 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1981.tb00945.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume88, Issue1January 1981Pages 80-80 RelatedInformation