Midwifery postpartum clinical guideline following a term stillbirth

Barbora Snuggs, University of North Georgia, Vanderbilt University, USA

Many pregnancies and births bring joy and excitement while some end with the death of the baby prior to labor and delivery, also known as an intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) or a stillbirth. Midwives are closely involved in care for these women during labor and delivery, but evidence-based care guidelines related to midwifery care during the postpartum period following a term stillbirth are limited in the literature published in the United States. A midwifery guideline was developed based on 1) a needs assessment, 2) a literature synthesis, and 3) current guidelines to care for women following a term stillbirth in the initial 6-week postpartum period with input from obstetrician-liaison and the midwives working in a practice setting. Midwives can care for patients utilizing their clinical knowledge with skill, empathy, and compassion by following an established term stillbirth postpartum clinical guideline.

Signs of a healthy birth / Zeichenlehre der gesunden Geburt

Rafaela Joos

Signs of a healthy birth. Observation of the healthy birth process by midwives. Background: «Unique normality», that each person’s uniqueness is normal for them, has been recently postulated in the literature as a new paradigm in midwifery practice. Midwifery skills should include a holistic, woman-centered care during a healthy birth. Instead of a linear approach where, birth should be considered as a circular process. Method: Within the setting of action research, four semi-structured interviews with midwives with expertise in the field of birth centre or homebirth were conducted and an observation chart for the healthy birth was developed. The qualitative interview analysis was carried out with the Mayring method. Results: The multi-faceted knowledge of midwives is demonstrated. A comprehensive observation chart for the observation of a healthy birth could be provided. Conclusions: Each birth is unique and requires continuous individual observation by the supervising midwife.

Pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: Knowledge, anxiety and motivation

Niken Bayu Argaheni, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens such as pregnant women who are predicted to be at higher risk and more susceptible to exposure. The purpose of this study was to find out the knowledge about COVID-19 among pregnant women and how their motivation to continue pregnancy.

Methods: Researchers collaborated with SEKOCI (Sekolah Komplementer Cinta Ibu) to provide bold counseling to its members consisting of 69 pregnant women from various cities once every 7 days for 1 month, then an online questionnaire was evaluated the knowledge, the feelings and motivation for pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: This study shows that respondents who have good knowledge about COVID-19 (76%), experience moderate levels (69%), and have motivation to do pregnancy (93%).

Conclusion: Pregnant women in Indonesia have good knowledge about COVID-19, and still have the motivation to come to health workers.

Improving midwifery students motivation and learning outcome in contraceptive course

Erika Agung Mulyaningsih, Stikes Pemkab Jombang, Indonesia

UNESCO said 73% of schools were closed for 3 months or more due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Face-to-face learning at Diploma III Midwifery Program has been stopped for more than 9 months. Efforts to achieve competence in Midwifery Education are a problem that must be solved innovatively. The purpose of this study was to improve student motivation and learning outcomes through the Lesson Study method. The method of this research is Classroom Action Research which is conducted in two cycles, The research was conducted on third semester students on contraceptive study materials which consisted of 9 topics. Lesson study can increase student motivation and learning outcomes. Various innovations and creativity are needed for students and lecturers to continue learning and teaching in a pandemic situation which is supported by the management in improving the quality of learning.

Promoting a positive norm towards planned home birth practice among midwives: A randomised controlled trial

Auwalu Muhammed, Department of Nursing Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Lee Khuan; Shariff-Ghazali Sazlina;  Salmiah Md Said; and Mairo Hassan, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia

This study was to determine the effect of a PHB education in promoting a positive norm towards PHB among midwives. A parallel group randomised controlled trial was conducted among 226 midwives. A close-ended questionnaire was used for data collection. The intervention group received training, while the control group maintained a usual care. Data were re-collected at immediate-post, and three months follow-up. Statistical analysis showed a significant change in the mean subjective norm within the intervention group (p;lt;0.001), but not in the control group (p =0.140). The participants in the intervention demonstrated a more positive norm towards PHB practice compared to the control group at immediate post-intervention (p & lt;0.001, d =0.9), and three-month follow-up (p & lt;0.001, d=0.9). PHB education is effective in promoting a positive norm towards PHB practice among midwives. The finding may inform midwives and policy makers on the strategy to create a network of collaboration towards safe motherhood.

Midwives' knowledge of pre-eclampsia management: A scoping review

Midwives in poorly resourced settings are engaged in pre-eclampsia management and deliver lifesaving interventions depending on the prescribed scope of practice. Therefore, we aimed to produce a synthesized summary of what midwives from around the world know about pre-eclampsia management. Method: We utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) format and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-Scr) checklist. 

Results: Following application of the inclusion criteria, twenty journal articles from low- and middle-income countries and nine guidelines were reviewed. Three main themes identified related to management whilst the last theme described how contextual factors led to either increased or decreased knowledge of pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: Midwives in some low- and middle-income countries have knowledge deficits of several aspects of pre-eclampsia management. The review suggests pragmatic steps are urgently needed to strengthen the knowledge base of practicing midwives in resourced constrained settings.

Nikoleta Chatzipanagiotidou, Midwifery Department, University of Western Macedonia, Greece

Lupus is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs because it cannot tell the difference between viruses, bacteria, and other germs and the body’s healthy cells, tissues, or organs. Out of 1.5 million Americans with Lupus, 90% are women between the ages 15-44. Lupus affects them greatly when it comes to making the decision of getting pregnant. There are a lot of misconceptions that Lupus prevents people from getting pregnant and there is not enough information given to those who are interested and the results of that are showing very clearly on the studies that have been done. This poster aims to provide accessible, evidence-based knowledge on the subject of pregnancy with Lupus in order to inform people about the possibilities that women with Lupus have on the matter of becoming pregnant.

Marcela Mendoza es una obstetra peruana que actualmente reside en Australia.

Esta es su tercera conferencia como facilitadora/moderadora y nos cuenta cómo ha sido su experiencia en estos últimos años desempeñando este rol. Que significa Equidad de Nacimiento para Todos. Y también anima a personas interesadas a formar parte del equipo de facilitadores para las próximas conferencias del VIDM.

Marcela is a midwife from Perú, currently residing in Australia.

This is her third conference as a facilitator, and she tells us what her experience has been in the last years participating in this role. What does Birth Equity for All mean to her? And she also encourages people interested in becoming part of the facilitator group for the coming VIDM conferences.

Kaveri Mayra is a midwifery, nursing and public health researcher from India. She has over twelve years' research experience working on nursing and midwifery workforce policies and practice. Having seen mistreatment during childbirth early on as a student midwife and experienced the lack of leadership and decision making power to midwives and nurses, Kaveri started researching and advocating on these life experiences and issues. 

Kaveri is a global speaker on disrespect and abuse during childbirth; nursing and midwifery governance, workforce policies and welfare; and gender-based challenges underlying all these issues. 

She has spoken about these issues in conferences, through guest lectures in universities and at public events in countries including Zambia, Switzerland, USA, Argentina, England, Iceland, Wales, Canada and in many states in India.  Kaveri has been recently recognized as one of the 100 outstanding global woman midwife and nurse leaders by Women in Global Health (WGH) to mark the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 2020 in collaboration with WHO, ICN, ICM, the Nursing Now Campaign and UNFPA. 

She has worked with many reputed organizations such as Oxford Policy Management Ltd., WHO, ICM, White Ribbon Alliance (WRA), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Jhpiego and Academy for Nursing Studies and Women's Empowerment Research Studies (ANSWERS) and has consulted with central and state governments. 

She is currently working as a consultant with the WHO HQ, at Geneva alongside pursuing her PhD on Global Health at the University of Southampton, UK where she is exploring the drivers and determinants of obstetric violence in India.

Niessa Meier is faculty in Frontier Nursing University’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice program where she teaches healthcare quality improvement. She maintains a clinical practice in Kerrville, Texas where she lives with her husband and three teenagers.