A Study on the Perinatal Outcomes of Natural Childbirth Led by Midwives: A Retrospective Study

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to suggest the importance of natural childbirth by investigating the results of midwife-led perinatal periods and whether they were positive experiences for both individual women and their families. @*Methods@#This retrospective study aimed to confirm the perinatal outcomes of midwife-attended vaginal births. Among 1,127 women who gave midwife-led birth in Gyeonggi-do, Seoul between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021, data were collected for 829 women. Records were excluded that were missing necessary data. Data on childbirth were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the chi-square test. @*Results@#Among the mothers who underwent natural childbirth, 549 (66.2%) were multiparous. In addition, all 829 patients (100%) breast-fed their infants. First-degree perineal lacerations occurred in 29.2% of patients, and second-degree lacerations occurred in 48%. Non–high-risk subjects made up 56.0% of the study sample. The average bleeding amount was 281.44±4.50, and the average 1-minute Apgar score for infants was 8.25±0.02. @*Conclusion@#Compared to childbirth in a hospital, natural childbirth was associated with a lower risk of birth canal laceration, postpartum bleeding, and Cesarean section. In addition, the health statuses of the newborns were confirmed to be good . Based on the results of this study, there is a need for a strategy in which midwife-led natural childbirth is integrated into the local medical system, as well as a need to raise women's awareness of natural childbirth and positively influence the experience.

Meaning of the Expectation of Childbirth on Primigravida Whose Fetus are Diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease

PURPOSE: This qualitative study aimed to describe the common themes of the expectations of childbirth on primigravida whose fetus are diagnosed with congenital heart disease. METHODS: A phenomenological method was used in this study. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with six participants during 2016~2017. Colaizzi's phenomenology was adopted for this qualitative study as a research method. RESULTS: Four categories were derived from the data as following: ‘Acknowledge of life and waiting for the baby’, ‘Overcoming guilt and becoming stable’, ‘Strengthening for my baby‘, ‘Trust toward medical staffs’. CONCLUSION: The results of this study can guide nurses and health care workers to understand the expectation of childbirth on primigravida whose fetus are diagnosed with congenital heart disease and to implement individualized nursing interventions suited for them.

A Phenomenological Study on the Spontaneous Abortion Experiences of Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore essences and meaning in experiences of women who have had spontaneous abortion. METHODS: A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. A total of five women with the spontaneous abortion participated in the study. In-depth interviews were done for data collection, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. RESULTS: Five theme clusters, along with 32 sub-themes and 13 themes. The five theme clusters were: ‘Waiting and expecting pregnancy’, ‘Desire to overcome the spontaneous abortion’, ‘My baby makes me cry and laugh’, ‘My precious baby’, and ‘Want to hear with sympathy and talk with you’. CONCLUSION: The women who have had the spontaneous abortion experiences can prevent potential physical and psychological complications after miscarriage by getting education and intervention in nursing. Moreover, they may experience that negative factors of the spontaneous abortion can be turned into positive things through emotional support of family and medical teams.

A Comparative Study of Anxiety, Pain and Maternal-fetal Attachment between Women who became Pregnant after Infertility Treatment and became Pregnant Naturally

PURPOSE: This study was a comparative study to understand the levels of anxiety, pain and maternal-fetal attachment between women who became pregnant after infertility treatment and became pregnant naturally. METHODS: This study used a comparative survey design. Data were collected by 50 couples of natural pregnancy and of who became pregnant after infertility treatment who visited delivery room in C Medical hospital, Seoul. These couples were to have first baby, and cervix dilatation of women was less than 3 cm regardless of diagnosis. RESULTS: The score of anxiety of infertile women was significantly higher than that of naturally pregnant women; however, that of spouses showed no difference. The pain score for infertile women was significantly higher in both the active and transition phases. Pain scores that reported by their spouses did not show differences in either phase. The score of maternal-fetal attachment showed no difference between two groups of women. CONCLUSION: The result showed the importance of nursing intervention to reduce women's anxiety and pain, through both antenatal-childbirth education programs and assertive nursing interventions. It is necessary to develop and evaluate new intervention which would be more effective for reducing pain and anxiety for couples who became pregnant after infertility treatment.

Effect of Abdominal Massage before In Vitro Fertilization Injection on Alleviating Pain among Infertile Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on alleviating pain caused by the injection of recombinant gonadotropin for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) among infertile women. METHODS: This study employed a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total sample of 149 infertile women who never experienced in vitro fertilization was recruited at C fertility center. Seventy women were assigned into experimental group and 79 into controls. The experimental group had been informed to do abdominal massage prior to the injection and to record their subjective pain using visual analogue scale. The control group had been informed to record their subjective pain in the same way just after the injection. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-tested pain scores, the pain scores in experimental group were significantly reduced by 0.7 points, whereas the control group increased by 0.9 points (t=-4.55, p=.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the use of abdominal massage prior to the injection is an effective way to alleviate pain on injection site. This massage may be a useful intervention for infertile women about pain alleviation.

Narrative Exploration of Infertile Nurses' Experience of Natural Abortion / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore deeply the essence and meaning of abortion related experience of nurses. METHODS: Data were collected through in-depth informal interviews, observation, and field records with two nurses from July 1 to July 30, 2015. Data were analyzed using narrative inquiry methodology. RESULTS: Three fundamental themes were derived from data analysis: 'Considering women with abortion-experience as women to be nursed', 'to be absolutely understood', and 'to make us to think how to help'. CONCLUSION: It is significant that this study was carried out holistically on the experience and change in physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of nurses with abortion-experience, simultaneously interpreting from the prospective of nurses. Therefore the basis of nursing interventions are suggested; holistic aspects as education, counseling, group meetings, and program assistance for the women, the families, and those concerned with abortion- experience.