Trends and motivations for freebirth: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Even when maternity care facilities are available, some women will choose to give birth unassisted by a professional (freebirth). This became more apparent during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as women were increasingly concerned they would contract the virus in health care facilities. Several studies have identified the factors that influence women to seek alternative places of birth to hospitals, but research focusing specifically on freebirth is limited. METHODS: Eight databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022 for studies related to freebirth. Data from the studies were charted and a thematic analysis was subsequently conducted. RESULTS: Four themes were identified based on findings from the 25 included studies: (1) Geographical and socio-demographic determinants influencing freebirth, (2) Reasons for choosing freebirth, (3) Factors hindering freebirth, and (4) Preparation for and varied experiences of freebirth. DISCUSSION: More women chose to give birth unassisted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with high-income countries (HICs). Overall, motivation for freebirth included previous negative birth experiences with health care professionals, a desire to adhere to their birth-related beliefs, and fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Included studies reported that study participants were often met with negative responses when they revealed that they were planning to freebirth. Most women in the included studies had positive freebirth experiences. Future research should explore the different motivators of freebirth present in LMICs or HICs to help inform effective policies that may improve birth experiences while maintaining safety.

Parental experiences with changes in maternity care during the Covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-studies systematic review.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women were identified as a high-risk and vulnerable group. To reduce risk of transmission, maternity healthcare services were modified to limit exposure but maintain services for pregnant women. However, the change in hospital practice may have compromised quality maternal care standards. Therefore, this review aims to explore parental experiences and views with maternity care received from healthcare institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A mixed studies systematic review was conducted. Six electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Maternity and Infant Care) were searched for qualitative, observational, and mixed method studies from the year 2019 to February 2022. Study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Quantitative findings were converted to narrative findings. Data was synthesised thematically using a convergent synthesis design. RESULTS: Fifty-eight articles were included. Four themes were generated: (1) Distress associated with COVID-19 regulations (perception of hospital restrictions, confusion with ever changing policies), (2) adaptability with maternity services (prenatal: changes in birth plans, prenatal: altered antenatal appointments, education, and care, intrapartum: medicalization of birth, postpartum: varied views on care received and Breastfeeding woes, postpartum: skin-to-skin contact and mother infant bonding) (3) importance of support persons, and (4) future direction for maternity services. CONCLUSIONS: Parental experiences highlighted how maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic did not adhere to WHO standards of quality maternity care. This calls for healthcare institutions to continuously appraise the implementation of restrictive practices that deviate from evidence-based frameworks underpinning quality care.

Changes in perinatal mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: a protocol for a collaborative research study between the COST actions RISEUP-PPD and DEVOTION.

INTRODUCTION: Significant changes in routine maternity care have been introduced globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce infection risk, but also due to lack of medical facilities, staff shortages and the unpredictable nature of the disease. However, it is yet to be established if specialised perinatal mental health (PMH) services have been similarly affected. As a Task Force in PMH and COVID-19 pandemic within Riseup-PPD COST Action, this study aims to identify changes in PMH practices, policies and protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An online survey of experts in the PMH who are members of the COST Action 'Riseup-PPD' and the COST Action ''DEVOTION" across 36 European countries will be conducted. A questionnaire on changes in PMH care practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic will be administered. It consists of open-ended questions, checklists and ratings on a 7-point scale addressing seven domains of interest in terms of PMH: (1) policies, guidelines and protocols; (2) PMH care practices at a national level; (3) evidence of best practice; (4) barriers to usual care; (5) resources invested; (6) benefits of investment in the policies and (7) short-term and long-term expectations of the policies. Data will be collected using Qualtrics. Descriptive statistics will be reported and differences between countries will be examined using the χ2 statistic or Student's t-test. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from The Ethics Committee for Research in Life and Health Sciences of the University of Minho (Portugal) to undertake an anonymous online survey. The findings will be disseminated to professional audience through peer-review publication and presentations and shared widely with stakeholders, policy-makers and service user groups. A position paper will be developed to influence policy-making at a European level to alleviate the adversities caused by COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04779775.

Perceptions of women and partners on labor and birth positions: A meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: The risks and benefits of different birthing positions are commonly studied, but both paternal and maternal preferences and experiences of different birth positions are not examined. Therefore, this systematic review aims to explore the perceptions of women and their partners on birthing positions during the first and second stage of labor, so that maternity health care practitioners can provide better quality patient-centered care. METHODS: Six databases were searched from each database's inception through November 2020. Qualitative or mixed-methods studies exploring perceptions of women and/or their partners on birthing positions were included in the review. Key information and findings of the studies were extracted; qualitative data were meta-summarized, then meta-synthesized using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Seven studies were included, and four themes emerged: (a) Influences on choice and preference; (b) mixed experiences from "pain" to "more in control"; (c) impact on postpartum health; and (d) ways to empower couples in their choice. CONCLUSIONS: Women's preferences for birthing positions were influenced by a myriad of personal and socio-cultural beliefs and traditions. Findings suggest a need for health care practitioners to build better rapport and provide more culturally relevant informational support to both women and their birthing partners, so they are better able to make informed decisions on their preferred birthing position.

Women's experience of pregnancy and birth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how maternity care services are provided worldwide. To contain the virus, many providers reduced the number of face-to-face visits for women. In addition, partner attendance was prohibited in many circumstances to protect staff, and other service users, from potential infection. AIMS: To explore women's experience of pregnancy and birth in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A qualitative study with 14 women was conducted using a grounded theory approach. Data were collected between April and July 2020, and in-depth interviews were conducted either in pregnancy or in the first 12 weeks after the birth. RESULTS: Six categories emerged: loss of normality, navigating "new" maternity care systems, partners as bystanders, balancing information, uncertainty, and unexpected benefits of pregnancy during the pandemic. While benefits were reported (working from home and additional time spent with partners during the "fourth trimester"), in general, the themes were of increased anxiety and uncertainty. CONCLUSION: The pandemic caused additional anxiety for pregnant women. This was exacerbated by uncertainty about the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and unclear messaging about restrictions. More interactive and personalized communication is required to support women to cope with uncertainty during a pandemic. The birth partner plays an important role as an advocate for women and excluding them from pregnancy care caused additional anxiety for pregnant women. Containment strategies for a pandemic should be developed with this in mind, to view the family as a unit rather than the woman in isolation.

Moral and mental health challenges faced by maternity staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current COVID-19 pandemic places maternity staff at risk of engaging in clinical practice that may be in direct contravention with evidence; professional recommendations; or, more profoundly, deeply held ethical or moral beliefs and values, as services attempt to control the risk of cross-infection. Practice changes in some settings include reduction in personal contacts for tests, treatments and antenatal and postnatal care, exclusion of birth partners for labor and birth, separation of mother and baby in the immediate postnatal period, restrictions on breastfeeding, and reduced capacity for hands-on professional labor support through social distancing and use of personal protective equipment. These enforced changes may result in increasing levels of occupational moral injury that need to be addressed at both an organizational and a personal level. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).