Probiotics, Prebiotics, Lactoferrin, and Combination Products to Prevent Mortality and Morbidity in Preterm Infants.

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Postoperative Urinary Health Related to Timing of Indwelling Catheter Removal.

Urinary retention rates were statistically higher in the immediate removal group compared to the delayed removal group.

Effect of Timing of Second-Stage Pushing on Pelvic Floor Morbidity After Birth.

The author describes a recent trial on the effect of the timing of pushing during the second stage of labor on postpartum pelvic floor morbidity.

Infant Safe Sleep Initiative in a Small Volume Maternity Service.

PURPOSE: Despite the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for preventing sudden unexpected infant death, there are approximately 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths annually in the United States. Modeling of safe sleep practices by nurses in the hospital influences parents' practice at home; however, safe sleep practices are not consistently modeled during the childbirth hospitalization. METHODS: A quality improvement project was conducted to implement a safe sleep initiative based on the 2016 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for nurses caring for hospitalized infants after birth. Evaluation included testing of nurses' knowledge, infant crib audits, and nurses' evaluation of the intervention. RESULTS: A significant improvement was found in overall nurse education scores. Crib audits demonstrated a significant improvement in the following elements: use of multiple blankets, swaddling of the infant, and parent teaching. Nursing surveys reported an increase in confidence to practice safe sleep recommendations and educate and redirect parents. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Implementing a safe sleep initiative can increase nurses' knowledge, improve adherence to recommendations with modeling safe sleep practices, and increase parent awareness of safe sleep recommendations, potentially positively affecting adherence after discharge.

The Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Infant Colic: A Scoping Review.

ABSTRACT: The significant crying of infantile colic adds stress to the infant and their family, yet it has no recognized etiology. Gastrointestinal health problems and dysfunction have been suspected in the etiology of colic. Disruptions to the microbiome colonization of the gastrointestinal system may lead to excess gas and inflammation that are associated with the crying of colic. Infants with colic have increased colonization with gas-producing bacteria, like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella , and they have lower colonization of anti-inflammatory bacteria, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus . Colic is known to self-resolve around 3 months of age. However, few researchers have investigated how the microbiome may be changing at colic's natural resolution without the intervention of a probiotic. With a better understanding of what leads to colic's self-resolution, future researchers may be able to identify more effective therapies for colic prevention or treatment. This scoping review presents the collective evidence from 21 original, primary research articles on what is known about the gastrointestinal microbiome at colic onset and resolution.

Measuring health professionals' beliefs about skin-to-skin care during a cesarean.

Women and their newborns are at risk of delayed or withheld skin-to-skin care (SSC) during a caesarean, which is about one-third of births, worldwide. To date, no instrument exists to assess health professionals' (HPs) beliefs, and potential barriers and strategies for implementing SSC during a cesarean. The study aims were to (1) develop an instrument, Health Professionals' Beliefs about Skin-to-Skin Care During a Cesarean (SSCB ), (2) establish its validity and reliability and (3) describe HPs' beliefs about SSC during a caesarean. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to test the SSCB and describe HPs' beliefs. SSCB analysis yielded a content validity of 0.83 and reliability of α = 0.9. We grouped all practice roles as either nurses or physicians. The mean rank score for nurses (n = 120, M = 90) was significantly higher (p = 0.001) than physicians (n = 46, M = 79). Despite this difference, scores for both roles reflected support for SSC. Participants identified hospital readiness to implement SSC and maintaining maternal and newborn safety as major issues. SSCB is a valid, reliable instrument to measure HPs' beliefs about SSC during a caesarean birth. HPs can use the SSCB during quality improvement initiatives to improve access to immediate SSC for women who have a caesarean birth. Improved access can enhance breastfeeding outcomes and promote optimal maternal and child health.

Promoting and Protecting the Gastrointestinal Newborn Microbiome Through Breastfeeding Practices.

Since newborns are a vulnerable population that cannot protect their own microbiome, healthcare professionals can promote, advocate, and assist with breastfeeding promotion to protect the healthy development of the newborn gastrointestinal microbiome. The newborn gastrointestinal microbiome is a dynamic community of bacteria that influence health. Breastfeeding seeds and feeds the newborn gastrointestinal microbiome. A disruption in the balance of the gastrointestinal microbiome can result in adverse health outcomes. This clinical article makes an evidence-based connection between breastfeeding and the establishment of the newborn gastrointestinal microbiome through breastfeeding promotion strategies during the childbearing year. Suggestions for healthcare profession education and future research that will continue to inform the understanding of healthy development of the microbiome will be provided. By assisting with breastfeeding promotion, healthcare professionals can protect the newborn gastrointestinal microbiome and promote overall newborn, infant, and child health.

Is the Newborn Microbiome Disrupted by Routine Newborn Suctioning? An Exploratory Approach for Policy Development.

An invasive procedure commonly used in the perinatal setting is newborn suctioning at birth. Routine newborn suctioning, without indication, is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council for the newborn with spontaneous respirations, adequate crying, and good muscle tone. Whether to suction a newborn is a difficult practice decision made daily by the perinatal nurse. A primary element of this practice decision is the consideration that newborn suctioning has the potential to affect health outcomes. Furthermore, routine newborn suctioning may be disrupting the newborn microbiome by removing commensal bacteria and potentially, negatively affecting newborn health. This article will explore the connection between the practice of routine newborn suctioning in the perinatal setting and the potential to disrupt the newborn microbiome. The methods employed and reported in this article consisted of review of literature and review of clinical guidelines and a descriptive study to determine the scope of practice of newborn suctioning. The premise of whether the practice of routine newborn suctioning at birth may be disrupting the newborn microbiome will also be considered. Finally, developing a microbiome-centric perspective will be explored.

A Study of Skin-to-Skin Care During Cesarean Birth: A Mother's Experience.

This study explores the experience of women who have had skin-to-skin care during cesarean birth by using a qualitative, phenomenology-based approach. Interview questions were developed and aimed to understand the common meaning of this experience by learning about women's prior concerns and expectations of skin-to-skin care during cesarean birth, and how these experiences were realized during the intervention. A purposive sample (N = 13) was recruited through social media. Participants had skin-to-skin care, post-cesarean birth, in the last 10 years and were interviewed via Facebook Messenger video chat. The themes that emerged revealed the importance these women placed on their skin-to-skin care experience. The results of this study reinforce the importance of advocating for and implementing skin-to-skin care during cesarean birth whenever possible.

Effects of Skin-to-Skin Care During Cesareans: A Quasiexperimental Feasibility/Pilot Study.

Introduction: Our aim was to describe feasibility and outcomes of skin-to-skin care (SSC) that began during cesarean surgery and continued, uninterrupted, for about 5 hours. We described maternal/newborn measures of physiologic stability and stress; maternal measures of comfort; maternal satisfaction with surgery and SSC; and exclusive breast milk feeding at discharge. Materials and Methods: We used a quasiexperimental, time-interrupted design and randomly assigned women to receive SSC that began during surgery (Group 1, intervention; n = 20) or after surgery, before transfer to recovery (Group 2, standard care; n = 20). We analyzed differences across time and for five observations: before transfer to the operating room (OR); in the OR, about 20 minutes after birth; in the recovery room, about 1 hour after admission; in the New Family Center (NFC), about 1 hour after admission; and in the NFC, about 2 hours after admission. Results: Group 1 began SSC an average of 0.89 minutes after birth and continued an average of 300 minutes and Group 2 began an average of 46 minutes after birth and continued an average of 126 minutes. Women who began SSC during surgery were more satisfied with the experience (p = 0.015) and had lower levels of salivary cortisol across time (p = 0.003). We found no negative effects on maternal or newborn measures of physiologic stability and no difference in exclusive breast milk feeding rates at discharge. Conclusion: Immediate and uninterrupted SSC during medically uncomplicated cesarean surgery is a feasible, low-cost intervention that can safely begin during surgery and continue, uninterrupted, for extended durations.

Human Factors Associated With the Use of Manual Bulb Suction Devices.

BACKGROUND: Manual bulb suction is commonly used to promote naso-oropharyngeal airway clearance. Human factors of hand placement (radial vs. axial) and relative negative pressure generated are not known. This study is the first step in developing clinical guidelines for safe and effective mechanical use of manual bulb suction to reduce and prevent upper airway injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the negative pressure generated when a 2-oz. manual bulb suction device is compressed and released, and hand placement is either in a radial or axial position. METHODS: A total of 87 subjects were recruited using a convenience sampling method to identify hand placement and predicted negative pressures emitted during bulb compression and release. A pressure transmitter system was developed and tested with 666 negative pressure measurements to verify internal consistency and reliability in predicting negative pressure. RESULTS: The majority of subjects compressed the bulb radially (55%). Suction pressures ranged from -42 mm Hg to -81 mm Hg, with a standard deviation of -7 mm Hg. Males tended to have statistically significant higher negative pressures (U = 170, p = .021) when radially compressing the bulb. Females generated statistically significant higher negatives pressures (U = 71.50, p = .001) when axially compressing the bulb. DISCUSSION: A 2-oz. manual bulb suction device creates negative pressures less than 85 mm Hg when using moderate compression regardless of hand placement (radial or axial placement). Further studies are needed to explore additional healthcare provider and patient human factor variables related to the mechanical use of manual bulb suction.

Nasal Airway Clearance for Bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis is a leading cause of emergency department visits and hospitalization in the first year of life with estimated costs to the healthcare system in the United States of $1.73 billion annually. The highest rates of admission occur in the first 3 to 6 months of life. Traditional therapies such as bronchodilators and antibiotics have repeatedly been shown to be ineffective. Thickened nasal secretions cause decreased oxygenation, difficulty sleeping, poor feeding, and respiratory distress symptoms. Bronchiolitis guidelines recommend supportive care such as noninvasive nasal airway clearance with saline to clear obstructed airways, improve oxygenation, and promote optimal infant eating and sleeping. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of use of noninvasive nasal airway clearance as supportive care for infants with bronchiolitis in the acute care setting is presented.

Airway Clearance of the Term Newborn.

PURPOSE: This descriptive, observational study explored the practice of airway clearance of the term newborn at birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council have established guidelines for suctioning the well newborn. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Airway clearance practices of nurses, obstetricians, and respiratory therapists at 10 cesarean births and 10 vaginal births were observed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and through content analysis of narratives. RESULTS: All newborns observed experienced at least one airway clearance event and multiple airway clearance passes. Indications for suctioning were not consistent with professional guidelines. Airway clearance procedures and practices were inconsistent. Two suction devices used: the blue bulb syringe and orogastric catheter. If a newborn was suctioned three times, the orogastric catheter was the predominate device used. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: There was a lack of adherence to established clinical guidelines for newborn airway clearance. Further study is needed to identify education of airway clearance guidelines. Specific protocols such as safe suctioning methods, correct device use, and observation of complications associated with airway management need to be developed to support a newborn's healthy transition at birth.

Airway Clearance of the Term Newborn.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore airway clearance practices for the preterm newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive, retrospective medical record review analyzed airway clearance practices in a level III regional NICU from 2016 to 2017 in preterm newborns ranging from 32 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days. There were 87 preterm newborns and 384 suctioning events reviewed during the entire length of stay. Practices reviewed include device used, frequency, color, consistency, and tolerance of airway clearance. Method of nursing documentation for these practices was also reviewed. RESULTS: Babies born via cesarean required more suctioning (65.5%). Males (60.9%) required more airway clearance events than females (39.1%). After suction events, nurses reported no distress (74%), equal bilateral breath sounds (30%), desaturation (6%), and collectively color change, apnea, or bradycardia (<1%). The most common discharge diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome (90%). Preterm newborns were suctioned with the blue bulb syringe (15.6%), oral/nasal-pharyngeal suction device (42.7%), and endotracheal suction devices (41.7%). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Electronic medical records promote less detailed, narrative documentation and more point and click documentation. If electronic medical record systems are not designed to gather airway clearance indications, specifics about the procedure and the preterm newborn response to the procedure, evidence-based practice cannot be measured. More studies are needed to evaluate suction practices applied in the NICU setting.

The PRO leader model.

A transformative approach to influence change.

Microbial profile and characterization of blue bulb manual suction devices used to promote airway clearance in newborns in intrapartum and postpartum units.

BACKGROUND: Newborns are suctioned with a blue bulb manual suction device to remove naso-oropharyngeal secretions and promote airway clearance. This study identifies and discusses the microbial profile and characterization of the bulb used in newborns on intrapartum and postpartum units. METHODS: This was a descriptive study with convenience sampling of a total of 50 bulbs used in cesarean births, vaginal births, and on the postpartum unit. The bulbs were tested for microbial growth, and the percentages of contaminated bulbs were calculated. The χ2 test was used to compare the proportion of bulbs with microbial growth by route of birth among bulbs sampled from the intrapartum unit. RESULTS: Microbial profile and characterization identified a total of 57 different gram-positive cocci and rods and gram-negative rods. Among 50 bulbs cultured, bacterial growth was present in 42% of the bulbs, and Escherichia coli was identified in 55% of the gram-negative rod isolates. The χ2 test comparing vaginal and cesarean bulbs showed a statistically significant difference in the percentages of contaminated bulbs for any growth (P = .023) and for any Staphylococcus spp (P = .050). CONCLUSIONS: New empirical evidence confirms the bulb is a potential bacterial reservoir and poses a potential health risk for nosocomial infections for newborns. Further studies are needed to identify bacterial transmission, newborn outcomes, bactericidal bulb cleaning methods, and quality and safe suction practices.

Workplace Challenges: The Impact of Personal Beliefs and the Birth Environment.

This article reviews 2 workplace challenges faced by the perinatal nurse: the impact of personal beliefs and issues within the birth environment. It also explores how these challenges inform the birth practices of the perinatal nurse. The methods employed for this review are focus groups and a concept analysis. Two focus groups (n = 14) and a concept analysis based on a process defined by Walker and Avant provided a set of birth practices performed by the perinatal nurse who facilitates normal birth. Assertiveness was identified as a primary attribute of the perinatal nurse and several suggestions are identified as empirical referents or methods of measuring the abstract concepts, to identify the workplace challenges of the perinatal nurse. Development of effective processes, designed to overcome the many challenges facing the perinatal nurse, will assist in improving perinatal care for women and newborns.

Trends in Perinatal Care and Implications for Frontline Nurse Leaders.

The perinatal trends presented in this article are based on recent topics from conferences, journals, the media, as well as from input from perinatal nurses. Trends in patient care are influenced by evidence known for decades, new research, emerging and innovative concepts in healthcare, patient and family preferences, and the media. Trends discussed in this article are rethinking the due date, birth outside the hospital setting, obstetric hospitalists as birth attendants, nitrous oxide for pain in childbirth, hydrotherapy and waterbirth in the hospital setting, delayed cord clamping, disrupters of an optimal infant microbiome, skin-to-skin care during cesarean surgery, and breast-sleeping and the breast-feeding dyad. In addition, the authors developed implications for perinatal nurses related to each trend. The goal is to stimulate reflection on evidence that supports or does not support current practice and to stimulate future research by discussing some of the current trends that may influence the care that perinatal nurses provide during the birthing year.

Birth Environments: A Woman's Choice in the 21st Century.

A woman has many important decisions to make once discovering a pregnancy. One of those decisions with significant implications is where the birth will take place. The primary consideration for the majority of pregnant women when making a decision about birth environment is safety. However, other factors such as attitudes of family and friends, religious reasons, and confidence in the body's ability to give birth play a factor in the choice of birth environment. It is recommended that birth attendants use the process of shared decision making to assist pregnant women in making choices related to the birth environment. This process empowers the pregnant woman and provides a woman-centered and evidence-based approach to choices related to obstetrical care.