Immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding after birth: A cross-sectional electronic survey.

Objective: To determine the incidence of immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding after birth; and which factors are associated with it.

Design: Cross-sectional e-survey was developed and piloted prior to distribution. Sampling was purposive and included snowball sampling.

Effects of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding at birth on the incidence of PPH: A physiologically based theory.

Background: The importance of optimising maternal/baby psychophysiology has been integrated into contemporary midwifery theories but not in the detail required to really understand the underpinning biological basis.

Method: The functioning of the autonomic nervous system, as it relates to the uterus is reviewed. The physiology of myometrial cell contraction and relaxation is outlined.

Emergency department presentations for problems in early pregnancy.

Background: Many women with problems in early pregnancy such as vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain present to the emergency department (ED).

Aim: To describe demographic, service delivery and diagnostic characteristics of women who presented to the ED with a problem in early pregnancy.

Methods: Data were reviewed for all electronically available ED presentations in 2008 in NSW, Australia according to diagnostic codes related to problems in early pregnancy (N=12,061).

Holistic physiological care compared with active management of the third stage of labour for women at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage: a cohort study.

Question: Is 'holistic psychophysiological care' in the third stage of labour safe for women at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage?

Background: Although there have been four randomised trials and a Cochrane Review on the safety and effectiveness of care during the third stage labour, no previous study has focussed only on women at low risk of postpartum haemorrhage and no previous study has tested a form of physiological third stage care that is provided by skilled midwives in an appropriate setting.

Design: Retrospective cohort study involving a maternity unit at a tertiary referral hospital and a freestanding, midwifery-led birthing unit.

Participants: All low risk women who gave birth at either unit in the period July 2005-August 2008.