Development and Validation of the Maternal and Partner Sex During Pregnancy Scales.

Little is known about current attitudes in the United States toward having sex during pregnancy. It is possible that pregnant women and their sexual partners hold beliefs and have feelings during this time that might lead to sexual and relational distress. Two new scales, Maternal Sex During Pregnancy and Partner Sex During Pregnancy, were developed and administered to 112 newly pregnant couples.

The Impact of a Volunteer Postpartum Doula Program on Breastfeeding Success: A Case Study.

Bloomington Area Birth Services (BABS), centered in Bloomington, Indiana, is a community-based program that provides comprehensive education and support for new breastfeeding mothers, infants, family members, and the community by working together with local hospitals, midwives, obstetricians, pediatric offices, and social service agencies to create a seamless continuity of care for families. To help with continuity of care in the community, BABS established a volunteer doula program (birth and postpartum), allowing BABS to combine the services of a community lactation center with birth and postpartum doulas. This article describes the volunteer doula program and highlights one client's story in an effort to encourage and motivate other communities to focus their limited dollars on the development of a volunteer doula program.

Breastfeeding initiation and duration in first-time mothers: exploring the impact of father involvement in the early post-partum period.

Background: The early post-partum period is a crucial time for breastfeeding support. Mothers who have physical and emotional support during this period are more likely to be successful in breastfeeding. This study examined the relationship between father involvement and support for breast feeding initiation and duration in first-time mothers.