Effectiveness of supporting lifestyle change in pregnant mothers with obesity through the wearable internet-of-things (SLIM) -intervention on self-efficacy in weight management in pregnant women: A quasi-experimental trial.

Background: Half of women with overweight gain excessive weight during pregnancy. Perceived self-efficacy plays a significant role in adherence to healthy behaviours, especially in turning points of life, such as a pregnancy.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of the Supporting lifestyle change in pregnant mothers with obesity through the wearable internet-of-things (SLIM)-intervention in terms of improving self-efficacy in eating and physical activity and preventing excessive weight gain of pregnant women with overweight.

Preterm birth risk stratification through longitudinal heart rate and HRV monitoring in daily life.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a global health concern, impacting neonatal mortality and lifelong health consequences. Traditional methods for estimating PTB rely on electronic health records or biomedical signals, limited to short-term assessments in clinical settings. Recent studies have leveraged wearable technologies for in-home maternal health monitoring, offering continuous assessment of maternal autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and facilitating the exploration of PTB risk.

Journey toward Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative designation: Healthcare professional's view on successful implementation process and maintenance of accreditation.

Problem: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has yet to achieve widespread global implementation.

Background: The implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has been recognised as complex. The challenge has been to maintain accreditation.

Internet-based breastfeeding peer support for breastfeeding parents: An integrative review.

Aim: To explore what Internet-based breastfeeding peer support offers to breastfeeding parents.

Design: Integrative review.

Data Sources And Review Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2024 using the following electronic databases: CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE and PsycINFO.

'Breastfeeding exclusivity, difficulties, and support in the first days after hospital discharge: A correlational study'.

Objective: Global breastfeeding rates are not optimal, and the early postpartum period represents a critical time for breastfeeding initiation. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative endeavours to provide mothers with evidence-based breastfeeding support in birth hospitals. This study examined factors associated with breastfeeding exclusivity and breastfeeding difficulties in the first days after being discharged from Baby-Friendly designated hospital.

Maternal Social Loneliness Detection Using Passive Sensing Through Continuous Monitoring in Everyday Settings: Longitudinal Study.

Background: Maternal loneliness is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes for both the mother and her child. Detecting maternal loneliness noninvasively through wearable devices and passive sensing provides opportunities to prevent or reduce the impact of loneliness on the health and well-being of the mother and her child.

Objective: The aim of this study is to use objective health data collected passively by a wearable device to predict maternal (social) loneliness during pregnancy and the postpartum period and identify the important objective physiological parameters in loneliness detection.

Prospective longitudinal comparative study showed that breastfeeding outcomes were comparable in preterm twins and singleton infants.

Aim: We compared milk volumes, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding by the mothers of very preterm twins and singleton infants born at 28-32 weeks of gestation.

Methods: This Norwegian longitudinal prospective comparative study was carried out in two neonatal intensive care units: one with single family rooms and one open bay unit. It comprised 49 singleton infants, 28 twins and their mothers.

Comparing prenatal and postpartum stress among women with previous adverse pregnancy outcomes and normal obstetric histories: A longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare subjectively and objectively measured stress during pregnancy and the three months postpartum in women with previous adverse pregnancy outcomes and women with normal obstetric histories.

Methods: We recruited two cohorts in southwestern Finland for this longitudinal study: (1) pregnant women (n = 32) with histories of preterm births or late miscarriages January-December 2019 and (2) pregnant women (n = 30) with histories of full-term births October 2019-March 2020. We continuously measured heart rate variability (HRV) using a smartwatch from 12 to 15 weeks of pregnancy until three months postpartum, and subjective stress was assessed with a smartphone application.

Supporting lifestyle change in obese pregnant mothers through the wearable internet-of-things (SLIM) -intervention for overweight pregnant women: Study protocol for a quasi-experimental trial.

Objectives: To assess, in terms of self-efficacy in weight management, the effectiveness of the SLIM lifestyle intervention among overweight or obese women during pregnancy and after delivery, and further to exploit machine learning and event mining approaches to build personalized models. Additionally, the aim is to evaluate the implementation of the SLIM intervention.

Methods: This prospective trial, which is a non-randomized, quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention, includes an embedded mixed-method process evaluation.

Exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding problems, and maternal breastfeeding attitudes before and after the baby-friendly hospital initiative: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Breastfeeding practices remain globally suboptimal despite many known maternal and neonatal health benefits and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative as a global effort to support breastfeeding.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative for a proportion of mothers who exclusively breastfed during a 6-month period, including breastfeeding problems, and maternal breastfeeding attitudes.

Methods: Using a quasi-experimental non-equivalent two-group design, we recruited two independent samples of postpartum mothers in a maternity hospital to compare the situation before (N = 162) and after (N = 163) the implementation.

A comprehensive accuracy assessment of Samsung smartwatch heart rate and heart rate variability.

Background: Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a low-cost and easy-to-implement method to measure vital signs, including heart rate (HR) and pulse rate variability (PRV) which widely used as a substitute of heart rate variability (HRV). The method is used in various wearable devices. For example, Samsung smartwatches are PPG-based open-source wristbands used in remote well-being monitoring and fitness applications.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breastfeeding Support Services and Women's Experiences of Breastfeeding: A Review.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding support services and continuation rates.

Methods: Electronic searches were undertaken in seven databases: Academic Search Complete, Springer Nature Journals, CINAHL Medline, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Masterfile premier, and SocINDEX. Publications following the COVID-19 pandemic between January 2020 and March 2022 were searched for using the following keywords: impact or effect or influence and breastfeeding support and breastfeeding continuation and COVID-19 or coronavirus.

Maternal perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding support in Baby-Friendly hospitals: An integrative review.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative aims to improve breastfeeding by implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Ten Steps) into routine breastfeeding support in birth hospitals. Maternal perspective to breastfeeding support is important to consider as mothers and their infants are in the center of that support.

Objectives: To review and synthesize the existing literature on maternal perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding support in Baby-Friendly hospitals.

Trends in Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability During Pregnancy and the 3-Month Postpartum Period: Continuous Monitoring in a Free-living Context.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive method that reflects the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Altered HRV is associated with adverse mental or physical health complications. The autonomic nervous system also has a central role in physiological adaption during pregnancy, causing normal changes in HRV.

Maternal perceptions of breastfeeding support in a birth hospital before and after designation to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative: A quasi-experimental study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine maternal perceptions of postnatal breastfeeding support in the hospital before and after designation to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Further maternal and infant characteristics associated with the maternal perception of breastfeeding support were investigated. Our hypothesis was that mothers would perceive breastfeeding support more adherent to the standards of the BFHI after the hospital was designated to the BFHI compared with before.

Comparison of Oura Smart Ring Against ActiGraph Accelerometer for Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in a Free-Living Context.

Smart rings, such as the Oura ring, might have potential in health monitoring. To be able to identify optimal devices for healthcare settings, validity studies are needed. The aim of this study was to compare the Oura smart ring estimates of steps and sedentary time with data from the ActiGraph accelerometer in a free-living context.

Accuracy Assessment of Oura Ring Nocturnal Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability in Comparison With Electrocardiography in Time and Frequency Domains: Comprehensive Analysis.

Background: Photoplethysmography is a noninvasive and low-cost method to remotely and continuously track vital signs. The Oura Ring is a compact photoplethysmography-based smart ring, which has recently drawn attention to remote health monitoring and wellness applications. The ring is used to acquire nocturnal heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) parameters ubiquitously.

Healthcare Professionals' Breastfeeding Attitudes and Hospital Practices During Delivery and in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Pre and Post Implementing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative represents a global effort to support breastfeeding. Commitment to this program has been associated with the longer duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding and improvements in hospital practices. Further, healthcare professionals' breastfeeding attitudes have been associated with the ability to provide professional support for breastfeeding.

Positive breastfeeding experiences and facilitators in mothers of preterm and low birthweight infants: a meta-ethnographic review.

Background: Most qualitative research on breastfeeding the preterm or low-birthweight (LBW) infant has focused on negative insights; there are no comprehensive insights into how, when and why mothers experience positive breastfeeding experiences. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by exploring what characterizes and facilitates a positive breastfeeding experience in mothers of preterm and/or LBW infants.

Methods: A systematic review using meta-ethnographic methods was conducted.

Long-Term IoT-Based Maternal Monitoring: System Design and Evaluation.

Pregnancy is a unique time when many mothers gain awareness of their lifestyle and its impacts on the fetus. High-quality care during pregnancy is needed to identify possible complications early and ensure the mother's and her unborn baby's health and well-being. Different studies have thus far proposed maternal health monitoring systems.

Identifying target behaviors for weight management interventions for women who are overweight during pregnancy and the postpartum period: a qualitative study informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel.

Background: Maternal overweight is increasing, and it is associated with several risk factors for both the mother and child. Healthy lifestyle behaviors adopted during pregnancy are likely to impact women's health positively after pregnancy. The study's aim was to identify and describe weight management behaviors in terms of the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) -model to target weight management interventions from both the perspectives of women who are overweight and maternity care professionals.

Pregnant women's daily patterns of well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland: Longitudinal monitoring through smartwatch technology.

Background: Technology enables the continuous monitoring of personal health parameter data during pregnancy regardless of the disruption of normal daily life patterns. Our research group has established a project investigating the usefulness of an Internet of Things-based system and smartwatch technology for monitoring women during pregnancy to explore variations in stress, physical activity and sleep. The aim of this study was to examine daily patterns of well-being in pregnant women before and during the national stay-at-home restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland.

Sleep Tracking of a Commercially Available Smart Ring and Smartwatch Against Medical-Grade Actigraphy in Everyday Settings: Instrument Validation Study.

Background: Assessment of sleep quality is essential to address poor sleep quality and understand changes. Owing to the advances in the Internet of Things and wearable technologies, sleep monitoring under free-living conditions has become feasible and practicable. Smart rings and smartwatches can be employed to perform mid- or long-term home-based sleep monitoring.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic - a literature review for clinical practice.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting normal life globally, every area of life is touched. The pandemic demands quick action and as new information emerges, reliable synthesises and guidelines for care are urgently needed. Breastfeeding protects mother and child; its health benefits are undisputed and based on evidence.