Women's experiences of over-the-counter and prescription medication during pregnancy in the UK: findings from survey free-text responses and narrative interviews.

Objectives: To explore women's experiences of over-the-counter and prescription medication advice and use during pregnancy.

Design: A study design consisting of an online survey and nested in-depth interviews with a subsample of participants. We analysed data from survey free-text responses and in-depth interviews using thematic analysis.

WRISK voices: A mixed-methods study of women's experiences of pregnancy-related public health advice and risk messages in the UK.

Background: Women receive many public health messages relating to pregnancy which are intended to improve outcomes for babies and mothers. However, negotiating the risk landscape and maternity care system can feel confusing and disempowering. Relationships between women and their healthcare providers are paramount, but they can be adversely affected by issues of trust and autonomy.

Becoming breastfeeding friendly in Wales: Recommendations for scaling up breastfeeding support.

Breastfeeding and the provision of human milk is established as protecting infant and maternal health. However, breastfeeding rates in many countries, including Wales, are low. Given the significant health, economic and environmental impacts of this, the need to strengthen breastfeeding promotion, protection and support is paramount.

Exploring the use and experience of an infant feeding genogram to facilitate an assets-based approach to support infant feeding.

Background: A lack of perceived social support influences women's infant feeding behaviours. The Infant Feeding Genogram is a visual co-constructed diagram which details people/services that can provide support to women and can facilitate a connection between mothers and their existing assets landscape. The aim of this study is to explore women's and infant feeding helpers' experiences and use of an infant feeding genogram delivered to the intervention group of the "Assets-based infant feeding help Before and After birth (ABA)" randomised feasibility trial.

Women's and peer supporters' experiences of an assets-based peer support intervention for increasing breastfeeding initiation and continuation: A qualitative study.

Background And Context: Breastfeeding peer support is valued by women, but UK trials have not demonstrated efficacy. The ABA feasibility trial offered proactive peer support underpinned by behaviour change theory and an assets-based approach to women having their first baby, regardless of feeding intention. This paper explores women's and infant feeding helpers' (IFHs) views of the different components of the ABA intervention.

The ABA intervention for improving breastfeeding initiation and continuation: Feasibility study results.

The UK has low breastfeeding rates, with socioeconomic disparities. The Assets-based feeding help Before and After birth (ABA) intervention was designed to be inclusive and improve infant feeding behaviours. ABA is underpinned by the behaviour change wheel and offers an assets-based approach focusing on positive capabilities of individuals and communities, including use of a Genogram.

Development of a novel motivational interviewing (MI) informed peer-support intervention to support mothers to breastfeed for longer.

Background: Many women in the UK stop breastfeeding before they would like to, and earlier than is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Given the potential health benefits for mother and baby, new ways of supporting women to breastfeed for longer are required. The purpose of this study was to develop and characterise a novel Motivational Interviewing (MI) informed breastfeeding peer-support intervention.

Protocol for a feasibility trial for improving breast feeding initiation and continuation: assets-based infant feeding help before and after birth (ABA).

Introduction: Breast feeding improves the health of mothers and infants; the UK has low rates, with marked socioeconomic inequalities. While trials of peer support services have been effective in some settings, UK trials have not improved breast feeding rates. Qualitative research suggests that many women are alienated by the focus on breast feeding.

A novel peer-support intervention using motivational interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study.

Background: In total, 81% of women in the UK start breastfeeding, but fewer than half continue beyond 6 weeks. Peer support in the early postnatal period may encourage women to breastfeed for longer.

Objective: To develop a breastfeeding peer-support intervention based on motivational interviewing (MI) for breastfeeding maintenance and to test the feasibility of delivering it to mothers in areas with high levels of social deprivation.

A realist review of one-to-one breastfeeding peer support experiments conducted in developed country settings.

The World Health Organisation guidance recommends breastfeeding peer support (BFPS) as part of a strategy to improve breastfeeding rates. In the UK, BFPS is supported by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance and a variety of models are in use. The experimental evidence for BFPS in developed countries is mixed and traditional methods of systematic review are ill-equipped to explore heterogeneity, complexity, and context influences on effectiveness.

Goals, dilemmas and assumptions in infant feeding education and support.

Research unwrapped is a popular series to help readers make sense of published research by undertaking a detailed appraisal of a published research article in a careful and considered manner. In doing so we can advance our knowledge and understanding of a research topic and apply it to our practice. This process is designed to assess the usefulness of the evidence in terms of decision making and application to practice.

Goals, dilemmas and assumptions in infant feeding education and support. Applying theory of constraints thinking tools to develop new priorities for action.

Three important infant feeding support problems are addressed: (1) mothers who use formula milk can feel undersupported and judged; (2) mothers can feel underprepared for problems with breastfeeding; and (3) many mothers who might benefit from breastfeeding support do not access help. Theory of constraints (TOC) is used to examine these problems in relation to ante-natal education and post-natal support. TOC suggests that long-standing unresolved problems or 'undesirable effects' in any system (in this case a system to provide education and support) are caused by conflicts, or dilemmas, within the system, which might not be explicitly acknowledged.

Dementia and the Over-75 Check: the role of the primary care nurse.

Primary care nurses are very likely to provide a substantial part of the routine care for patients with dementia. In order to examine the knowledge and attitudes of the primary care nurses who undertake the Over-75 Check, towards assessing and managing patients with symptoms of dementia, and to assess their level of support for a clinical practice guideline, a postal questionnaire survey was undertaken of primary care nurses responsible for the Over-75 Check in 209 general practices in Gloucester, Avon and Somerset. The questionnaire ascertained some demographic information about the nurses, their training and the practice routine for the Over-75 Check.