Supporting Labor After 2 Cesarean Births.

Labor after cesarean (LAC) is a safe alternative for pregnant persons who have had 1 or 2 previous cesarean births (CBs) and have no contraindication to vaginal birth. When compared with repeat CB, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) reduces short- and long-term health complications and morbidity and should therefore be presented as an option. Despite recommendations from the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in support of LAC, not all pregnant persons who are candidates have access to this option.

Meta-synthesis of the experiences of midwives providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Problem: During the COVID-19 pandemic, midwives faced emotional and physical risks while on the frontlines providing care.

Background: To maintain a healthy midwifery workforce, it is necessary to understand midwives' pandemic challenges and successes, including how they personally and professionally faced changes to care provision.

Aim: The aim of this meta-synthesis was to understand the experiences of midwives working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Midwives in US Perinatal Palliative Care: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Perinatal palliative care (PPC) is a rapidly growing and essential reproductive health care option for pregnant persons with a diagnosed life-limiting fetal condition who continue their pregnancy. The provision of PPC is within the scope of basic midwifery competencies, and midwives are well-positioned to make unique and valuable contributions to interprofessional PPC teams. However, little is known about midwives' past or current involvement in PPC in the United States.

"You Allowed My Body To Do What It Needed": Supporting Birthing Persons Through Conscious Empowerment.

A midwife's chance encounter with a former client demonstrates the importance of supporting birthing persons through conscious empowerment.

Workforce Survey of Connecticut Midwives.

Introduction: Midwives in Connecticut lack resources for current, state-specific data regarding compensation, benefits, work hours, and scope of practice. The primary purpose of this study was to provide detailed information about the work and services provided by midwives in Connecticut and how they are compensated.

Methods: Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) licensed in Connecticut were recruited for a 53-question online survey between October 2021 and February 2022.

Reducing Racial Disparities in Maternal Healthcare: A Midwifery Focus.

When compared with other developed nations, the United States (U.S.) has the highest maternal mortality rate.

Midwifery Management of a Birthing Person with Cervical Edema During Labor.

During active labor, a birthing person with cervical edema often has a dysfunctional or prolonged labor and, therefore, an increased risk for cesarean birth. Midwives seeking evidence on how to manage cervical edema when they are faced with this clinical situation will note a gap in the literature regarding the management of cervical edema that this report aims to fill. This case will discuss the use of intravenous diphenhydramine (Benadryl), the application of ice to the cervix, side-lying release, epidural analgesia use, manual reduction of the cervix, and various positions to encourage reduction in cervical swelling.

Mixed-Methods Study of the Experience of Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To understand the experiences of women who were pregnant during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020 to May 2020, and how they coped with stress.

Design: A convergent mixed-methods design.

Setting: Online survey that launched in April 2020.

A Narrative Analysis of the In Vitro Fertilization Experiences of Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

Objective: To explore the lived experience of in vitro fertilization (IVF) from the perspective of survivors of sexual abuse.

Design: In this qualitative study, narrative analysis provided the framework to understand participants' IVF experiences.

Setting: Participants were recruited through a regional support group for women with infertility.

Swimming Upstream to Provide All Breast Milk to My Early-Term Son.

A midwife describes the effort and strategies it took to overcome barriers to breastfeeding while her son was in the NICU.

Experiences of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: The first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 was a global event for which nurses had limited time to prepare before receiving an influx of high-acuity patients and navigating new plans of care.

Objectives: To understand nurses' lived experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak and to examine their resiliency.

Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was applied in this study.

Practices and Attitudes of Nursing Students Toward Patients With Disordered Eating Behaviors.

Disordered eating (DE) behaviors are associated with obesity and eating disorders. This study describes practices and attitudes of nursing students toward patients exhibiting DE and how personal DE behaviors affect practices and attitudes. Most respondents had a mental health rotation (74.

Female Nursing Students' Experience With and Exposure to Sexual Assault.

Background: The study aims to describe the prevalence of sexual violence experienced by nursing students and to understand nursing students' practices and attitudes toward working with patients with this trauma history.

Method: A convenience sample (n = 75) of female nursing students from the United States completed the Life Events Checklist and responded to statements about their practices and attitudes.

Results: Over a quarter (26.

The impact of complementary therapies on psychosocial factors in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): A systematic literature review.

Aim: This review evaluates the impact of complementary therapies on psychosocial factors in women undergoing IVF.

Background: According to the CDC, nearly 7% of married women in the United States face infertility. Approximately 1.

Pregnant women's knowledge and awareness of nutrition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate effectiveness of an educational intervention on pregnant women's nutritional knowledge. Despite national guidelines, women face personal and healthcare barriers to adequate nutrition education. This quasi-experimental study involved a convenience sample of pregnant women (n=27).

Perinatal palliative care: Integration in a United States nurse midwifery education program.

Midwifery students with perinatal palliative care education develop a skillset to provide holistic midwifery care to women and families who are experiencing stillbirth or life-limiting fetal diagnoses. This paper presents a model of perinatal palliative care in a United States midwifery education program. By utilizing evidence based practices and national programs, perinatal palliative care can be threaded through midwifery curricula to achieve international standards of practice and competencies.

Birth as Restorative.

A woman's past history of sexual trauma is inextricably woven into her pregnancy and birth experience. Two cases are presented by a practicing certified nurse midwife to demonstrate trauma-informed care in the childbearing setting. Providing trauma-informed care universally in the women's healthcare setting is imperative given not all women disclose their history.

Dyspareunia in a Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Dyspareunia is a frequent chief concern encountered by midwives and other women's health care providers. There are many possible etiologies for dyspareunia, including a history of childhood sexual abuse, and approaching assessment in a holistic manner is necessary to identify the etiology. This case report presents evidence on the importance of screening a woman who presents with dyspareunia in a therapeutic manner to facilitate disclosure of sexual abuse.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Childbearing Cycle as Experienced by Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

For women who have experienced sexual abuse, the physical changes associated with pregnancy and the lack of control during birth can be catalysts for trauma from past abuse to resurface. This systematic review offers women's health care providers a thorough evaluation of the state of the science on survivors' childbearing experiences. The literature shows that lack of control, dissociation, and flashbacks are common themes.

Incorporation of Sexual Violence in Nursing Curricula Using Trauma-Informed Care: A Case Study.

Background: One in five women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. As a consequence of this violence, survivors face health care concerns such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and gynecologic problems. Nurses are at the forefront of health care delivery to survivors of sexual violence, yet literature about nursing curricula addressing sexual violence is scant.

The Lived Experience of Childbearing From Survivors of Sexual Abuse: "It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times".

Introduction: In the United States, one in every 5 women will experience sexual violence. Survivors are at risk for difficult pregnancies, substance abuse, stress, fear, and preterm births. A history of sexual abuse can impact several aspects of a woman's childbirth, thereby affecting her long-term physical and emotional well-being.

Prenatal screening for intimate partner violence: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

Aim: The aim of this meta-synthesis was to glean an understanding of healthcare providers' experience with prenatal screening for intimate partner violence (IPV).

Background: Prenatal screening guidelines for IPV are in place; however, a gap exists between these recommendations and providers' practices.

Methods: Noblit and Hare's (1988) approach to synthesizing qualitative research studies was utilized.