Breastfeeding Experiences of Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To understand the perinatal experiences of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who intended to breastfeed.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study.

Setting: Online focus groups conducted via Zoom.

Decoding distress among pandemic pregnancies: Examining pregnancy distress and COVID-19 stress as concurrent predictors of current and anticipated postpartum sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The goal of the present study was to examine pregnancy distress, COVID-19 stress, COVID-19 compliance, and life satisfaction as concurrent predictors of perceived current and anticipated postpartum sleep duration (SD) and quality among a U.S. sample of pregnant individuals.

Sleeping Like a Baby: An Investigation of Bed-Sharing, Co-Sleeping, and Breastfeeding Among Pregnant Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Given the lack of clarity in the literature related to the impact of breastfeeding intentions on sleeping practices, the current research aimed to investigate the relationship between co-sleeping or bed-sharing and breastfeeding intentions among a sample of pregnant adults, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Pregnant adults from a large nationally representative sample, responded to a one-time, online Qualtrics survey between October and November 2020. Pregnant adults ( = 544) were asked closed and open-ended questions about their family characteristics, sociodemographic factors, sleeping and breastfeeding habits, and intentions.

Telehealth Use in Pediatric Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Caregivers.

This qualitative study surveyed caregivers regarding their perspectives on the benefits of, challenges with, and suggestions for improving telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers who had the responsibility for caring for at least one child aged under 18 years of age in Genesee County, MI, participated. The caregivers were biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and guardians.

"Alexa, did the pandemic make you smarter?" A follow up content analysis of a virtual assistant's responses to a prenatal query.

To compare responses to 40 common prenatal questions from Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, one year apart during the COVID pandemic. Participants: Two researchers replicated a prenatal query using unique Alexa devices. A conceptual content analysis was conducted where the researchers independently queried Alexa the identical questions from their 2020 study during the same one-week timeframe, between May 20, 2021 and May 27, 2021.

The Relationship of Race and Ethnicity to the Perception of Visual Images of Breastfeeding Mothers.

Breastfeeding biases, both implicit and explicit, can impact perceived norms of breastfeeding appropriateness in a variety of contexts and influence breastfeeding behaviors. The purpose of this research was to uncover breastfeeding biases, norms, patterns, and perceptions that potentially affect the decision to initiate or sustain breastfeeding and investigate how a diverse group of women perceive images of racially/ethnically similar and different women breastfeeding. Using a panel of nationally representative respondents (oversampling key racial/ethnic subpopulations), an online mixed-methods survey was completed by a sample of women who were primary caregivers of children under 3 in November 2020.

Smoking and Race Associated with Decreased Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among a Low Income Population.

To assess associations between smoking behaviors during pregnancy and postpartum and breastfeeding initiation and duration, among DC Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recipients, the majority of whom are non-White, controlling for sociodemographic factors, low birth weight (LBW), and delivery in a Baby-Friendly hospital (BFH). A series of ordinary least squares and logistic regressions estimated the association between smoking during pregnancy and postpartum on breastfeeding initiation and duration, respectively. A multilevel modeling approach accounted for WIC site effects.

Maternity leave in America during a pandemic: The impact of leave on family wellbeing.

Maternity leave is linked with maternal mental and physical health, infant health and well-being, family functioning and financial security. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gender and wage inequities in the workplace. The pandemic challenges policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to consider lessons learned regarding advancement of maternity leave policy that addresses realities facing 21st century families.

Breastfeeding During a Pandemic: The Influence of COVID-19 on Lactation Services in the Northeastern United States.

Background: Pandemic-related restrictions have limited traditional models of lactation support.

Research Aims: The primary aim of this study was to determine changes to breastfeeding support services during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic according to trained lactation providers. The secondary aim was to assess strengths and limitations of telehealth services.

"Alexa, Am I pregnant?": A content analysis of a virtual assistant's responses to prenatal health questions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To elucidate whether Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, provides evidence-based support as a supplement to provider-facilitated prenatal care, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Using a conceptual content analysis approach, a query of 40 questions, relating to all phases of pregnancy, was collected from Alexa by two independent investigators, using two unique devices, over a one-week period between May 20, 2020 and May 27, 2020. Alexa's responses were matched to the evidence-based content from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and reviewed by a Certified Nurse Midwife for completeness and currency.

Mobile applications for emerging adults transitioning to independent diabetes monitoring.

Access to high-quality mhealth tools for diabetes management is critical. The purpose was to systematically review mobile apps for features relevant to helping emerging adults manage their diabetes as they transition to independent diabetes monitoring. Mobile apps were reviewed for relevance to emerging adults, aged 18-25, living with diabetes.

Nudging healthy college dining hall choices using behavioral economics.

To apply behavioral economics strategies (i.e., placement changes and signage) to nudge university students' healthy dining hall eating.

Determinants of Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among African American DC WIC Recipients: Perspectives of Recent Mothers.

Background: In Washington, DC, African American women receiving the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits have the lowest breastfeeding rates compared with other WIC-eligible populations.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to use the social cognitive theory and elements of social support as a guiding framework to better understand the factors affecting breastfeeding initiation and duration among African American WIC recipients in low-income areas of Washington, DC.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 women receiving WIC services in DC to learn about their infant feeding practices and decisions.

Social Support for Breastfeeding in the Era of mHealth: A Content Analysis.

Background: Several barriers to successful breastfeeding exist, including a lack of support from peers or professionals. With the emergence of mobile health (mHealth) tools to provide additional breastfeeding support, a more thorough review of social support resources was needed. Research Aim: The aim of this study was to determine mHealth breastfeeding support resources and characterize the type of social support they provide.

Motivating Smoking Cessation Text Messages: Perspectives from Pregnant Smokers.

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to analyze cessation text-messages written by pregnant smokers to elucidate the target population's preferred content and message attributes. To achieve this goal, the objectives of this study are three-fold; to qualitatively code messages written by pregnant smokers for frame, type of appeal, and intended target.

Methods: Study participants were recruited as part of a larger trial of pregnant smokers who were enrolled in a text-messaging program or control group and surveyed 1 month post-enrollment.

Recruiting pregnant smokers from Text4baby for a randomized controlled trial of Quit4baby.

Recruiting pregnant smokers into clinical trials is challenging since this population tends to be disadvantaged, the behavior is stigmatized, and the intervention window is limited. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of recruiting pregnant smokers into a smoking cessation trial by sending recruitment text messages to an existing subscriber list. Recruitment messages were sent to subscribers flagged as pregnant in Text4baby, a national text messaging program for pregnant women and mothers.

A content analysis of electronic health record (EHR) functionality to support tobacco treatment.

Government regulations have created new incentives for health systems to implement changes in electronic health records (EHRs) to reduce tobacco use among patients. The purpose of this study is to conduct a content analysis of EHR modifications aimed at supporting tobacco cessation and to document these modifications using a 5 A's framework (i.e.

Smoking cessation support for pregnant women: role of mobile technology.

Background: Smoking during pregnancy has deleterious health effects for the fetus and mother. Given the high risks associated with smoking in pregnancy, smoking cessation programs that are designed specifically for pregnant smokers are needed. This paper summarizes the current landscape of mHealth cessation programs aimed at pregnant smokers and where available reviews evidence to support their use.

Career Paths of Recipients of a Master's Degree in Health Communication: Understanding Employment Opportunities, Responsibilities, and Choices.

A growing number of institutions offer a master's degree in health communication to prepare individuals for applied work in the field, but there is very little literature on the career paths graduates pursue. The current study reports the results of a national survey that targeted the alumni of five institutions that offer the degree. Of the 522 total graduates to whom the survey was sent, 398 responded (76.

Developing and Pretesting a Text Messaging Program for Health Behavior Change: Recommended Steps.

Background: A growing body of evidence demonstrates that text messaging-based programs (short message service [SMS]) on mobile phones can help people modify health behaviors. Most of these programs have consisted of automated and sometimes interactive text messages that guide a person through the process of behavior change.

Objective: This paper provides guidance on how to develop text messaging programs aimed at changing health behaviors.

A Motion Videogame for Opioid Relapse Prevention.

Objective: This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a body motion-activated videogame, targeting the prevention of opioid relapse among youth in the context of outpatient treatment.

Materials And Methods: Participants attended four weekly gameplay sessions. Surveys were conducted at baseline and following each week's gameplay and assessed satisfaction with gameplay, craving intensity, and self-efficacy to refuse opioids.

BMI and smoking: interrelated factors among cessation website users.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and smoking.

Methods: Participants (N = 2243) provided demographic, height, weight, smoking information through a survey conducted on smokefree.gov and women.