Health Care Providers' Perspective and Knowledge about Peri-Surgical Medication and Practices in Breastfeeding Women.

Many guidelines offer recommendations to support the continuation of breastfeeding and the choice of medication when a mother undergoes a surgical procedure. The aim of this study is to investigate health care providers' (HCPs) current practices and knowledge about peri-surgical medication and practices in breastfeeding women. We performed a cross-sectional study in Flanders (Belgium) assessing demographics, beliefs about breastfeeding and its health benefits, current practices concerning breastfeeding women undergoing (surgical) procedures and specific knowledge about the use of medication during breastfeeding.

The Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination on Lactating Women: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Objectives: The availability of new vaccines against COVID-19 urges for guidance about vaccination during lactation. We aimed to review the literature to get an insight into the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on lactating women.

Design: Systematic review.

The state of professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium: A discussion paper.

Aim: To describe the state of the professionalisation of midwifery in Belgium, and to formulate recommendations for advancing the midwifery profession.

Methods: A descriptive overview of maternity care in Belgium and the professionalisation of midwifery through an analysis of relevant policy and academic texts, underpinned by Greenwood's sociological criteria for a profession: (1) own body of knowledge, (2) recognised authority, (3) broader community sanctions, (4) own code of ethics and (5) professional culture sustained by formal professional associations. From these insights, recommendations for advancing the midwifery profession in Belgium are formulated.

The 2019 Flemish consensus on screening for overt diabetes in early pregnancy and screening for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is important to improve pregnancy outcomes and to prevent type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. The 'International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups' (IADPSG) recommends a universal one-step approach with the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for screening of GDM. The IADPSG recommendation remains controversial due to the important increase in GDM prevalence and increased workload.