Promoting Women's Mental Health Across the Life Course.

The guest editors for this series describe the importance of a life course perspective to women's mental health and introduce the articles in the issue.

A Scoping Review of Multimodal, Dyadic Early Relational Health Interventions in NICUs in the United States.

Background: Early relational health (ERH) interventions can buffer toxic stress and improve the developmental trajectories of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants.

Purpose: The purpose was to examine the current state of the science related to multimodal, dyadic ERH interventions implemented in the NICU setting in the United States and identify gaps in the current literature.

Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycInfo were searched in November 2022 and November 2023 for original studies and conference proceedings from 1970 to present in the English language.

Reimagining Supportive Approaches at the Intersection of Mandatory Reporting Policies for the Mother-Infant Dyad Affected by Substance Use.

Background: As rates of substance use during pregnancy persist, the health and optimal development of infants with prenatal substance exposure remain a key priority. Nurses are tasked with identifying and reporting suspected cases of child maltreatment, including abuse and neglect, which is often assumed to be synonymous with substance use during pregnancy. While policies aimed at protecting infants from child abuse and neglect are well intentioned, literature regarding the short- and long-term social and legal implications of mandatory reporting policies is emerging.

Ensuring accountability for consideration of sex as a biological variable in research.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) policy, Consideration of Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) in NIH-funded Research (2015), focuses on the expectation that researchers account for the influence of SABV in vertebrate animal and human studies and provide a strong justification for single-sex investigations. When SABV is considered in the research design, data analyses, and reporting, the rigor and reproducibility of the research are elevated and inform best practices and precision health for all people. Additional recommendations include the appropriate use of terminology, integration into curricula, intersection with social determinants of health, and application of sex and gender equity guidelines when disseminating research.

Drug Testing of Pregnant Patients.

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Exploration of the effects of incarceration on the health of Latina women and their children using the life course theory.

Objective: Use the Life Course Theory (LCT) to explore the effects of involvement with the justice system on the health of Latina women and their children.

Design: A supplementary analysis was conducted using data collected from the original study to answer a new research question.

Setting: South Central Texas.

Application of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework to the NICU.

Background: Infants and families requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care often experience significant stress and trauma during the earliest period of the infant's life, leading to increased risks for poorer infant and family outcomes. There is a need for frameworks to guide clinical care and research that account for the complex interactions of generational stress, pain, toxic stress, parental separation, and lifelong health and developmental outcomes for infants and families.

Purpose: Apply the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework in the context of the NICU as a usable structure to guide clinical practice and research focused on infant neurodevelopment outcomes and parental attachment.

Intersectional Examination of Gender-Inclusive Care and Women's Health.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming people remain excluded from women's health spaces, and nurses with expertise in women's health best serve their needs when they seek sexual, reproductive, gynecologic, or obstetric care. However, commentary regarding the term "women" and exclusionary policies and behaviors in health care marginalize gender-nonconforming patients and contribute to health disparities. Therefore, the purpose of this article is twofold.

Conditions that influence coping mechanisms in Latina mothers affected by incarceration: A secondary analysis using the vulnerability framework.

The objective of this study is to assess women's vulnerability to becoming involved with the legal system as it relates to their exposure, sensitivity, and resiliency to specific experiences associated with incarceration before, during, and after their confinement using the vulnerability framework. We sampled 12 women who self-identified as Latina mothers from local jail annexes, probation department offices, and substance use treatment centers in South Central Texas. We conducted a qualitative, secondary analysis.

Doula Support and Pregnancy-Related Complications and Death Among Childbearing Women in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: The potential benefits of perinatal doula support are many; however, doulas are underutilized, which may heighten pregnancy-related complications. In this scoping review, we assess the influence of perinatal doula support on pregnancy-related complications and death in the United States.

Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Alt HealthWatch for literature on doula support and its influence on pregnancy-related complications (maternal fever or infection, postpartum hemorrhage, amniotic fluid embolism, complications from anesthesia, preeclampsia, eclampsia, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary or thrombotic embolism, and cerebrovascular accident).

Opioid overdose prevention education in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Distribution of naloxone and training on its proper use are evidence-based strategies for preventing opioid overdose deaths. In-person naloxone training was conducted in major metropolitan areas and urban centers across Texas as part of a state-wide targeted opioid response program. The training program transitioned to a live, virtual format during the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration.

A Scoping Review of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal and the Infant Gut Microbiome: Does Human Milk Optimize Infant Outcomes?

Background: While a growing body of literature has established the role of human milk as a mechanism of protection in the formation of the infant gut microbiome, it remains unclear the extent to which this association exists for infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the current state of the literature regarding the influence of human milk on infant gut microbiota in infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Data Sources: CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for original studies published from January 2009 through February 2022.

Trends in…The Importance of Amplifying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Academic Health Sciences Libraries.

Formalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles and practices in health sciences libraries should be an organizational goal. Organizations should strive to build and sustain a culture of equity and inclusion in which diversity is integrated into their core operations. Health sciences libraries should design systems, policies, procedures, and practices that align with and support these principles in collaboration with partners and stakeholders that share these values.

Applying a Reproductive Justice Lens to Enhance Research Engagement Among Systematically Underrepresented Childbearing Women.

Background: Historically, childbearing women from diverse and systematically hard-to-reach populations have been excluded from nursing research. This practice limits the generalizability of findings. Maximizing research strategies to meet the unique needs of these populations must be a priority.

Mapping the gaps: A scoping review of research on pediatric feeding disorder.

Background & Aims: Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) is defined as impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction. As PFD is prevalent and increasing, so are publications on the topic; however, the research literature is often disparate in terminology used and siloed by discipline. Greater understanding of the current research concerning PFD will help identify areas in need of further study.

Stigmatization of Pregnant Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.

The purpose of this study was to critically analyze the role of stigma in the care of pregnant and parenting individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) through the theoretical lens of the Reproductive Justice (RJ) framework. Overdose related maternal mortality, often involving opioids, is a national growing public health concern. OUD is a highly stigmatized condition that may negatively influence the well-being of pregnant/parenting individual's reproductive and human rights.

Scoping Review of Microaggression as an Experience of Racism and Perinatal Health Outcomes.

Objective: To synthesize current knowledge and identify gaps in the literature related to microaggression as an experience of racism and its influence on perinatal health outcomes.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, Race Relations Abstracts, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus using the keywords "micro-aggression" and "microaggression." Because microaggression is an all-encompassing term, we included articles that used keywords such as "racism," "prejudice," and/or "discrimination" because these terms are precursors to and touch on aspects of microaggression.

A Meta-Analysis of Breastfeeding Effects for Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) rates have dramatically increased. Breastfeeding is a nonpharmacological intervention that may be beneficial, reducing NAS symptom severity and thus the need for and duration of pharmacological treatment and length of hospital stay.

Objectives: Conduct meta-analysis to determine whether breastfeeding results in better outcomes for NAS infants.

Recovering Together: Mothers' Experiences Providing Skin-to-Skin Care for Their Infants With NAS.

Background: Over the past 2 decades, the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased almost 5-fold. Skin-to-skin care (SSC), a method of parent-infant holding, is a recommended nonpharmacologic intervention for managing NAS symptoms. SSC has the potential to reduce withdrawal symptoms while positively influencing parent-infant attachment.

Correlates and Trajectories of Preterm Infant Sucking Patterns and Sucking Organization at Term Age.

Background: Premature infants may experience increased difficulty with nutrition and growth. Successful oral feeding is an important factor associated with discharge readiness. Despite the importance of feeding as a growth-fostering process, little empiric evidence exists to guide recommendations for early interventions.

Feeding Behaviors in Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure: An Integrative Review.

Background: Oral feeding is one of the most complex maturational skills of infancy. Difficulties with feeding require specialized attention, and if not well managed, may prolong the newborn's hospital length of stay. This is particularly true for prenatally opioid exposed (POE) infants.

The Role of Stigma in the Nursing Care of Families Impacted by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Background: The current US opioid crisis has resulted in a significant increase in opioid use disorder among pregnant and parenting women. Substance use disorders, in general, are highly stigmatized conditions. Stigma serves as a well-documented global barrier to health-seeking behaviors and engagement in healthcare.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission Temperatures of Infants 1500 g or More: The Cold Truth.

Background: Smaller preterm infants often receive extra attention with implementation of additional thermoregulation interventions in the delivery room. Yet, these bundles of interventions have largely remained understudied in larger infants.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate initial (or admission) temperatures of infants born weighing 1500 g or more with diagnoses requiring admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

A life-course theory exploration of opioid-related maternal mortality in the United States.

Background And Aims: Between 2007 and 2016, pregnancy-associated mortality resulting from overdose more than doubled in the United States. This study explored the circumstances surrounding maternal opioid-related morbidity and mortality, using the life-course theory as a sensitizing framework to examine how each participant's life-course contributed to her substance use, relapse, recovery or overdose.

Design: A mixed-methods study using semi-structured, in-depth face-to-face interviews and focus groups were conducted.