European Journal of Midwifery最新文献

{"title":"Women's experiences of trauma-informed care in midwifery and maternity services and implications for maternal wellbeing: A qualitative systematic review.","authors":"Sofia Thomaidi, Antigoni Sarantaki, Kleanthi Gourounti, Dimitrios Papoutsis, Eirini Orovou","doi":"10.18332/ejm/225227","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/225227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Trauma-informed care has been increasingly advocated within maternity services as an approach to promote safety, autonomy, and respectful care. However, qualitative evidence exploring how participants experienced trauma-informed care across maternity and midwifery services has not been systematically synthesized. This review therefore aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence on women's experiences of trauma-informed care across maternity services, including midwifery care, during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 and ENTREQ guidelines. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched for peer-reviewed qualitative studies published in English. Eligible studies explored women's experiences of trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive, or related care practices within maternity settings. Data were synthesized using thematic synthesis, and methodological quality was appraised using the CASP qualitative checklist.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen qualitative studies were included. Four analytical themes were identified: 1) creating safety and preventing re-traumatization; 2) respectful communication and informed consent; 3) emotional validation, trust, and relational attunement; and 4) power, control, and women's agency in maternity care. Across studies, trauma-informed care was experienced not as a discrete intervention but as a relational approach embedded in everyday maternity practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Women's experiences suggest that trauma-informed principles may contribute to positive care experiences and support psychological safety, autonomy, and relational wellbeing across the perinatal period, when embedded within routine midwifery and maternity practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670243/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149216698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The reasons why Flemish low-risk nulliparous pregnant women choose a specific antenatal care provider: A descriptive qualitative study.","authors":"Annelore Cloostermans, Ayse Akalin, Joeri Vermeulen, Maaike Fobelets","doi":"10.18332/ejm/224241","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/224241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In Belgium, low-risk pregnant women have the option of consulting an obstetrician, midwife, or general practitioner for antenatal care. Although consultations with midwives have increased over the years, obstetricians remain the most frequently consulted providers, even for low-risk pregnancies. However, the reasons behind provider choice remain unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the reasons why Flemish low-risk nulliparous pregnant women choose a specific antenatal care provider.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive qualitative study was carried out in Flanders, Belgium, between March and May 2024, with Flemish low-risk nulliparous pregnant women. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted by a female midwife experienced in qualitative research. An open-ended interview guide was used to explore participants' decision-making processes, experiences with antenatal care providers, expectations of care, and perceived roles of antenatal care providers. Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data in NVivo^®.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirteen women were interviewed. Their choice of antenatal care provider was shaped by perceptions of medical expertise, accessibility, social influences, and structural constraints. Obstetricians were commonly preferred for their specialization and access to technology, whereas midwives were valued for relational and emotional support once women became aware of their role. Five overarching themes were identified: trust in professional expertise, practical accessibility of care, influence of social environment and informational gaps, need for relational continuity and emotional support, and structural and organizational constraints.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The decision-making process for choosing an antenatal care provider is multidimensional and varies among Flemish low-risk nulliparous women. Further research is needed to explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on low-risk antenatal care pathways and to examine how different models of antenatal care shape women's decision-making processes and care experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13670242/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149216691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Midwifery ethics in care, practice, and education: A scoping review.","authors":"Kate Buchanan, Elizabeth Newnham, Michele Megregian, Maria Ekelin, Tahlia Johnson, Tita Stanek Zidaric, Ardelia Prastika, Sareh Dashti, Nakachew Amare, Stephanie Marriott","doi":"10.18332/ejm/231691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/231691","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Midwifery ethics is central to high quality, respectful and relational maternity care. To inform the update of the International Confederation of Midwives, International Code of Ethics for Midwives, this scoping review systematically maps how ethics in midwifery care, practice and education is characterized.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methods for a scoping review were used to guide the literature review process. The Population/Concept/Context (PCC) framework provided the boundaries for the review. Population: midwives, midwifery educators, midwifery researchers, midwifery students and women mainly receiving midwifery care. Concept: midwifery ethics. Content: midwifery care, practice and education. Searches of qualitative and quantitative literature, and discussion papers, spanning 2002-2025, were made using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, MIDIRS, Emcare, Google and citation chaining. Data were extracted using an iterative content analysis approach extracting key ethical characteristics. The protocol for this review was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search yielded 363 screened records, with 101 full texts assessed against inclusion criteria. Fifty articles were included in the review. Data was grouped to four interconnecting ethical concepts: Relational ethics emphasizes the importance of relationship, trust and emotional safety; the Practice of Ethics highlights care ethics attributes and accountability; the Ethical use of knowledge underscores evidenced based practice, reflexivity and sharing knowledge to equalize power; and Ethical leadership extends midwifery philosophical commitment to advocacy and reproductive justice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review provides a contemporary map of midwifery ethics and foundational evidence to support the update to the global International Confederation of Midwives, International Code of Ethics for Midwives.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13653359/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of a midwife during perinatal anorexia nervosa care: A narrative review.","authors":"Jade Steppe, Astrid Claerbout, Maja Lopez Hartmann, Mieke Embo, Peggy Tahir, Kathleen Van Royen, Jente Bontinck, Joni Gilissen","doi":"10.18332/ejm/236730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/236730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anorexia nervosa primarily affects women of reproductive age, with prevalence significantly increasing during pregnancy. Identifying optimal ways to support this population during the perinatal period is essential. This narrative review examines the role of midwives in perinatal care of women with anorexia nervosa, the challenges they encounter, and the effectiveness of midwifery-led care in this context. As part of this narrative review, a literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Reference lists of included studies were screened for additional sources. Two researchers independently performed screening and data extraction using a structured form. Findings were thematically analyzed and reported narratively. Sixteen articles published between 2000 and 2022, primarily from the United Kingdom and the United States, were included. Four key themes related to the midwife's role were identified: early and continuous screening, continuity of care, building a trusted relationship, and nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. Midwives frequently overlook lifetime eating disorder diagnoses, underscoring the need for routine screening. Challenges arise from limited knowledge and awareness among midwifery professionals. Midwives might have an added value for women with anorexia nervosa during perinatal time. Early screening, individualized support, and strong interprofessional collaboration - including timely specialist referral - are essential. Education and training are key to improving identification, management, and communication. A midwifery-led care model holds promise for fostering the trusting relationships this population requires. The absence of clinical guidelines highlights an urgent need for further research and guideline development.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13653360/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149165196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Midwifery students' and teachers' perceptions and needs regarding Extended Reality (XR) in educational training and its potential role in anxiety-related learning contexts.","authors":"Clara Pérez de Los Cobos Cintas, Nicolas Vuillerme, Lionel Di Marco, Guillaume Thomann","doi":"10.18332/ejm/224204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/224204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Some midwifery students report anxiety or insufficient preparedness for clinical practice by the end of their initial education. Integrating Extended Reality (XR) into midwifery training may transform traditional teaching by offering immersive, interactive, and safe learning environments. While XR is becoming more common in healthcare education, a better understanding of how midwifery students and teachers perceive its utility, remains underexplored. This study aims to: 1) assess students' and teachers' expectations, needs, and experiences with the use of XR in training; and 2) explore perceptions of XR's potential to support training-related anxiety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 86 students and 4 teachers from the Midwifery Department at Grenoble Alpes University, France. Participants rated the appropriateness of five XR training scenarios on a 10-point Likert scale, and later re-evaluated them considering XR's potential for anxiety management. One open-ended question provided qualitative insights into expectations and perceived benefits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants viewed XR as an appropriate tool for midwifery education, emphasizing immersive, hands-on scenarios, such as gesture simulation and clinical case management. Emergency and crisis management emerged as the main use case (68%). When anxiety-related learning contexts were introduced as an additional consideration, participants' evaluations remained consistent, suggesting that XR was perceived as relevant for high-pressure clinical training scenarios.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Participants' perceptions highlight the educational relevance of XR for simulation-based midwifery training, particularly in high-pressure clinical scenarios. These exploratory findings provide a basis for future studies involving direct XR exposure and validated outcome measures, and guided the development of an AR-based shoulder dystocia training module.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13625867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149114884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perinatal depression management: A narrative review of guidelines and recommendations in chosen European countries.","authors":"Kornelia Bartoszewicz, Ewa Sowa, Edyta Szurowska, Marlena Robakowska","doi":"10.18332/ejm/225591","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/225591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perinatal depression (PND) is a mood disorder occurring during pregnancy or within a year after childbirth, affecting up to 12% of women. Given its prevalence and burden, effective national strategies for screening and treatment are essential for its mitigation. This is a narrative review that examines current approaches to managing PND across fifteen European countries with a focus on the availability of national guidelines for screening in order to identify gaps in maternal mental health and recommend feasible solutions based on examples from countries implementing effective programs. The guidelines were identified through searches in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, general web search engines, and websites of national healthcare institutions by two independent reviewers conducting the search. Guidelines were included only if they were officially issued or endorsed by national authorities, applied nationwide, and provided specific procedures and tools for screening. Among the fifteen countries examined, only four had national guidelines addressing both screening and treatment, and two had guidelines focused solely on treatment. Our evidence also indicates growing interest in PND, with several countries enhancing parental mental healthcare through pilot initiatives. International programs like the EU's Riseup-PPD and the PATH project sought to strengthen perinatal mental healthcare by supporting healthcare professionals and researchers. Despite the lack of national guidelines in some countries, NGOs have created comprehensive materials and national versions of screening tools. Stronger engagement from national health authorities is essential to ensure women receive adequate, timely care. Obligatory, standardized screening must be implemented alongside training for healthcare professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148971530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with women's childbirth experience in Slovakia: A cross-sectional analysis of overall childbirth experience and individual domains of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2 (CEQ2).","authors":"Martina Bašková, Iveta Slotová, Zuzana Škodová, Erika Maskálová","doi":"10.18332/ejm/226841","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/226841","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The experience of a woman with childbirth represents a significant indicator of the quality of maternal care and influences their health during the postpartum period. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze women's childbirth experiences in Slovakia using the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2 (CEQ2) and to identify associated demographic and obstetric factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a consecutive sampling strategy, all women giving birth in the participating hospital between September 2024 and March 2025 who met the eligibility criteria were included. The final sample was 103 women. Four CEQ2 domains (own capacity, perceived safety, professional support, participation) were assessed as well as the overall CEQ2 score. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean overall CEQ2 score was 2.74 (SD=0.37). Among the domains, participation received the highest mean score (3.00 ± 0.59), while own capacity received the lowest (2.57 ± 0.52). Multiparity was associated with a higher overall CEQ2 score (B=5.66; 95% CI: 2.41-8.91; p<0.001) and with higher scores in the domains own capacity and perceived safety. Operative vaginal delivery was associated with a lower overall CEQ2 score (B= -6.06; 95% CI: -11.59 - -0.53; p=0.032) and lower perceived safety scores. No demographic or obstetric factors were associated with the professional support or participation domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Women generally reported positive childbirth experiences. Multiparity and operative vaginal birth showed the most consistent associations with the overall CEQ2 score. These findings should be confirmed in larger multi-center and longitudinal studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13556267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148920824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing person-centered obstetric care: A qualitative grounded theory study on perception formation and sense-making during childbirth.","authors":"Mi-Ran Okumu, Lisa Bach, Lissa Haid-Schmallenberg, Ute Karbach, Lorna McKee, Natalie R Stevens, Anna Volkert, Nadine Scholten","doi":"10.18332/ejm/226885","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/226885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Quality of obstetric care comprises both provision and experience of care, yet patient experiences have received less attention. Person-centered care seeks to tackle this gap by attributing equal significance to clinical outcomes and care experiences. Individual experiences vary despite similar treatments because subjective appraisals differ. Understanding this process can help to enhance person-centered care in obstetrics. The study's aim is to explore how birthing persons perceive and make sense of obstetric care experiences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The qualitative study adopted a grounded theory approach according to Corbin and Strauss, utilizing 12 narrative interviews with mothers who gave birth in a hospital a maximum 12 months prior. They were recruited through iterative theoretical sampling through the project Instagram channel between March and August 2023. The iterative process of data collection, analysis and constant comparison resulted in a theoretical model explaining how parturients experience obstetric situations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During analysis, sense of coherence (SoC) emerged as core category shaping how parturients perceive and make sense of obstetric situations: negative experiences related to low manifestations of SoC and positive experiences to high SoC. A subsequent literature review linked these empirical findings to Antonovsky's SoC which was contextually adapted to the perception of obstetric situations shaped by comprehensibility, perceived manageability and contextual framing factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Recognizing how parturients construct meaning through their situational SoC, may offer a basis for reflections on interaction with them. Though not allowing for direct generalization, the findings may offer a theoretical concept for further research targeting situational SoC during care processes or piloting feasible measures for real-time assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13544188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148897804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of two different perineal preparations before vaginal birth on maternal and neonatal infections and hospital resources: A randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Tzu-Ying Huang, Li-Li Chen, Fu-Shiang Peng, Fang-Yeh Chu, Meei-Ling Gau","doi":"10.18332/ejm/226734","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/226734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Perineal preparation during the second stage of labor may influence maternal and neonatal infection risk and healthcare resource utilization. Although povidone-iodine sterilization is traditionally used, microbial flora theory suggests that water cleansing may preserve normal flora without increasing infection while reducing workload and cost. This study compared water cleansing with povidone-iodine sterilization for perineal preparation at Far East Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from 26 November 2024 to 5 June 2025.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial design was employed, including 143 mothers randomly assigned to either the water cleansing group (n=72) or the povidone-iodine sterilization group (n=71). Outcome measures included maternal and neonatal infection parameters (maternal postpartum temperature, C-reactive protein, REEDA scores, neonatal temperature, and neonatal oral flora colonization), along with cleansing time and medical costs. Data were analyzed using t-tests, chi-squared tests, and generalized estimating equation (GEE).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GEE analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups in maternal and neonatal infection indicators (REEDA, 95% CI: -0.53-0.18, p=0.337; maternal temperature, 95% CI: -0.06-0.21, p=0.278; neonate temperature, 95% CI: -0.12-0.19, p=0.636). The water group had significantly lower average medical costs than the povidone-iodine group (7.49 vs 110.92 TWD, t= -50.22, p<0.001), as well as a shorter cleansing time. Regarding neonatal flora colonization, the water group showed higher rates of normal flora (33.8% vs 15.5%) and lower rates of pathogenic bacteria (5.6% vs 12.7%, χ²=10.88, p=0.028).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Perineal preparation with water was not associated with an increased risk of maternal or neonatal infection or adverse neonatal oral microbial colonization at birth and was associated with lower medical costs. These findings suggest that water may be a safe and cost-effective alternative to povidone-iodine for perineal preparation among women with low-risk pregnancies in hospitals with high episiotomy rates. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine the effects of intrapartum povidone-iodine exposure on neonatal microbiome development and its potential long-term health consequences.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>The study is registered on the official website of ClinicalTrials.gov.</p><p><strong>Identifier: </strong>NCT06880445.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148888583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting mental health during pregnancy: The feasibility of a combined peer support and mindfulness intervention, a quasi-experimental pre-post feasibility study.","authors":"Sudjit Liblub, Karen McLaughlin, Kirsty Pringle, Allison Cummins","doi":"10.18332/ejm/226733","DOIUrl":"10.18332/ejm/226733","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pregnancy is a critical period of heightened vulnerability to mental health challenges. Peer support and mindfulness have individually shown promise as non-pharmacological perinatal mental health strategies, yet their combined potential remains underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility of a novel intervention integrating peer support with a mindfulness application.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quasi-experimental pre-post feasibility design was conducted between April 2024 and January 2025 at an antenatal clinic in a public hospital in New South Wales, Australia, using convenience sampling across two sequential recruitment phases. The 4-week intervention combined mutual peer support sessions with guided mindfulness practice via the Headspace app, enrolling pregnant women at elevated risk of anxiety and depression (priority group) and those from the general pregnant population. Validated self-report measures (DASS-21, FFMQ-15, MSPSS) and salivary cortisol samples were collected pre- and post-intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests examined within- and between-group changes; open-ended post-intervention survey responses were analyzed using content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirteen pregnant women participated, achieving a 100% retention rate despite recruitment challenges. A statistically significant reduction in stress was observed in the general group compared to the priority group (median [IQR]: 22 [14-30] vs 8 [2-20]; p<0.050). No significant pre-to-post changes were found in anxiety, depression, mindfulness, or perceived social support in either group (p>0.05). Qualitative findings highlighted that the intervention fostered emotional support, connectedness, and mindfulness engagement, with participants expressing willingness to recommend the program.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Combining peer support with a mindfulness application appears feasible and acceptable for pregnant women and warrants evaluation in adequately powered randomized controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":32920,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Midwifery","volume":"10 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148888780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}