A large body of evidence has accumulated which indicates that infants of postpartum depressed mothers are at risk for negative sequelae including later psychopathology. However, methodological difficulties including discordant definitions of postpartum depression and the use of paradigms which used the mother-infant relationship to assess infant emotional expression and regulation have decreased the ability to reach a consensus regarding the nature and transmission of that risk. This study sought to address those methodological difficulties by employing an established paradigm designed to elicit emotionality in infants, the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB; Goldsmith & Rothbart, 1999). Participants were 30 women who met DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), 50 women who did not meet MDD criteria, and their 8-13 month old infants. The women were recruited from five counties within Iowa which contain both rural and urban centers. Consistent with state demographics the sample was predominantly Caucasian (76%). Mother-infant dyads were assessed approximately five months after the mother had completed a diagnostic interview. At that time six episodes from the Lab-TAB designed to elicit fear, anger, and positive affect were conducted. Emotional reactivity was coded used the AFFEX (Goldsmith & Rothbart, 1988) and composite scores were generated for each emotion. Infants of depressed mothers exhibited less intense pleasure to stimuli designed to elicit that emotion. There was also a slight, non-significant, trend for infants of depressed mothers to display more intense fear and to remain fearful longer. There was not a difference between the groups in anger expression. Emotional regulation was examined using a set of procedures set-forth by Buss and Goldsmith (1998) to determine effective regulation. These procedures involve calculating the change in affect from the coding epoch in which a "putative regulatory behavior" is displayed to the epoch immediately after the behavior. Change scores which involved no change in affect or a decrease in negative affect were considered effective regulation. Playing with clothing or an object and interacting with the stimulus were effective at regulating both fear and anger. In addition, averting gaze (disengaging with the task) was effective in regulating anger. Follow-up analysis revealed that infants of depressed mothers used gaze aversion more frequently than infants of nondepressed mothers. In addition, they were less likely to engage in social referencing (looking toward the mother) during episodes designed to elicit fear. The findings of this study are consistent with a growing body of evidence which documents the significance of considering low positive affect in examination of diagnosis and risk for depression and suggests that fear expression may be central to anxiety. Furthermore, results from the emotional regulation paradigms underscore the need for continued examination of the construct of "effective regulation." In addition, these results highlight disruptions in the mother-infant relationship which have implications for developing efficient regulatory mechanisms.

The relationships of estradiol-17-beta, progesterone, and LH in the early postpartum St. Croix ewe were monitored during the breeding season in 1988. A second group of non-postpartum, ovariectomized St. Croix ewes were used to determine non-ovarian levels of progesterone for comparison. Results of this study indicate that: 1. The short duration rise in progesterone exhibited by some ewes is indicative of an ovulation. 2. Ewes that do exhibit a short luteal phase prior to the first "normal" luteal phase have a longer period from parturition to the first "normal" luteal phase. 3. Serum levels of LH increase beginning 3 days postpartum. 4. There is a strong relationship between the concentration of estradiol and the exhibition of behavioral estrus in the postpartum ewe. 5. There appears to be a definite but somewhat irregular pulsatile release pattern of estradiol from the follicle of the postpartum ewe. The ability of the endocrine system of the St. Croix to return to functional levels of production and release during the first 15 days postpartum is likely related to their relatively short postpartum intervals and subsequent pregnancies.

BakgrundDen fysiska aktivitetsnivån sänks för många i samband med graviditet och kan vara kvarstående en längre tid efter förlossning. Det finns begränsad kunskap om vilka faktorer som stärker self-efficacy (S-E) att utföra träning, underlättande och hindrande faktorer för initiering eller återupptagande av fysisk aktivitet och träning efter förlossning. SyfteSyftet var att undersöka upplevelser efter deltagande i gruppträning på en vårdcentral hos kvinnor med kvarstående besvär efter förlossning, S-E till fortsatt träning på egen hand samt hindrande och underlättande faktorer för träning. Design och metod  En kvalitativ deskriptiv design användes och fem semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes. Vid databearbetning användes en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. ResultatResultatet beskriver betydelsen av ledarledd gruppträning och dess innehåll, S-E till- och underlättande samt hindrande faktorer för träning på egen hand, individuella strategier för träning, betydelsen av att ha drivkraft och omgivningsfaktorer som påverkar träningen. KonklusionInformanterna beskrev positiva aspekter gällande ledarledd gruppträning med andra mödrar. Fler träningstillfällen och ytterligare vägledning beskrevs kunna stärka S-E för träning på egen hand. Olika underlättande och hindrande faktorer påverkade om kvinnorna tränade på egen hand eller inte. Denna information kan vara till nytta för fysioterapeuter och barnmorskor för att främja fysisk aktivitet och träning efter förlossning. / BackgroundThe physical activity level decreases among many women during pregnancy and this decline may remain a long period of time postpartum. There is limited knowledge about the factors, such as self-efficacy (S-E) and barriers for exercise, influencing physical activity postpartum. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate how women with postpartum complications experienced group training in primary healthcare. The purpose was also to analyze their S-E for self-managed exercise and facilitating factors and barriers for exercise. Design and methodA qualitative descriptive study design was used. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed with qualitative content analysis. ResultsThe informants described the impact of supervised group training and how self-efficacy and different factors, influenced self-managed exercise. They described individual exercise strategies, the importance of motivation and environmental factors affecting the exercise.   ConclusionDifferent positive aspects emerged regarding supervised exercise and exercise in a group with other mothers. To enhance S-E in individual exercise additional supervised exercise and further guidance were highlighted.Different facilitating factors and barriers for exercise affected whether or not the informants exercised on their own. This information can be of use for physiotherapists and midwives to promote physical activity and exercise postpartum.

Breastfeeding confers immunological, physiological and psychological benefits for the infant and mother as well as social and economic benefits to the nation. The United States Department of Health and Human Servcies (HHS), Healthy People 2020 has established national objectives for the initiation and duration of breastfeeding at 82% initiation, 61% at six months and 34% at one year. In addition, they have set goals for exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months to be 46% and 25% at 6 months of infant's age. Currently breastfeeding initiation is at the highest recorded level of 76.9%, yet significant disparities exist (CDC, 2012). The purpose of this study was to examine the association of acculturation and self-efficacy on breastfeeding behavior of a sample of Hispanic women. Initially the plan was to focus on women from Mexican, Cuban and Puerto Rican countries of origin. However recruitiment goals for only the Mexican population were reached. Two valid and reliable bidimensional instruments were used in addition to collecting contextual information to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the acculturation process. The roles of self-efficacy and social support and their relationship with acculturation measures and breastfeeding behavior was explored. The Non-Hispanic domain subscale of the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale scores were significantly different for those breastfeeding compared to those formula feeding, indicating higher levels of Non-Hispanic domain acculturation associated with not breastfeeding. Acculturation and self efficacy (general and parental) were not found to be related. Breastfeeding outcomes and parental self-efficacy were found to have a significant negative correlation, a finding that was in an unexpected direction, with higher parental self-efficacy associated with decreased breastfeeding intensity. Mixed feeding or Las Dos, is a common finding among Hispanic women especially for the Mexican origin community and exclusivity may not have been perceived as higher value then mixed feeding or formula feeding (Bunik et al., 2006). Rates for exclusive breastfeeding at three months are 33% for both the US as well as for Hispanic/Latino ethnicity (National Immunization Survey, 2007). At six weeks the practice of exclusively breastfeeding (not giving formula) was 17% and this is about half of the 46% goal set for exclusive breastfeeding at three months by (HHS) Healthy People 2020. Of those that were exclusively breastfeeding in the hospital only three were still exclusively breastfeeding at the six week follow up call. This presents a unique opportunity in which targeting Hispanic mothers after discharge may assist in increasing further the rates of exclusive breastfeeding and recommendations are provided.

No description available.

This hermeneutic study explores the experience of well-being of eight new mothers who live in the Blue Mountains of N.S.W. The experiences were analysed to illuminate definitions, meanings and practices which create their well being. This study transcends existing notions of health and motherhood. The author argues that mothers resist the social expectations created by the 'ideology of motherhood' by; defining their well-being, redefining and resisting the notion of being the 'good mother' by creating practices to achieve their well-being. Social support is integral to this. The study is grounded in hermeneutics incorporating the Heideggerian ideas of being-in-the-world, co-constitution and the hermeneutic circle and also the Gadamerian idea of fusion of horizons. A post-structuralist feminist perspective is adopted, incorporating Foucault's ideas on power, knowledge, truth and resistance. Eight definitions of these new mothers' well-being are presented. Implications for nursing practice, education and research are discussed / Master of Nursing (Hons)

Little is known about domestic violence experienced by Thai pregnant women. This exploratory descriptive study aimed to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy and immediate postpartum period among Thai women aged between 18 and 45 years. The study also aimed to investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes for childbearing women, the ways in which they dealt with domestic violence, barriers that inhibited them from seeking help or resisting violence, as well as the needs and support that would be helpful in dealing with domestic violence. A cohort of 421 women in their third trimester of pregnancy was recruited from two tertiary public hospital antenatal clinics located in Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand. Structured questionnaires were used. Participants were again contacted at six weeks postpartum either in person at the family planning clinics or by telephone. Two hundred and seventy-four women were able to be contacted. The results showed that 53.7% of women reported psychological abuse, 26.6% experienced threats of and/or acts of physical abuse, and 19.2% experienced sexual violence during the current pregnancy. In the postpartum period, 35.4% of women reported psychological abuse, 9.5% reported threats of and/or acts of physical abuse, and 11.3% experienced sexual abuse. Women who were abused during pregnancy showed significantly poorer health status compared to non-abused women in role emotional functioning, vitality, bodily pain, mental health and social functioning. Women who experienced postpartum abuse reported significantly lower mean scores in mental health and social functioning than women who did not. Antepartum haemorrhage was also found to be statistically associated with physical abuse. No statistical differences were found between abuse status and neonatal outcomes. There were several strategies used by abused women in dealing with domestic violence to maximize their safety including crying, keeping quiet, leaving violent situations and temporarily staying with relatives, seeking help from others, and notifying local authorities. Support services that would be helpful for abused women in dealing with the problem included emotional support, social legal assistance, and community health promotion. Domestic violence during pregnancy and after birth is an increasing but under-recognized problem in Thailand. It has pervasive consequences on maternal health. The findings from this study suggest more interventions and urgent domestic violence support services need to be established in this remote area of Thailand. This study also suggests routine screening for domestic violence should be established to provide effective early intervention and prevention of adverse consequences of violence, as pregnancy is a time when most pregnant women seek health care.

<p><p><strong>Bakgrund:</strong> 13 procent av alla kvinnor drabbas av postpartum depression (PPD) efter förlossningen. PPD påverkar inte bara modern som individ utan även barnet och resten av familjen. <strong>Syfte:</strong> Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att belysa sjuksköterskans roll i omvårdnadsarbetet med familjer som drabbats av postpartum depression. <strong>Metod:</strong> Litteraturstudie. Databaserna Pubmed och Cinahl har använts i studien. Tre kvantitativa artiklar har använts och tolv kvalitativa. <strong>Resultat:</strong> Första mötet mellan sjuksköterskan och kvinnan med PPD har stor betydelse. Mödrarna känner sig trygga och vågar öppna sig mer om de har en bra relation med sjuksköterskan. Mödrarna anser att det är lättare att ta emot råd från en sjuksköterska de har god relation med. <strong>Diskussion/Slutsats:</strong> God kommunikation, information och kontinuitet bör förbättras i vården. Sjuksköterskorna behöver mer kunskap om PPD för att kunna ge familjerna bästa tänkbara vård. Har sjuksköterskorna god kunskap kommer även relationen med familjen att stärkas.</p></p>

<p>Urininkontinens är en sjukdom erkänd av Världshälsoorganisationen(WHO)1998. The International Continence of Society(ICS) har definierat urininkontinens: "Det är ett urinläckage som är objektivt påvisbart och utgör ett socialt och hygieniskt problem för individen" urininkontinens drabbar ofta kvinnor i förbindelse med graviditet, förlossning eller kejsarsnitt. Det kan räcka med att bli gravid. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa riskfaktorer som kan orsaka stressinkontinens under graviditet och efter vaginal förlossning. Resultatet visar att vaginal förlossning som avslutas med forceps utgör störst risk att drabbas av stressinkontinens. Det behövs fler studier för att upplysa barnmorskor om hur de kan ge evidensbaserad vård till kvinnor som föder vaginalt för att undvika urodynamiska skador.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-99).