Introduction and Background The number of incarcerated pregnant women is increasing every day. At the same time, their quality of care is decreasing. From being treated like animals by jail staff to having unqualified staff members instructing them during labor, this has to change. Not only is the safety of the woman at risk, but most importantly her unborn baby. Purpose Statement Incarcerated pregnant women deserve the same healthcare as anyone else. The PICO question addressed in this paper is the following. In incarcerated pregnant women, how does ineffective health maintenance compared with effective health maintenance affect poor outcomes after childbirth? Literature Review CINAHL was used to locate five sources that were published within the last five years. The source had to include the words “childbirth,” “jail,” “prison,” “incarceration,” and “nurse.” If the article did not meet these guidelines they were excluded. One exception to these criteria was one source from 2013. The source was slightly outdated but had valuable data to be explored, so it was included. Findings Incarcerated pregnant women are de-humanized and maltreated every day and nothing is changing. Standards of care have been set in place for organizations, but they are not followed. Evaluation of these organizations and their healthcare is crucial to move forward and better health care for people in incarceration. Conclusions Insufficient research has caused a gap in literature. Limited resources are available to examine an incarcerated pregnant woman’s life and healthcare. Future research is essential to provided adequate care to these women.

Research has shown that 1 in 9 women in prenatal care have a history of childhood sexual abuse. Pregnant women with a history of childhood sexual abuse are at increased risk of depression, somatization, preterm contractions, posttraumatic stress symptomology, and re-traumatization. The purpose of this study was to bridge the gap in literature between research and practice. Data was collected from practitioners regarding the care and treatment of pregnant women with a childhood sexual abuse history. It was hypothesized that screening practices and modification to care and treatment based on practitioner knowledge of prior sex abuse history will vary by provider type and provider title. A quantitative, online-based survey design was used to gather data from prenatal and birthing practitioners regarding their treatment of female patients who have a history of childhood sexual abuse. Data was analyzed via multiple regression analysis. The data analysis did not lead to any significant results and therefore was unable to support any findings regarding the research questions and hypotheses. The results of this study can be used to encourage practitioners to seek education regarding childhood sexual abuse and its effects on the health and wellbeing of pregnant women. Further, this study brings awareness to the importance of screening for childhood sexual abuse and modifying care during pregnancy and childbirth.

Ineffectively addressing a first-time fathers' perception of pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood by medical providers and other medical personnel, may lead to problems of inadequate support, increased tension, anger, concern, and fear at a personal level and between partners. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the perspective of first-time fathers during pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood. The biopsychosocial model was used as the framework to provide the foundation for this study. Research questions addressed first-time fathers' biggest fears, deepest concerns, and most embarrassing questions related to pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood as well as the emotion and physical changes that a first-time father may encounter. Data from 12 participants was collected using one-on-one interviews. These interviews were analyzed, utilizing the biopsychosocial model as a guide for assessing social, psychological, and physical relationships and themes. Several themes were identified; including both positive and negative themes, such as mood swings, and watching the belly grow during pregnancy. During labor, themes such as, it was a life changing experience and fear of something happening to the baby or mom during labor weigh heavy on the minds of first time fathers. Themes identified in fatherhood included becoming more selfless and responsible, fear of making a mistake as a father, and the difficulties of fatherhood. The findings of this study will contribute to positive social change by providing a basis for developing appropriate and effective educational programs that will assist first-time fathers in optimizing their role throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood.

On election night 2008, a child is conceived by two Barack Obama campaign staffers--Daniel from Seattle, Anza from Honduras. American Cuerpos is a novel about the body and the body politic, about what it means to give birth through the eyes of both mother and father.

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This study was designed to explore the mediated experience of supported birth in a hospital setting by examining the role of the Birth Sisters, with a focus on how the individual Birth Sisters perceived the impact of their role. The goal of my research is to understand the ways in which having a Birth Sister assist women in emerging from birth empowered and achieving better psychosocial and medical outcomes. I hope to contribute to the growing research on the role of doula support by providing a focused examination of the lived experiences of the women providing this support as part of a hospital setting. As such, this study examines the ways in which Birth Sisters act as a mitigating force to bridge the biocultural, cultural and structural aspects that emerge in a U.S. hospital birth.

Urininkontinens (UI) innebär att individen får ett ofrivilligt och besvärligt urinläckage.  Problemet är ett av våra största folkhälsoproblem och kan uppkomma hos alla i olika åldrar men det är främst kvinnor som drabbas. Resultatet är byggt på tio intervjuer som fokuserat på kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med UI efter vaginal förlossning. Att läcka urin efter en vaginal förlossning anses av många kvinnor som ett normalt tillstånd därför dröjer de med att söka hjälp. De försöker istället att hantera situationen på bästa sätt genom olika strategier för att klara det dagliga livet. Det innebär exempelvis att kvinnor minskar intag av dryck samt att de kissar innan de lämnar hemmet. Kvinnor blir begränsad i deras dagliga liv eftersom de inte kan utföra och delta i vissa fysiska aktiviteter och att umgås med andra på grund av rädsla att läcka och lukta urin. Kvinnor upplever att UI har negativ inverkan på deras sexualliv samt kan leda till en försämring i deras sexuella relationer. Kvinnor upplever även att de blir nonchalant bemötta av vårdpersonalen samt att det saknas kunskaper kring UI. Det framkommer känslor hos kvinnorna att vårdpersonalen struntar och ignorerar deras UI problem samt att ingen inom vården följer upp dem. Vårdpersonalen måste få ökad förståelse och kunskap för kvinnor med UI, för att bättre stödja och hjälpa dessa kvinnor så att de kan få en bättre livskvalitet. / Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is an involuntary urinary leakage that affects the individual’s social life and quality of life. Urinary incontinence may occur in both sexes, but it is more common in women than men. Women may suffer from UI after vaginal delivery. Although UI causes a lot of suffering for women, there are few who seek help. In order for health professionals to be able to help and support these women, it is important to have knowledge and understanding of how UI affects women’s world of living. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe women’s experience of living with urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with ten women with urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. Qualitative content analysis was used for the analysis which resulted in seven categories. Results: The results show how UI affects women in daily life and how they handle the situation in the best way. The women experienced mixed feelings about the meeting with healthcare professionals. Seven categories emerged: How to handle urinary incontinence that is seen as a normal state, Experiencing limitations in life, To hide or share experiences with others, Urinary incontinence affects relationships, Urinary incontinence affects sex life, Meeting healthcare professionals and Experiencing urinary incontinence treatments. Conclusion: Women may suffer from urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery. They find it difficult to talk to others about this sensitive subject, which indicates that they are suffering in silence. Healthcare professionals and district nurses have an important role to catch, help and take these women's UI trouble seriously.

The birth experience is a highly subjective phenomenon that leaves a lasting impression for mothers and their families and friends. Although the passage of a child from the mother's womb into the world is typically joyous, the experience is not always as positive. Negative physical and psychological factors may greatly impact a woman's impression of the childbirth experience. Among childbearing women, the two main concerns of childbirth are pain and safe management. Similarly among healthcare providers, management of labor pain is one of the main goals of maternity care. Pain is a highly subjective phenomenon that is expected during the birth experience. Pharmacologic interventions have significantly reduced pain perception, but have left many women dissatisfied with the overall birth experience due to their potential adverse effects. Energy therapies have been studied for their role in creating a positive birth experience in relation to pain. This literature review examines the empirical evidence and makes suggestions for research and practice regarding energy therapies during labor and childbirth published between 1986 and 2012. Energy therapies, specifically Reiki, Therapeutic touch (TT), and Healing touch (HT) were examined in regards to pain perception and the childbirth process. Although pharmacologic interventions have been successful in reducing some childbirth concerns, the addition of complementary therapies such as Reiki, TT, and/or HT provides a holistic approach to pain management during labor and childbirth.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a unique and sacred time in many womens' lives and the process of giving birth often leaves women and families in a vulnerable position. This integrated literature review examined birthing experiences from the maternal perspective and focused on the short-term and long-term implications of negatively perceived maternal experiences. While there are several international studies, only a few have been published studies from the United States. The integrated review showed a significant impact of provider-client communication and shared decision making on a woman's overall perception of her birthing experience. Reports of excess intervention, lack of informed consent, and a perceived disregard for embodied knowledge- all contribute to negative perception of the birthing women. Implications for nursing education, practice, policy, and research are discussed in depth with a focus on improving maternal perception of the birth experience.