Midwifery最新文献

{"title":"Understanding the barriers UK midwives face in leading research: A critical discussion paper","authors":"Hannah M Brennan ,&nbsp;Christine Furber","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Midwives have a pivotal role in supporting excellence in care through research. However, in the UK, very few midwives lead research. It has been estimated that &lt;0.1 % of clinical midwives are employed in clinical academic careers, where they pursue a joint role working clinically and conducting research, and only 12 % of midwives working in academia hold a PhD.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Increasing midwifery-led research and building research capacity for midwives has long been on the UK national agenda. Due to their experience, midwives can address clinically important questions and research solutions to problems that they have observed in their practice. However, midwives face many barriers to commencing and sustaining a career where they engage in midwife-led research.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This critical discussion paper aims to explore and understand the factors acting as barriers to UK midwives embarking on and maintaining a career leading research.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>This paper presents a critical discussion of the barriers for UK-based midwives to pursue research careers based on four main key points. The paper draws from UK-based reports and international contemporary literature. Four key barriers were identified from the literature: Lack of opportunities, awareness and knowledge of research among midwives; Lack of role models and mentorship; Lack of NHS and Approved Education Institution (AEI) organisational support; Lack of a clear pathway of progression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion and recommendations</h3><div>Significant barriers exist for UK midwives to engage in midwife-led research, which must be addressed to enable midwife-led research capacity to be improved and establish a workforce of leading midwifery researchers. Key recommendations have been identified to improve the accessibility of conducting midwife-led research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104688"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women’s experiences of pain relief and easing intensity through vocalisations during childbirth: A qualitative study","authors":"Laura A. Zinsser ,&nbsp;Eva Marie Engebakken Flaathen","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Childbirth pain is an individual and diverse experience; it differs from other pain as it is productive and purposeful. Some women do like to give birth without pharmacological pain relief. These women use diverse coping strategies and tools. One tool is vocalisations like vocal-toning, to master childbirth.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To explore, explain and interpret women’s experience with vocalisations to master the intensity and pain during childbirth.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women postpartum. These women had a physiological birth free from pharmacological pain relief and vocalised. Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four themes emerged: ‘<em>Changing the pain experience through sound’</em>, outlines the ease of pain during vocal-toning. <em>‘Balancing internal birthing intensity by using sound’</em>, describes the experienced relief of internal pressure and intensity through vocalisations. <em>‘Experiencing tricky moments while vocal-toning’</em>, provides detailed insights in moments when the pain can rise, by taking a breath or losing the ‘right’ tone. ‘<em>Mastering the childbirth process with sound as an essential element: \"the number one means of coping with pain\"’</em> portrays the experienced meaningfulness of sound work for childbirth.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Vocalisations eased the intensity and pain or made it more bearable for the participants. It were combined with other coping strategies and tools, but vocalisations were essential for nearly all participants to master childbirth. Midwives and other birth companions can support women in finding the ‘right’ tone through joined vocal-toning, indicating a deeper sound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104690"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145768509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the postpartum partner support scale among Arab women in the United Arab Emirates","authors":"Hadia Radwan ,&nbsp;Gabriel John Dusing ,&nbsp;Godfred O. Boateng ,&nbsp;Randa Fakhry ,&nbsp;Nivine Hanach ,&nbsp;Wegdan Bani Issa ,&nbsp;MoezAlIslam E. Faris ,&nbsp;Reyad Shaker Obaid ,&nbsp;Tareq Osaili ,&nbsp;Cindy-Lee Dennis","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Poor maternal mental health during the postpartum period is a significant global concern, with a lack of partner support being a well-established risk factor for postpartum depression and anxiety. However, few validated instruments exist to assess postpartum partner support in Arabic-speaking populations.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS) was developed to measure partner support specific to the postpartum period. While validated in Canadian and Persian-speaking populations, its applicability in Arabic-speaking contexts remains unexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To evaluate the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Arabic version of the PPSS among postpartum women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A six-month prospective cohort study (February 2017–September 2018) recruited 457 postpartum women from ten hospitals across Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Fujairah, UAE, with 399 women followed-up at 3 and 6 months postpartum. The Arabic PPSS was translated following World Health Organization guidelines. The psychometric evaluation included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), test-retest reliability, and validity assessments (predictive, divergent, and known-group comparisons). Convergent validity was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The Arabic PPSS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96) and test-retest reliability. EFA and CFA confirmed a unidimensional factor structure, with strong item loadings (0.40–0.94) and acceptable model fit indices (CFI = 0.98–0.99, TLI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.09, SRMR = 0.03). The PPSS was significantly correlated with EPDS (<em>r</em> = -0.11 to -0.14) and STAI (<em>r</em> = -0.21 to -0.28), indicating that higher levels of partner support were associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, supporting predictive validity. Known-group comparisons showed higher PPSS scores among working women and those who exercised.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Findings support the PPSS as a reliable and valid measure of postpartum partner support in Arabic-speaking populations. The scale captures culturally relevant aspects of partner support, addressing a gap in maternal mental health research in the UAE.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Arabic PPSS demonstrates strong psychometric properties, supporting its use in both research and clinical settings. Its integration into routine postpartum care, particularly within midwifery and broader maternity care practice, may facilitate early identification of psychosocial risks and inform targeted interventions to improve maternal mental health outcomes in Arabic-speaking populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104662"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145550088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a perinatal bereavement counselling training for midwives: A Delphi methodology study","authors":"Ayse Irem Gokcek ,&nbsp;Neslihan Keser Ozcan","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In many countries, including Turkey, midwives lack formal training in perinatal bereavement care despite their central role in supporting grieving families.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study was conducted using the Delphi method to determine the content and scope of perinatal bereavement counselling training for midwives.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Thirty-eight experts (midwives, psychologists, nurses, and academics) participated in the first round of the three-stage Delphi study, and 30 experts participated in the second and third rounds. In the first round, expert opinions were collected through open-ended questions; the data were analysed using IRaMuTeQ software, and four main themes were identified. Based on these themes, six module proposals were developed. In the second and third rounds, experts rated the modules and subheadings using a 5-point Likert scale. The consensus criterion was set as median ≥4 and interquartile range (IQR) ≤1.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the first round of analysis, the themes of ‘concepts of bereavement,’ ‘communication strategies,’ ‘perinatal care practices,’ and ‘health worker support’ emerged. The six modules and 40 subheadings created based on these themes were approved by experts in the second and third rounds with a high level of consensus. In the third round, the median value for all modules was 5, and the IQR value was 0 for five modules.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study presents the first Delphi-based perinatal bereavement counselling training content for midwives in Turkey. The training programme includes both parent-focused and caregiver-focused approaches and offers an adaptable and proposes a consensus-based training content that may be adapted to pre-graduation and in-service training; however, implementation in clinical settings was not tested in this study and will require piloting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104670"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145588186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"International News February 2026","authors":"Elizabeth Duff (International News Editor)","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104694","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104694"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers and facilitators to pelvic floor muscle exercises among postpartum women: A meta-synthesis based on the capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior (COM-B) model","authors":"Zhouli Gui ,&nbsp;Yingni Liang ,&nbsp;Yiqin Huang ,&nbsp;Qingyan Gu ,&nbsp;Qian Li ,&nbsp;Xixian Li ,&nbsp;Ruotong Liu ,&nbsp;Li OuYang ,&nbsp;Hongwu Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>While pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) are recognized for preventing and treating pelvic floor dysfunction, optimal clinical implementation models remain unclear, and factors influencing postpartum adherence are incompletely understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This systematic review evaluated barriers and enablers to PFME adherence from the perspective of postpartum women, to inform behavioural change strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Nine databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP) were searched from inception to July 1, 2025. Eligible studies included qualitative and mixed-methods designs reporting qualitatively extractable data on barriers/enablers to postpartum PFME. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment Criteria. Thematic analysis mapped findings to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behaviour (COM-B) model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After screening 968 abstracts and 134 full texts, 9 studies were included (8 qualitative studies and 1 mixed-methods study). The research identified barriers and facilitators related to the following domains:physical capacity (e.g.pre-pregnancy exercise foundation and childbirth trauma and pain), psychological capacity (e.g.lack of knowledge about pelvic floor health, intergenerational misperceptions, and sexual stigma hindering communication), physical opportunity (e.g.time constraints, and digital tool empowerment), social opportunities (e.g.quality of healthcare services and family support networks), reflective motivation (e.g.risk perception-driven, immediate feedback reinforcement, uncertainty about exercise effectiveness), and automatic motivation (e.g.convenience of exercise behaviour, boredom during the process, body image needs, and external care and encouragement).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study findings identified key factors influencing postpartum women's engagement in pelvic floor muscle exercises and proposed several intervention strategies. Given the paucity of existing qualitative studies on this topic, additional research is warranted to further elucidate the complex, interacting factors that affect postpartum women's adherence to pelvic floor muscle training regimens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104695"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145804972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct dyadic coping patterns in couples managing gestational diabetes mellitus: a latent profile analysis","authors":"Qian Xu ,&nbsp;Rong-rong Han ,&nbsp;Lei Zeng ,&nbsp;Ke Sun ,&nbsp;Pei-pei Luo ,&nbsp;Juan-juan Zhao ,&nbsp;Ling-ling Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>No studies have identified dyadic coping patterns in couples managing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>While male partners are often involved in GDM management, their involvement exerts mixed effects.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aims to (1) identify dyadic coping patterns among GDM couples, (2) compare self-management behaviors among identified patterns, and (3) examine potential predictors associated with each pattern.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from September 2024 to January 2025. 200 GDM couples completed the Chinese version of the Couple Collaborative Management Scale and the GDM Knowledge Questionnaire. Pregnant women also completed the GDM Self-management Behavior Scale. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify subgroups of dyadic coping.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Three latent patterns emerged: Class 1 (low-positive/low-negative group; 20.0%), Class 2 (high-positive/high-negative group; 12.0%), and Class 3 (high-positive/low-negative group; 68.0%). Significant differences in self-management behaviors were observed across classes. History of adverse obstetric outcomes, paternal GDM knowledge, and maternal dyadic appraisal were significant predictors of class membership.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The findings provide healthcare professionals with a deeper understanding of couple interactions in GDM management and how these interactions function within this context.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Approximately one-third of couples exhibited suboptimal dyadic coping patterns. To optimize GDM management, healthcare professionals are recommended to routinely screen couples for maladaptive patterns and implement tailored dyadic interventions to facilitate more functional couple interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104692"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145781314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing the implementation of the woman-centred care model for pregnant women in a hospital setting: an integrative review","authors":"Alessia Migliarini ,&nbsp;Patrizia Di Giacomo ,&nbsp;Daniele Zama ,&nbsp;Mara Mattioli","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The term “Woman-Centred Care” focuses on the individual needs, aspirations and expectations of the woman herself rather than the needs of the healthcare system or professionals. The principles on which this model of care is based, are the control, choice, and continuity of care for women.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this review would like to explore and summarise the evidence currently available on the factors which influence the implementation of the care model for pregnant women in a hospital setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An integrative review was conducted using the method of Whittemore and Knafl and the PICOT search strategy. The Medline, PubMed and CINAHL databases were examined to identify primary studies that, between 2013 and July 2024, investigated factors influencing the implementation of women-centred care models in hospital settings. The inclusion/exclusion process and reporting followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The qualitỳ of the studies was assessed according to the criteria of the Mixed Method appraisal tool.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>411 studies were eligible and 16 of those included. A total of 16 records were included. Four themes and four sub-themes influencing the implementation of Woman-Centred Care were identified: the perspective of the midwives; the care model; communication and collaboration (relationships with colleagues; relationship with women and empowerment) and, resources and support (organisation and stakeholders; management).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The implementation of the “Woman-Centred Care\" model is strongly influenced by organizational policies and midwives' awareness of their role as guarantors of \"natural\" childbirth.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The lack of a shared understanding of what Woman-Centred Care actually means can contribute to the confusion and definition with which it is proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 104650"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145420187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Domains of maternal knowledge and practices in essential newborn care in Urban Ghana: A factor analysis","authors":"Alhassan Sibdow Abukari ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Kwame Korsah ,&nbsp;Eva Fusser Okworu ,&nbsp;Linda Mensah ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Sadik Haruna","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Neonatal mortality remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana. Maternal knowledge and practices of essential newborn care (ENC) influence neonatal outcomes but remain inconsistent in many urban settings.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to describe maternal knowledge and practices of ENC and to identify underlying domains of these practices using factor analysis, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 mothers in the Accra Metropolis. Data were collected through interviewer-administered electronic surveys with a pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics summarized reported practices, while exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified and validated underlying domains.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Most mothers adhered to key newborn care practices, including early breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, delayed bathing, cord care, and vaccination, all of which demonstrated high compliance of &gt;90 % mean score, though lower % mean scores were present for handwashing before breastfeeding (77.6 %), burping (84.2 %), and alcohol rub before newborn care (87.6 %) practices. Factor analysis revealed three domains: hygiene and safety practices, breastfeeding and thermal care, and cord and delivery practices, explaining 51.7 % of total variance. Sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.850; Bartlett’s test, <em>p</em> &lt; .001), and model fit indices (CFI = 0.913) supported the three-factor structure, although the RMSEA suggested some limitations.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion/Conclusion</h3><div>Mothers demonstrated generally strong ENC practices, particularly in breastfeeding and cord care, but gaps persisted in hand hygiene, immunization knowledge, and burping. Interpreted through the HBM, these gaps reflect perceived barriers and limited cues to action. Strengthening community-based health education within antenatal and postnatal services could address these gaps, improve ENC adherence, and contribute to reducing neonatal mortality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 104666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145518050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spheres of influence on contraceptive decision-making: qualitative interviews with postpartum mothers and providers","authors":"Liane M. Ventura ,&nbsp;Alicia A. Dahl ,&nbsp;Maimouna Issoufou Kapran ,&nbsp;Kate E. Beatty","doi":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.midw.2025.104665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Biological and behavioral factors influence interpregnancy intervals. Individualized family planning goals and preferences regarding contraception must be supported through shared decision-making approaches. Contraceptive counseling throughout the perinatal period is multifaceted whereby intersecting health-related choices including breastfeeding are co-occurring. This study explores multi-level factors influencing postpartum contraceptive decision-making among women and perinatal care providers in a rural region of the Southeast United States.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The qualitative study triangulated perspectives of postpartum mothers (<em>n</em>=16) and perinatal care providers (<em>n</em>=8). Perinatal care providers included a range of professionals including midwives, lactation consultants, and doulas. Interviews were conducted via phone, audio recorded, and transcribed. An inductive content analysis was applied to coding and analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants from both groups discussed the importance of knowledge about contraceptive method options, including safe methods for while breastfeeding. Although, perceptions about the impact of contraception on milk supply varied among both mothers and providers. Mothers and providers elevated the importance of provider support for individualized decisions given personal preferences and family planning goals. Multiple points of access to contraception were noted, including in-hospital provision, which can facilitate access. Providers emphasized the influence of complex social risk factors such as limited financial resources and challenges with access to housing, food, and transportation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Postpartum contraceptive decision-making is an ongoing process based on individualized preferences. Mothers can be supported, in part, through providers acknowledging social, economic, and historical forces impacting decision-making. Future research to investigate the role of interdisciplinary care teams to enhance perinatal healthcare service provision is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18495,"journal":{"name":"Midwifery","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 104665"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145518049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}