Nursing Midwifery Commons^™

Comparing Nurse-Led Holistic Pain Relief Strategies And Sole Pharmacological Use In Enhancing Maternal Satisfaction, Reducing Pain, And Lowering Obstetric Interventions During Childbirth, Jessica C. Moore

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Childbirth has become heavily reliant on pharmacological management and obstetric interventions such as epidural use, labor induction, and cesarean deliveries (C-sections) even among low-risk pregnancies. While necessary in some cases, excessive reliance on pharmacological interventions can negatively impact the experience of birthing as a whole. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) such as breathing techniques, positioning, hydrotherapy, massage, aromatherapy and continuous support have shown to be effective in reducing pain and supporting physiologic labor. The gaps in education and lack of standard implementation result in inconsistent application in practice. Purpose: This research proposal aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led NPIs compared …

Yoga And Breathing Techniques For Fear Of Childbirth (Foc) And Quality Of Sleep Among Antenatal Women During Pregnancy – A Systematic Review Protocol, Anjana Sharma, Sonia R B D’Souza Dr., Shripad Hebbar Dr., Govardhan Reddy G Dr.

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Yoga and breathing techniques in decreasing Fear of Childbirth (FOC) and improving the quality of sleep among antenatal women. Introduction: Pregnancy, labor, and childbirth experiences for women are diverse. One of the issues faced by pregnant women is FOC, which can be stressful for mothers and their families. The global prevalence of FOC among women is 14%, while in India it is 17.7%. Fearful mothers may lack confidence in their ability to give birth, be swayed by unfavorable stories about the process, fear getting hurt during delivery, …

Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Cesarean Birth Rate, Roseanna Juarez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Cesarean birth rates for nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies in the United States continue to exceed the Healthy People 2030 goal of 23.6%, resulting in preventable maternal and neonatal complications and higher healthcare costs.

Context: This quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted in a high-acuity labor and delivery unit in California’s Central Valley, an area characterized by maternal health disparities, high rates of comorbidities, and limited access to prenatal care. The goal was to reduce the NTSV cesarean rate to 18.0% by July 31, 2025.

Interventions: Guided by Kotter’s 8-Step Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, …

Feasibility Of Using Podcasts For Knowledge Dissemination To Reduce Health Disparities For Women Targeting Preventative Initiatives And Lifestyle Medicine Interventions, Kristin Stovern

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this feasibility project was to look at podcasts to shed light on the issues that affect the well-being of women with gender-based disparities in healthcare. Women face persistent obstacles when it comes to the quality of healthcare they receive. One of the barriers that has been ever-present is with failure of the medical system to rigorously study the effects of diseases and drugs on women or to fund studies on women’s health conditions. Implicit biases and lack of access to care inhibit the quality of healthcare. Collectively, these issues result in unnecessary sickness, disability, and decreased quality …

Does The Anastatica Hierochuntica Plant Shorten The Duration Of Labour? A Prospective Observational Study, Filiz Okumuş, Halime Öncü-Çelik, Nevin Şahin

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of Anastatica Hierochuntica L. on the duration of labour in primiparous women.
Methods: A prospective, case-controlled study with an intervention (n=28) and control (n=29) group. Participants were not randomized; their preferences related to the use of the A. Hierochuntica L. determined the group in which they would be included. In the intervention group, Anastatica Hierochuntica L. was used by all women. Standard care continued for both the intervention and control group. The duration of the first and second stage of labour were evaluated and compared between groups.
Results: Participants’ mean of age …

Effects And Outcomes Of Different Laboring Positions And The Influence From Societal Norms, Amberlyn Heskett

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Within labor and delivery, every birth is different. Alarmingly, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate, including death during labor, among developed countries (World Health Organization, 2022). Many maternal deaths may be preventable.

In the U.S., the use of forceps, vacuum-assisted birth, episiotomies, and emergency C-sections are common for women during childbirth. Even though some laboring positions may assist birthing more than others, there often is resistance to allowing various positions due to outside influences, including societal norms, hospital management, and healthcare professional training. Women in labor are vulnerable and look to their nurses for support during the …

No One Should Have To Give Birth Alone: An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Community-Based Doula Programs Serving Ethnic Minorities In San Francisco, Maria Margaret Nelson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Adverse birth outcomes for both the parent and the child disproportionately affect people of color. Evidence demonstrates that one of the ways to mitigate these negative consequences is through the utilization of a doula, a trained birth companion that is not a medical provider but whose role it is to physically and emotionally support the patient through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Community-based doula programs, where the doula is of the same cultural background as the client, are particularly effective in improving birth outcomes in communities of color by providing culturally competent care and helping to navigate a healthcare system that …

An Investigation Into The Use Of An Herbal Labor Induction Tincture Containing Black Cohosh, Cramp Bark, Partridgeberry, And Motherwort On Contractile Responses Produced From Isolated Strips Of Mouse Uterine Tissues, Clayton Neuenschwander, Katrina Wu, Teresa F. Degolier

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Alternative solutions in the form of herbal remedies meant to ease or expedite the process of labor have often been pursued and administered but have seldom been quantitatively tested for efficacy. Published research has shown some validation for some commonly used herbs such as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), castor bean (Ricinus communis) and evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) on isolated mouse uterine strips. Methods: This study tested an array of herbs used by midwives in a labor induction tincture, which included black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), and motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca). …

Prenatal Dietary Education, Using The Midwifery Model, In Ireland Vs The United States, Allison Erby

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Prenatal dietary education is a very important component of care in healthy pregnancies, but more than that, dietary education can be an indicator of the value a healthcare provider places on holistic care or preventive medicine. The United States and Ireland are compared in this study because they represent high intervention vs. low intervention approaches, respectively, to obstetric care. Healthcare professionals from the United States and Ireland perceive the most important nutrients and method of receiving those differently. Maybe the most telling contrast, healthcare professionals in Ireland perceive food as the way pregnant women should receive vital nutrients, but healthcare …

Dancing During Labor: Are Women Down To Boogie?, Drew A. Horter, Kayla Heslin, Marie Forgie, Emily Malloy, Jessica J. F. Kram

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Recent social media trends have demonstrated increased interest in dancing during the final weeks of pregnancy and labor. However, there is limited evidence about dancing during labor and its impact on labor pain and duration as well as patient satisfaction. Before conducting a prospective study, given that enrollment is often challenging, our feasibility study aimed to assess the willingness of pregnant women to participate in a future study evaluating low-impact dance during labor. We anonymously surveyed a convenience sample of English-speaking/reading pregnant women who presented for prenatal care at 1 of 3 clinics from June 2019 to July 2019. Questions …

Lowering Antibiotic Resistance Utilizing Breastmilk, Moriah J. Harris

Honors College Theses

Antibiotic resistance is considered an emerging crisis in the healthcare world. This crisis has the potential to cause many bacterial diseases that cannot be cured using antibiotic drugs, which can lead to serious infections and death. There have been numerous studies that have found that sugars, proteins and protein-lipid complexes in breastmilk have antimicrobial properties. It has been proposed that these properties in breastmilk can help solve the antibacterial resistance crisis. This research project involved studying antibiotic resistance and how breastmilk can help solve this increasingly prevalent problem.

The implementation step of this research project involved a PowerPoint presentation detailing …

Exploration Of Naturopathic Medicine For Pregnant And Laboring Women, Megan Latreille

Honors Projects

Exploration of natural medicine has become increasingly common among individuals. With proper use, natural medicine can help treat many common ailments experienced during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. This paper serves to shed light on naturopathic medicinal techniques for expectant mothers and families, so that they may implement such in their own lives throughout pregnancy, during labor, and after birth. Yoga can be adapted and utilized during antenatal and postpartum periods to help with stress levels, depression, and physical health. Hypnosis, meditation, and hypnobirthing provide similar effects such as decreased stress and increased contentment; promoting a smoother and more effective labor …

A Preliminary Study Of Intergenerational Differences In Masxha Regarding Practice And Attitudes Towards Zulu Traditions During Pregnancy And Birth, Momoko Oyama

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the Zulu culture, several traditions and rituals are practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period. However, as urbanization spreads and western influences strengthen, these rituals risk being lost. This project aims to capture existing knowledge of these traditions and to assess the intergenerational changes in practice and attitudes towards practicing the rituals.

Information on Zulu traditions practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period was collected through two interviews and a focus group consisting of three elderly women in Masxha, a Black township in KwaZulu-Natal. Following the interviews and focus group, 32 Masxha residents were recruited to complete …

Educated Birth: Beliefs Vs. Outcomes, Lauren Presley

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

“Our infant mortality rate is a national embarrassment.”¹ The words seem shocking and harsh across the headline of a 2014 Washington Post article. The thought of America not only not being the best at something, but falling upsettingly behind, is a foreign concept to many who view America as a nation inferior to none. However, the statistics on infant mortality rate tell the stark truth that of 26 “wealthy” countries, the U.S. ranks last, with a sobering 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live infant births.²

Part of the Healthy People 2020 Objectives is to reduce the rate of infant …

Ouch, That Hurts: Childbirth-Related Pain Management And The Inappropriate Replacement Of Traditional Obstetrical Knowledge In Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India, Sabrina Zionts

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Throughout India, obstetrical knowledge and practice has been developed and passed down by generations of women. In many Indian societies, traditional birth attendants, or dais, remain the gatekeepers of childbirth-related knowledge. Yet with the push towards institutional delivery, traditional knowledge and practices are being increasingly replaced with modern and Western ones. While the trend of hospital deliveries has yielded positive health outcomes, its socio-cultural consequences remain unclear. Situated in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon Himalayas, this study employs a bio-social framework and begins to reveal these consequences. Using labor pain management as an entry point, this study argues that the push towards institutional …

Delivering Quality Care: The Roles And Future Of Midwives In Southern California, Abigail Jones

Scripps Senior Theses

The United States is ranked 27^th in the world for maternal mortality, yet spends twice as much on maternity care services as countries with better maternal health indicators. Stuck in a technocratic and physician-dominated maternity care system, the U.S. depends on expensive technologies to control birth out of fear of pain and litigation, costing Americans billions of dollars and depriving women of the opportunity to have a transformative birth experience. Through an analysis of the medicalization of birth and the current biomedical model in birth, in conjunction with open-ended interviews with 5 hospital midwives and 3 homebirth midwives, the …