The aim of this study was to determine the effect of early maternal /newborn skin-to-skin contact after birth on the duration of third stage of labor and initiation of breastfeeding. A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at a labor and delivery unit of National Medical Institution in Damanhour, Albehera Governorate, Egypt. A purposive sample of 100 laboring women was recruited. The project included a study group (50) who considered skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and a control group (50) who received routine hospital care. Three tools were used to collect data. The first tool was a structured interview to elicit socio-demographic and obstetric characteristic. Second tool was an assessment of mothers during the third stage of labor. Third tool was the Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, which comprised two parts: The Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT): and the outcome assessment of first breastfeeding. The results revealed that success in first breastfeeding was higher among study group compared to control group. There are statistically significant differences between the study and control groups in third stage of labor duration, complete placental separation, and immediate contraction of the uterus, position of uterus, absence of any abnormal signs such as uterine atony or excessive blood loss. The mean duration of the third stage of labor in the study group was significantly shorter (2.8 ± 0.857 minutes) than among those in the control group (11.22 ± 3.334 minutes) (p < .01). The study concluded that mothers who practice early maternal/newborn SSC immediately after birth experience shorter duration of the third stage of labor and early successful initiation of breastfeeding. Consequently, it is recommended that a continuous educational and training program be provided to all midwives and nurses working in the delivery room about the implementation of SSC for all mothers, and clarify the benefits for the mother and her neonate.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of second stage perineal warm compresses on perineal pain and outcome among primiparae. A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was utilized at the labor and delivery unit of National Medical Institution in Damanhour, Albehera Governorate, Egypt. Research was carried out from beginning May 2014 till the end of October 2014, with a total of 160 parturients in their second stage of labor. They were equally randomly divided into study (N = 80) and control (N = 80) groups. Four tools were utilized to collect the necessary data. The first tool was a Socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule. The second tool was a Numerical Pain Rating Score (NPRS), to estimate the subjective level of pain intensity. The third tool was a modified Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS), to measure the behavioral responses to pain. The fourth tool was the second stage and perineal outcome assessment tool: to assess duration of the second stage of labor, mode of delivery, need for pain relief during 2nd stage, baby birth weight, perineal condition, degrees of perineal tear and need to repair. The results revealed that perineal pain intensity did statistically significantly decrease among the study group after the intervention (P = .000). On the other hand, it was slightly increased among the control group after the intervention (P = .106). There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control groups in favor of the former in relation to perineal tear, vaginal tear, degree of perineal tear and need to repair where P = .000. The study concluded that second stage perineal warm compresses had better effects on perineal pain and perineal outcome. It resulted in less perineal pain and less genital tract trauma as well as decrease needs to repair. Consequently, it is recommended that perineal warm compresses should be incorporated into pain relief and perineal maintaining options available to women during second stage of labor.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is one the systematic techniques that could be utilized to obtain a deep state of relaxation. It is an important component of nursing care for gynecological postoperative patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique on stress, anxiety and depression after hysterectomy. A quasi experimental research design with a pretest-posttest control group was utilized. The study was conducted at the gynecological ward of National Medical Institution in Damanhour, Albehera Governorate. Collection of data consumed six months from starting of December 2014 until the end of May 2015. It comprised a purposive sample of 80 women who were undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. They were divided into two equal groups (study group and control group). Two tools were utilized to gather the necessary data; a socio-demographic structured interview schedule, and the Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21). Study results revealed that stress, anxiety and depression were statistically significantly decreased among the study group after the intervention (p = .000). The study concluded that the women who received progressive muscle relaxation technique after hysterectomy demonstrated lower stress, anxiety and depression levels than those who received only the routine nursing care. It is recommended that maternity and gynecological nursing should encourage the utilization of the progressive muscle relaxation technique to patients undergoing hysterectomy to minimize their stress, anxiety and depression.

Labor pain management is one of the main goals of maternity care. Ice application or cooling has been claimed to be as an effective, safe and non-invasive adjuvant mean for providing pain relief during the first stage of labor. Aim of the study: To evaluate effect of ice pack application on pain intensity during active phase of the first stage of labor among primiparaous. Research design: None-randomized-controlled clinical trial research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at labor and delivery unit of El Shatby Maternity University Hospital affiliated to Alexandria University. Subjects: Convenience sample of 80 pregnant women attending the previously mentioned setting were recruited in the study.

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Background and objective: Peer learning is an efficient educational technique for nursing students. It equips them up for their future roles as instructors, promotes their psychomotor skills, and establishes their self-esteem. The current study aims to determine the effect of application of peer learning strategy on obstetric and gynecological nursing students' clinical performance. Methods: Quasi-experimental design was utilized. The study was carried out in the obstetric and gynecology skills lab at the Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University, Albehera Governorate. It comprised a purposive sample of 160 undergraduate nursing students, enrolled in the Obstetric and Gynecology Nursing Department (second semester of the third year in academic year 2014-2015). They were equally randomly assigned to either one of two groups, intervention group (80) and control group (80). Three tools were used: First, a personal and academic questionnaire sheet. Second, students' performance observational checklist. Third, student feedback and satisfaction questionnaire. Results: It was shown that there was a statistically significant difference in clinical performance scores concerning the five tested clinical obstetric and gynecological procedures among the intervention and control group, where the intervention group was more satisfied and have positive feedback than the control group. Conclusions: Peer learning strategy is an efficient strategy in the improvement of nursing students' performance than traditional learning. The study recommended that implementation of peer learning strategy in clinical setting to increase the level of students' knowledge and clinical performance.

All mortality risk factors are higher in non-breastfed infants compared to infants under five months of age who receive Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). Examining the predicting role of maternal ideation in EBF practices can help to direct and strengthen the cooperation between multidisciplinary healthcare providers to formulate multidisciplinary breastfeeding enhancement strategies. Methods: This correlational cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between maternal ideation and EBF practice among Saudi nursing mothers at Maternal and Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Najran, Saudi Arabia. The study incorporated 403 Saudi nursing mothers aged 6–12 months with healthy infants. The data collected using a questionnaire comprises demographic characteristics and obstetric history, the EBF Practice scale, and a maternal ideation scale. The data was collected from the beginning of November 2022 to the end of January 2023 and analyzed using I.B.M. version 22. Results: Breastfeeding initiation within one hour occurred among 85.1% of women, while 39.2% fed their newborn only colostrum during the first three days. EBF until six months was practiced by 40.9% of the participants day and night and on-demand (38.7%). Furthermore, 60.8% of the study participants had satisfactory overall EBF practices. The cognitive part of maternal ideation shows that 68.2% of the participants had adequate knowledge and 63.5% had positive beliefs regarding EBF practice. The maternal psychological ideation dimensions show that 81.4% had high EBF self-efficacy. The maternal social ideation dimensions showed that high injunctive and descriptive norms were present among 40.9% and 37.5%, respectively. In addition, healthcare providers (39.2%) had the most significant social influence, followed by husbands (30.5%). Binary logistic regression shows that the mother’s age, occupation, and education are the significant demographic predictors of satisfactory EBF practices (p < 0.05). All maternal ideation constructs were positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practices (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Maternal ideation constructs are positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practice and can be used to predict high-risk groups and plan for further intervention.

The aim of this study was to assess mothers' knowledge on newborn care as well as factors associated with poor knowledge. The study setting was two maternity hospitals, one urban and other rural, which were randomly selected from the maternity hospitals in Alexandria and El Behera governorates. A convenience sample of 422 mothers of newborns was selected from the previously mentioned settings. A structured interview questionnaire was designed and utilized by the researchers to collect the data. Maternal knowledge on newborn care was assessed and a knowledge score was created by allocating 1 point for each correct response. Knowledge score was classified as 'good', 'satisfactory' and 'poor' scores. The study results showed that 59.5% of mothers had either satisfactory or good overall knowledge. More than half of the mothers (55.7%) demonstrated a poor knowledge about some breastfeeding practices, mainly on initiation of breastfeeding (43.7%), proper attitude towards hypogalactia (42.7%), giving pre-lacteal feeds (38.4%), non-timed lactation (19.9%) and only 17.7% correctly identified the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers demonstrated satisfactory and good knowledge about the newborn warning signs (67.8%), with more than 70% of mothers recognizing 8 of 9 symptoms and/or signs that needed the urgent attention of a healthcare provider. According to multivariate analysis, rural women (odds ratio (OR)= 1.62; 95% CI 1.43-2.12), primiparae (OR= 1.77; 95% CI 1.53-2.72), mothers with lower family monthly income (OR=2.04; 95% CI 1.33-3.32) and those who never attended schools (OR=2.00; 95% CI 1.28-3.11) were more likely to have poor knowledge. In conclusion, mothers had satisfactory or good levels of knowledge about care of the umbilical cord and recognition of dangerous signs, but knowledge about breastfeeding was poor. Maternal education programs should place more emphasis on first-time mothers and those having lower socio-economic level as evident by lower monthly family income and lack of education.