The concept, importance and values of support during childbearing and breastfeeding – A discourse paper

Abstract

Background Professional support in childbearing has beneficial effects on childbirth experience, interactions within the family, breastfeeding and medical outcomes. However, more knowledge is needed about prerequisites for professional support to be valuable and satisfactory during childbearing. Aim The aim of this discourse paper is to describe and explore prerequisites for professional support that are of value for women and their families during childbearing as well as how healthcare organizations can be formed to facilitate these prerequisites. Design Discourse paper. Methods This discourse paper is based on our own experiences and is supported by literature and theory. Results Well‐functioning structures and processes facilitate professional support that leads to safe, secure, calm and prepared parents with the ability to handle the challenges of childbearing and parenting. When organizing care in childbearing, prerequisites for support needs must also be considered.

Expecting parents’ perceptions of the digital parental support “childbirth journey” constructed as a serious game—an intervention study

“…Such information could be provided by both professional support (from midwives or other healthcare professionals) and social support (from family, friends or significant others) that is grounded in expecting parents’ individual needs. 15 , 28 Hence, we developed the intervention, Childbirth Journey, with the goal of providing expecting parents with a digital support tool that could expand and improve their knowledge concerning childbirth and parenthood.…”

“…Besides, as the intervention can reassure expecting parents about the reliability and accuracy of the previous knowledge and birth experiences they have obtained, it also demonstrates the digital media information characteristic reassuring, which has been described as valuable by Lupton. 6 This result is compelling since expecting parents desire knowledge and understanding with respect to how they can better prepare for childbirth and parenthood, 13 which can in turn more smoothly facilitate their transition to parenthood 13 , 15 and promote feelings of calmness, comfort, and reassurance. 6 , 10 However, expecting fathers and co-mothers (i.e.…”

“…More specifically, two interfaces were developed so that both parental roles could be clarified and better understood, especially since the role of the partner (the parent who is not pregnant) is sometimes undervalued, neglected, or even excluded in care meetings with healthcare professionals. 15 , 34 – 36 …”

“…Furthermore, preparation by expecting parents can be bolstered through mutual involvement in each other's role, which can be reassuring for both parents and can reinforce their capacity for mutual support. 15 Although in Sweden and several other countries, midwives are the primary caregivers responsible for normal pregnancy and birth, 16 which healthcare professionals are responsible for antenatal care differs internationally. Within antenatal care, midwives, or other healthcare professionals, strive to identify and meet parents’ individual needs for support.…”

“…Within antenatal care, midwives, or other healthcare professionals, strive to identify and meet parents’ individual needs for support. 15 The use of mobile applications within antenatal care has been shown to improve expecting parents’ adherence to antenatal appointments, facilitate their communication with healthcare providers, and foster greater partner support and involvement. 17 In this regard, more research is needed on digital solutions to facilitate professional support in antenatal care in Sweden.…”