The medicalisation of childbirth

Einion, Alys

doi:10.1201/9781315378077-11

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…There was a consensus amongst midwives that relevant skills and knowledge training was lacking and would be useful, particularly in relation to digital professionalism. Midwives are socialised through their education and practice to understand what is expected of them [26], and the standards they must uphold to register, and remain registered, with the NMC [27]. This extends to online behaviours and interactions [28], and although midwives felt they were confident in staying professional online, they were less so about maintaining boundaries and how to ensure confidentiality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use

Morse

Brown

2022

Preprint

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Seeking support from Facebook groups during pregnancy is now widespread and social media has been widely used by maternity services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, little is currently known about midwives’ attitudes towards, and experiences of social media in practice. Research is needed to understand barriers and solutions to meeting mothers’ expectations of online support and to improve services. This study explored midwife involvement in Facebook groups, exploring experiences and perceptions of its use to communicate with and support mothers. 719 midwives and student midwives completed an online survey during August- September 2020 and their numerical and free-text responses analysed descriptively. Few participants were involved in providing Facebook support, and most of these were unpaid. There was a consensus on a range of benefits for mothers, but widespread concern that engaging with mothers online was a personal and professional risk, underpinned by a lack of support. Experience of being involved in midwife moderation increased belief in its benefits and reduced fear of engaging online, despite a lack of renumeration and resources. Midwives and students felt they were discouraged from offering Facebook support and sought further training, guidance and support. Although limited, experiences of providing Facebook group support are positive. Perceptions of risk and a lack of support are significant barriers to midwives’ involvement in using Facebook groups to support mothers. Midwives seek support and training to safely and effectively engage with mothers using Facebook. Engaging with mothers via social media is embedded in national policy and digital strategy, and progress is needed to fulfil these, to improve services and meet mothers’ expectations. Midwives’ experiences suggest extending opportunities to provide Facebook support would benefit midwives, services and families. Consultation to revise local policy to support midwives and students in line with strategic goals is recommended.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use

Morse

Brown

2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There was a consensus amongst midwives that relevant skills and knowledge training was lacking and would be useful, particularly in relation to digital professionalism. Midwives are socialised through their education and practice to understand what is expected of them [ 31 ], and the standards they must uphold to register, and remain registered, with the NMC [ 32 ]. This extends to online behaviours and interactions [ 33 ], and although midwives felt they were confident in staying professional online, they were less so about maintaining boundaries and how to ensure confidentiality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UK midwives’ perceptions and experiences of using Facebook to provide perinatal support: Results of an exploratory online survey

Morse

Brown

2023

PLOS Digit Health

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Seeking support from Facebook groups during pregnancy is now widespread and social media has been widely used by the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) maternity services to communicate with service users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, little is currently known about midwives’ attitudes towards, and experiences of social media in practice. Research is needed to understand barriers and solutions to meeting mothers’ expectations of online support and to improve services. This study explored midwife involvement in Facebook groups, exploring experiences and perceptions of its use to communicate with and support mothers. An online survey consisting of open and closed questions was completed by 719 midwives and student during August- September 2020. Quantitative questionnaire data was analysed descriptively using SPSS v26. Qualitative data gathered from free text responses was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Few participants were involved in providing Facebook support, and most of these were unpaid. There was a consensus on a range of benefits for mothers, but widespread concern that engaging with mothers online was a personal and professional risk, underpinned by a lack of support. Experience of being involved in midwife moderation increased belief in its benefits and reduced fear of engaging online, despite a lack of renumeration and resources. Midwives and students felt they were discouraged from offering Facebook support and sought further training, guidance and support. Although limited, experiences of providing Facebook group support are positive. Perceptions of risk and a lack of support are significant barriers to midwives’ involvement in using Facebook groups to support mothers. Midwives seek support and training to safely and effectively engage with mothers using Facebook. Engaging with mothers via social media is embedded in UK national policy and NHS digital strategy, and progress is needed to fulfil these, to improve services and meet mothers’ expectations. Midwives’ experiences suggest extending opportunities to provide Facebook support would benefit midwives, services and families. Consultation to revise local policy to support midwives and students in line with strategic goals is recommended.

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“…Although Calmbirth® seems to enhance self-e cacy and decision making this should not be understood without considering the in uences and context of contemporary childbirth cultural narratives. Societal views, attitudes, risk perception, and fear culture surrounding and informing contemporary childbirth have been explored previously [42][43][44] and cannot be underestimated. Importantly previous research has shown that women's choices are in uenced by social context [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Independent qualitative evaluative study of Calmbirth® antenatal classes

Crowther

Hollingshead

Couper

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background/problem: High childbirth intervention rates impose unnecessary risk to women and infants. It is imperative that ways to mitigate this are found. Antenatal classes show promise yet the variability in their structure, content, acceptability, and impact require further examination. Aim: To explore the acceptability and experiences of attending Calmbirth® antenatal classes. Methods: A qualitative evaluation was completed on data gathered from Calmbirth® participants. Eighteen individual and/or couple postnatal interviews were conducted. Template analysis was used, with a psycho-emotional conceptual framework applied to analyse interview data. Results: The main finding of the evaluation was that the Calmbirth® courses empowered the participants, increased their health literacy, and provided them with more personal psychosocial coping strategies. Whilst some participants found the classes were not helpful for the majority their attendance proved to be a positive reframing of childbirth transforming their experience. In addition, learnt tools and strategies may have modified interventions although this remains to be proven. Discussion: Calmbirth® is acceptable and experienced positively by most women and partners who attended courses. Although the Calmbirth® programme is a possible strategy that may modify childbirth interventions and outcomes leading to a change in birthing culture, this requires further examination to make any causative claims. Moreover, for Calmbirth® to really make a difference there needs to be re-examination of the broader socio-cultural influences in places of birth with a focus on development of culturally aligned, user friendly, accessible classes that are funded for equity. Conclusion: Calmbirth® courses are acceptable and are a strategy that can empower and impact positively on childbirth experience.

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The medicalisation of childbirth

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use

Using Facebook groups to support families: midwives’ perceptions and experiences of professional social media use

UK midwives’ perceptions and experiences of using Facebook to provide perinatal support: Results of an exploratory online survey

Independent qualitative evaluative study of Calmbirth® antenatal classes

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