The effect of iron deficiency and anaemia on women's health.

Iron deficiency and anaemia are global health problems and major causes of morbidity in women. Current definitions of anaemia in women are historic and have been challenged by recent data from observational studies. Menstrual loss, abnormal uterine bleeding and pregnancy put women at risk of developing iron deficiency which can result in severe fatigue, reduced exercise capacity and poor work performance. Iron deficiency and anaemia during pregnancy are associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including neurocognitive deficits in children born to iron-deficient mothers. Both iron deficiency and anaemia are common in women undergoing surgery but their association with poor outcomes remains uncertain. The enduring burden of iron deficiency and anaemia in women suggests that current strategies for recognition, prevention and treatment are limited in their utility. Improvements in our understanding of iron homeostasis and the development of new iron preparations, which are better absorbed with fewer side-effects, may improve therapeutic effectiveness of oral iron. Intravenous iron is efficacious for correcting anaemia rapidly but high-quality data on patient-centred outcomes and cost-effectiveness are currently lacking. Many recommendations for the treatment of iron deficiency and anaemia in national guidelines are not supported by high-quality evidence. There is a need for robust epidemiological data and well-designed clinical trials. The latter will require collaborative working between researchers and patients to design studies in ways that incorporate patients' perspectives on the research process and target outcomes that matter to them.

Work-related post-traumatic stress symptoms in obstetricians and gynaecologists: findings from INDIGO, a mixed-methods study with a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews.

OBJECTIVES: To explore obstetricians' and gynaecologists' experiences of work-related traumatic events, to measure the prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), any impacts on personal and professional lives, and any support needs. DESIGN: Mixed methods: cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews. SAMPLE AND SETTING: Fellows, members and trainees of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). METHODS: A survey was sent to 6300 fellows, members and trainees of RCOG. 1095 people responded. Then 43 in-depth interviews with trauma-exposed participants were completed and analysed by template analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Exposure to traumatic work-related events and PTSD, personal and professional impacts, and whether there was any need for support. Interviews explored the impact of trauma, what helped or hindered psychological recovery, and any assistance wanted. RESULTS: Two-thirds reported exposure to traumatic work-related events. Of these, 18% of both consultants and trainees reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Staff of black or minority ethnicity were at increased risk of PTSD. Clinically significant PTSD symptoms were associated with lower job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Organisational impacts included sick leave, and 'seriously considering leaving the profession'. 91% wanted a system of care. The culture in obstetrics and gynaecology was identified as a barrier to trauma support. A strategy to manage the impact of work-place trauma is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to work-related trauma is a feature of the experience of obstetricians and gynaecologists. Some will suffer PTSD with high personal, professional and organisational impacts. A system of care is needed. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: 18% of obstetrics and gynaecology doctors experience post-traumatic stress disorder after traumatic events at work.

STRAWB2 (Stress and Wellbeing After Childbirth): a randomised controlled trial of targeted self-help materials to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether providing psychological self-help materials would significantly lower the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 6-12 weeks postnatally. DESIGN: Open-label randomised controlled trial, with blinded outcome assessment. SETTING: Community midwifery services in two National Health Service (NHS) trusts in the North West. SAMPLE: A cohort of 2419 women receiving normal NHS postnatal care. METHODS: Midwives screened women for traumatic birth experience; 678 women who screened positively (28.1%) were randomly allocated to self-help with usual care (n = 336) or to usual care alone (n = 342). The self-help materials were a leaflet and online film designed to prevent the development of PTSD after trauma exposure through explaining how to manage early psychological responses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was a composite of diagnostic and subdiagnostic PTSD at 6-12 weeks postnatally using the gold-standard Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) interview. RESULTS: Of the 678 women correctly randomised plus the nine women randomised in error, 478 (70.5%) were followed up. Diagnostic or subdiagnostic PTSD rates at follow-up did not differ between groups who received self-help (26.7%, 65/243) or usual care alone (26.2%, 64/244) (intention-to-treat analysis: RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.68-1.53). Findings remained consistent in the per-protocol analysis (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.85-1.27). Women viewed the materials very positively. There were no adverse effects. Health economic micro-costing indicated implementation would be very low cost. CONCLUSIONS: Many women experience a traumatic birth and risk developing PTSD, but self-help strategies without professional support are insufficient and should not be routinely introduced. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Self-help information alone does not reduce the number of women developing PTSD after a traumatic childbirth.

Self-hypnosis for intrapartum pain management in pregnant nulliparous women: a randomised controlled trial of clinical effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: (Primary) To establish the effect of antenatal group self-hypnosis for nulliparous women on intra-partum epidural use. DESIGN: Multi-method randomised control trial (RCT). SETTING: Three NHS Trusts. POPULATION: Nulliparous women not planning elective caesarean, without medication for hypertension and without psychological illness. METHODS: Randomisation at 28-32 weeks' gestation to usual care, or to usual care plus brief self-hypnosis training (two × 90-minute groups at around 32 and 35 weeks' gestation; daily audio self-hypnosis CD). Follow up at 2 and 6 weeks postnatal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: epidural analgesia. Secondary: associated clinical and psychological outcomes; cost analysis. RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty women were randomised. There was no statistically significant difference in epidural use: 27.9% (intervention), 30.3% (control), odds ratio (OR) 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-1.24], or in 27 of 29 pre-specified secondary clinical and psychological outcomes. Women in the intervention group had lower actual than anticipated levels of fear and anxiety between baseline and 2 weeks post natal (anxiety: mean difference -0.72, 95% CI -1.16 to -0.28, P = 0.001); fear (mean difference -0.62, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.16, P = 0.009) [Correction added on 7 July 2015, after first online publication: 'Mean difference' replaced 'Odds ratio (OR)' in the preceding sentence.]. Postnatal response rates were 67% overall at 2 weeks. The additional cost in the intervention arm per woman was £4.83 (CI -£257.93 to £267.59). CONCLUSIONS: Allocation to two-third-trimester group self-hypnosis training sessions did not significantly reduce intra-partum epidural analgesia use or a range of other clinical and psychological variables. The impact of women's anxiety and fear about childbirth needs further investigation.

Midwifery students' perspectives of physical and virtual mobility activities including preferences for e-learning: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary higher education requires that all midwifery students have insight and understanding of global health practice and demonstrate intercultural sensitivity. However, the mobility models currently offered do not often fit the lives of large numbers of midwifery students. OBJECTIVES: To investigate midwifery students' international physical mobility activities and factors that affect mobility; to determine midwifery students' learning needs and preferences for related e-learning packages. DESIGN: Multi-centre, descriptive quantitative survey. SETTINGS: Four European Higher Education Institutions based in the United Kingdom, Estonia, Italy and the Netherlands offering an undergraduate midwifery programme. PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 205 midwifery students from Italy (n = 93), the Netherlands (n = 51); United Kingdom (n = 35) and Estonia (n = 26). METHODS: Data were collected in June-July 2020 through an online cross-sectional, bespoke questionnaire and analysed using summary statistical analysis. RESULTS: There is a high level of interest across a range of mobility opportunities, especially those of shorter duration. Barriers to mobility comprised finance, caring responsibilities, concerns about fitting mobility activities into the midwifery programme, negative impact on studies and language barriers. The most frequently identified facilitators of mobility included professional perspectives such as interest in other cultures and midwifery in other settings and an endorsement that mobility would add value to their development as a midwife. When engaging in virtual learning, the most preferred resources mentioned by the students were videos, video calls with peers, choice quiz and discussion forum. CONCLUSIONS: The barriers identified require new approaches to enable all midwifery students to benefit from transnational learning. The survey findings provide insights into midwifery students' perspectives from which a new mobility model can be developed.

Costs and benefits of community postnatal support workers: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the effect and the total cost per woman of providing postnatal support at home, based on a Dutch model. The research hypothesis was furnished by some existing evidence that postnatal support could reduce the risk of postnatal depression and encourage breastfeeding. DESIGN: The randomised controlled trial aimed to measure differences in health status in a group of women who were offered postnatal support from a community midwifery support worker (SW) compared with a control group of women who were not offered this support. Women were followed-up by postal questionnaire at 6 weeks and 6 months postnatally. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: All women who delivered a baby at the recruiting hospital were eligible to take part in the trial if they lived within the study area, were aged 17 years or over, and could understand English. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of the SW offering practical and emotional support and to help women rest and recover after childbirth. The SW offered ten visits in the first 28 days postnatally, for up to 3 hours per day. The SW's activities included housework, talking with the mother, and care for the baby or other siblings. The service was provided in addition to routine visits by the community midwife. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the general health perception domain of the Short Form-36 at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes were mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Duke Functional Social Support (DUFSS) scores and breastfeeding rates. RESULTS: The 623 randomised women were well-matched by group with a good response to follow-up. At 6 weeks there was no evidence of a significant difference between the two groups for the primary outcome. There was a non-significant trend for the control group to have better mean DUFSS and EPDS scores at 6 weeks. Breastfeeding rates were not significantly different at follow-up. At 6 months, both groups had similar health status. Satisfaction with the service was higher than for all other services received. The incremental cost of introducing the service comprised setting up and running the service. There were no differences between the groups in other resource use (general practitioner contacts, hospital services, prescriptions or medicines bought for mothers and babies) to 6-month follow-up. The total mean NHS cost to 6-month follow-up for the intervention group was pound180 per woman greater than for the control group (confidence interval, pound79.60, pound272.40). CONCLUSIONS: Although women valued the service, there was no evidence of any health benefit at the 6-week or 6-month follow-up, no difference in use of NHS services, and the additional cost of the service provision would be around pound 180 per woman.

A study exploring midwives' education in, knowledge of and attitudes to nutrition in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: to explore midwives' education in, knowledge of and attitudes to nutrition in pregnancy. DESIGN: survey using questionnaire and interview schedule. PARTICIPANTS: a randomly selected sample of 77 Registered Midwives. SETTING: one English regional health authority. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Midwife teachers were responsible for 95% of teaching in nutrition. 86% of midwives had received no education in nutrition following qualification. 46% of midwives achieved a poor score in nutrition knowledge. Considerable numbers of midwives felt unprepared to offer dietary advice to women from ethnic minority groups (36%), vegetarians (66%) and to women with pre-existing medical conditions (41%). KEY CONCLUSION: midwives require more education in nutrition both during basic education and following qualification. IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION PRACTICE: nutritional issues should be included in continuing education programmes available to qualified midwives.

Costs and effectiveness of community postnatal support workers: randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the relative cost effectiveness of postnatal support in the community in addition to the usual care provided by community midwives. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial with six month follow up. SETTING: Recruitment in a university teaching hospital and care provided in women's homes. PARTICIPANTS: 623 postnatal women allocated at random to intervention (311) or control (312) group. INTERVENTION: Up to 10 home visits in the first postnatal month of up to three hours duration by a community postnatal support worker. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: General health status as measured by the SF-36 and risk of postnatal depression. Breast feeding rates, satisfaction with care, use of services, and personal costs. RESULTS: At six weeks there was no significant improvement in health status among the women in the intervention group. At six weeks the mean total NHS costs were pound 635 for the intervention group and pound 456 for the control group (P=0.001). At six months figures were pound 815 and pound 639 (P=0.001). There were no differences between the groups in use of social services or personal costs. The women in the intervention group were very satisfied with the support worker visits. CONCLUSIONS: There was no health benefit of additional home visits by community postnatal support workers compared with traditional community midwifery visiting as measured by the SF-36. There were no savings to the NHS over six months after the introduction of the community postnatal support worker service.

Oxytocin infusion during second stage of labour in primiparous women using epidural analgesia: a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the high rate of forceps delivery associated with the use of epidural analgesia could be reduced through giving an intravenous infusion of oxytocin during the second stage of labour. DESIGN: A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Delivery suites in three hospitals. SUBJECTS: 226 Primiparous women with adequate epidural analgesia in whom full dilatation of the cervix had been achieved without prior stimulation with oxytocin. INTERVENTION: An infusion of oxytocin or placebo starting at the diagnosis of full cervical dilatation at an initial dose rate of 2 mU/min increasing to a maximum of 16 mU/min. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome of labour was assessed in terms of the duration of the second stage, mode of delivery, fetal condition at birth, postpartum blood loss, and the incidence of perineal trauma. RESULTS: Treatment with oxytocin was associated with a shorter second stage (p = 0.01), a reduction in the number of non-rotational forceps deliveries (p = 0.03), and less perineal trauma (p = 0.03) but was not associated with any reduction in the number of rotational forceps deliveries performed for malposition of the occiput. No adverse effects on fetal condition at birth or in the early puerperium were seen in association with the use of oxytocin. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an oxytocin infusion may reduce the high rate of operative delivery associated with epidural analgesia provided that the fetal occiput is in an anterior position at the onset of the second stage of labour but within the dose range studied does not seem to correct malposition of the fetal occiput.

Rethinking research in breast-feeding: a critique of the evidence base identified in a systematic review of interventions to promote and support breast-feeding.

OBJECTIVE: To appraise critically the relevance and value of the evidence base to promote and support the duration of breast-feeding, with a specific focus on disadvantaged groups. DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted of intervention studies relevant to enhancing the duration of breast-feeding; topics included public health, public policy, clinical issues, and education, training and practice change. A systematic search was conducted. Eighty studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were systematically extracted and analysed. Full results and recommendations are reported elsewhere. Here a critique of the evidence base--topics, quality and gaps--is reported. RESULTS: Many studies were substantially methodologically flawed, with problems including small sample sizes, inconsistent definitions of breast-feeding and lack of appropriate outcomes. Few were based on relevant theory. Only a small number of included studies (10%) were conducted in the UK. Very few targeted disadvantaged subgroups of women. No studies of policy initiatives or of community interventions were identified. There were virtually no robust studies of interventions to prevent and treat common clinical problems, or of strategies related to women's health issues. Studies of health professional education and practice change were limited. Cost-effectiveness studies were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Policy goals both in the UK and internationally support exclusive breast-feeding until 6 months of age. The evidence base to enable women to continue to breast-feed needs to be strengthened to include robust evaluations of policies and practices related to breast-feeding; a step change is needed in the quality and quantity of research funded.

A randomized study of the sitting position for delivery using a newly designed obstetric chair.

A new obstetric chair has been designed to overcome some of the problems of those currently available commercially. The chair has been used to assess the effects of the sitting position in the second stage of labour on the outcome of delivery in 304 women randomly allocated to be delivered either in the chair or in the conventional dorsal position. Delivery in the chair conferred no benefits to mother or baby and resulted in greater mean blood loss and a higher rate of postpartum haemorrhage.

Fathers' coping style, antenatal preparation, and experiences of labor and the postpartum.

BACKGROUND: In recent years the trend for fathers in Western postindustrial countries to attend childbirth has increased. This study examined the interaction between fathers' information-seeking coping predispositions and their level of attendance at antenatal classes with respect to their experiences of attending childbirth. Associations between fathers' childbirth experiences, their relationship with their baby, and level of depressive symptomatology at 6 weeks postpartum were also examined. METHODS: A quantitative methodology was employed in which 78 fathers completed several questionnaires, some within 6 days of childbirth and others at 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: Fathers who were characterized as high blunters (avoiders) of threat information, from antenatal classes reported that experiencing childbirth was less fulfilling than fathers with similar coping styles who did not attend classes. Fathers' reports of fulfillment and delight while attending childbirth were negatively related to their level of depressive symptomatology at 6 weeks postpartum. Levels of distress were associated with subsequent depressive symptoms, but their effect was removed when preexisting depressive symptoms were partialled out. Fathers whose children were born by cesarean delivery used significantly more negative adjectives to describe their baby at 6 weeks postpartum compared with those born by vaginal delivery. More married fathers attended antenatal classes and reported lower levels of depressive symptomatology than unmarried fathers. CONCLUSIONS: Although fathers' attendance at antenatal classes may have positive consequences for them and their partner, for some fathers, attendance at classes may be associated with less positive reports of experiencing childbirth. The way in which men experience childbirth may have some influence on their subsequent emotional well-being.

Maternal haematocrit in labour is related to fetal cord pH at delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a correlation exists between maternal haematocrit in labour and umbilical cord pH values at delivery. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: The delivery suite. SUBJECTS: 200 pregnant women in labour. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Umbilical artery and vein blood pH values. RESULTS: A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between maternal haematocrit levels during labour and umbilical vein pH (r = -0.22; P = 0.001) and umbilical artery pH (r = -0.18; P = 0.008) at delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Although an inverse correlation does appear to exist between maternal haematocrit and cord pH values, it is unlikely that this weak association will prove to be of clinical value in the management of labour.

Strategies for coping with labour: does antenatal education translate into practice?

There is little evidence to associate attendance at antenatal classes with a reduction in psychological distress or increased satisfaction with the experience of labour. There may be several reasons for this, including failure to implement coping strategies. A within-subjects research design explored the use in labour of coping strategies taught in antenatal classes and the role of practice. Women's views about using these strategies and their expectations of their midwives and birth companions were also identified. Following Ethics Committee approval and providing informed consent, 121 nulliparous women completed a questionnaire at their final antenatal class. This included questions on confidence and the amount of effort required to use coping strategies, the involvement hoped for from birth companions and midwives in using coping strategies in labour and satisfaction with the amount of practice of coping strategies. Within 72 hours of delivery, women were interviewed to obtain a narrative of the events of labour and their use of the coping strategies (sighing-out-slowly breathing, Laura Mitchell relaxation and postural change). A questionnaire obtained information on the involvement of the midwife and birth companion. Women used the three coping strategies to different extents. Midwives were not involved to the extent that women had hoped for antenatally. Birth companions achieved a level of involvement closer to women's hopes than that achieved by midwives. A significant proportion of women expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of practice of coping strategies during antenatal classes. The findings of this study of a group of well-prepared women raise questions about the correct components of antenatal classes and how midwives and birth companions can be involved optimally in this aspect of a woman's labour. Further research is required to determine how women can best be helped to cope with the experience of labour.