ACNM's Commentary on the Midwifery Workforce in the US.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) who are graduate-prepared advanced practice providers. They attend educational programs accredited by the American Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Their scope of practice as defined by ACNM includes primary care, reproductive services beginning with menarche through menopause, gender-affirming services, contraception, abortion, prenatal, birth, postpartum, and care of the newborn. CNMs/CMs attend 10.9% of US births, but other high-income countries have the reverse proportion of midwives to obstetricians. The CNM/CM workforce is growing, but retirements and attrition slow the growth. Research demonstrates good outcomes from care provided by midwives, and ACNM's primary goal is to expand the midwifery workforce and increase consumer access to midwifery care to mitigate the persistent rise in maternal mortality and morbidity. Barriers to workforce expansion include restricted practice at the state level, inability to expand the number of seats in education programs due to lack of clinical preceptors, and a lack of diversity in the workforce. Strategies to address these barriers may allow the workforce to grow, increasing access to high-quality, equitable sexual and reproductive care for people in the United States.

"You and Me Do It for the Love of Teaching": Exploring the Expansion of Clinical Training Opportunities for Midwives.

PURPOSE: To better understand the barriers and facilitators to precepting midwifery students from across the healthcare ecosystem in New Jersey. BACKGROUND: Growing the midwifery workforce is a crucial step to alleviating disparately poor perinatal health outcomes and expanding access to care. Difficulty recruiting and retaining preceptors has been identified as a barrier to graduating more midwives. METHODS: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 individuals involved in different stages of the clinical training process: midwives, physicians, and administrators. Transcripts were coded using the tenets of qualitative description and thematic analysis. Analysis was guided by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. RESULTS: The following themes were identified and organized within the domains identified by our conceptual framework. Evidence: (mis)understanding the benefits of midwifery care and impacts on patient care. Context: the time and energy it takes to precept and practice considerations. Facilitations: developing the next generation of healthcare providers and the quiet and ever-present role of money in healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study support the importance of approaching midwifery precepting as a multifaceted endeavor, one that necessitates the full support of individuals within many different roles in an organization. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Getting buy-in from various levels of the healthcare ecosystem requires a flexible approach but must include a targeted effort toward showing the value of midwifery care in terms of patient outcomes, satisfaction, and cost.

The Relationship Between Restrictive Regulation of Midwives, Practice Environment, and Professional Burnout: A 7-State Mixed-Methods Comparison of Autonomous and Restrictive State Regulation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between state regulation of the midwifery workforce, practice environment, and burnout. BACKGROUND: Burnout threatens the US midwifery workforce, with over 40% of certified nurse-midwives meeting criteria. Burnout can lead to poorer physical and mental health and withdrawal from the workforce. Burnout in midwives has been associated with lack of control and autonomy. In the United States, midwives' autonomy is restricted through state-level regulation that limits scope of practice and professional independence. METHODS: A mixed-methods study was conducted using an explanatory sequential approach. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by online surveys and analyzed in a 2-stage process, followed by data integration. RESULTS: State regulation was not found to be independently associated with burnout (n = 248; P = .250); however, mediation analysis showed a significant association between state regulation, practice environment, and burnout. Qualitative analysis mirrored the importance of practice environment and expanded on its features. CONCLUSION: For midwives, unrestrictive practice regulation may not translate to burnout prevention without supportive practice environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Interventions should focus on promoting job flexibility, realistic demands, and professional values. While midwives' commitment to patients and the profession can help bolster the workforce, it can also amplify negative experiences of the practice environment.

Enhancing midwives' occupational well-being: Lessons from New Zealand's COVID-19 experience.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization posits that adequate maternity health is possible if midwives are supported, respected, protected, motivated, and equipped to work safely and optimally within interdisciplinary health care teams. Based on qualitative survey data, we argue that the COVID-19 pandemic amplified job demands and resources, professional invisibility, and gender norms to negatively impact midwives' well-being. PURPOSES: We aim to develop a refined understanding of the antecedents of well-being in midwifery to equip policymakers, administrators, and professional associations with the knowledge to enhance midwives' well-being postpandemic. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources model, we thematically analyzed qualitative survey data ( N = 215) from New Zealand midwives to reveal how job demands, resources, and structural factors impacted midwives' well-being. RESULTS: We identified fear of contracting and spreading COVID-19, financial and legal imperatives (job demands), work-related hypervigilance, sense of professional duty, practical and social support, and appreciation and recognition (job resources) as key antecedents of midwives' well-being. These job demands and resources were influenced by professional invisibility and gender norms. CONCLUSION: Policy and practice solutions must address job demands, resources, and structural factors to meaningfully enhance midwives' well-being postpandemic. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We recommend that policymakers, administrators, and professional associations monitor for signs of overcommitment and perfectionistic strivings and then take appropriate remedial action. We also suggest that midwives receive equitable pay, sick leave, and other related benefits.

Characteristics of strong midwifery leaders and enablers of strong midwifery leadership: An international appreciative inquiry.

OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to identify the characteristics of strong midwifery leaders and explore how strong midwifery leadership may be enabled from the perspective of midwives and nurse-midwives globally. DESIGN: In this appreciative inquiry, we collected qualitative and demographic data using a cross-sectional online survey between February and July 2022. SETTING: Responses were received from many countries (n = 76), predominantly the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, the United States of America (USA), Canada, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Rwanda, India, and Kenya. PARTICIPANTS: An international population (n = 429) of English-speaking, and ethnically diverse midwives (n = 211) and nurse-midwives (n = 218). MEASUREMENTS: Reflexive thematic analysis was used to make sense of the qualitative data collected. Identified characteristics of strong midwifery leadership were subsequently deductively mapped to established leadership styles and leadership theories. Demographic data were analysed using descriptive statistics. FINDINGS: Participants identified strong midwifery leaders as being mediators, dedicated to the profession, evidence-based practitioners, effective decision makers, role models, advocates, visionaries, resilient, empathetic, and compassionate. These characteristics mapped to compassionate, transformational, servant, authentic, and situational leadership styles. To enable strong midwifery leadership, participants identified a need for investment in midwives' clear professional identity, increased societal value placed upon the midwifery profession, ongoing research, professional development in leadership, interprofessional collaborations, succession planning and increased self-efficacy. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study contributes to understandings of trait, behavioural, situational, transformational and servant leadership theory in the context of midwifery. Investing in the development of strong midwifery leadership is essential as it has the potential to elevate the profession and improve perinatal outcomes worldwide. Findings may inform the development of both existing and new leadership models, frameworks, and validated measurement tools.

Midwives' experiences of professional learning when practicing collegial midwifery assistance during the active second stage of labour: data from the oneplus trial.

BACKGROUND: Learning is a lifelong process and the workplace is an essential arena for professional learning. Workplace learning is particularly relevant for midwives as essential knowledge and skills are gained through clinical work. A clinical practice known as 'Collegial Midwifery Assistance' (CMA), which involves two midwives being present during the active second stage of labour, was found to reduce severe perineal trauma by 30% in the Oneplus trial. Research regarding learning associated with CMA, however, is lacking. The aim was to investigate learning experiences of primary and second midwives with varying levels of work experience when practicing CMA, and to further explore possible factors that influence their learning. METHODS: The study uses an observational design to analyse data from the Oneplus trial. Descriptive statistics and proportions were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Stratified univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 1430 births performed with CMA were included in the study. Less experienced primary midwives reported professional learning to a higher degree (< 2 years, 76%) than the more experienced (> 20 years, 22%). A similar but less pronounced pattern was seen for the second midwives. Duration of the intervention ≥ 15 min improved learning across groups, especially for the least experienced primary midwives. The colleague's level of experience was found to be of importance for primary midwives with less than five years' work experience, whereas for second midwives it was also important in their mid to late career. Reciprocal feedback had more impact on learning for the primary midwife than the second midwife. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that CMA has the potential to contribute with professional learning both for primary and second midwives, for all levels of work experience. We found that factors such as the colleague's work experience, the duration of CMA and reciprocal feedback influenced learning, but the importance of these factors were different for the primary and second midwife and varied depending on the level of work experience. The findings may have implications for future implementation of CMA and can be used to guide the practice.

Utilization of technology to provide on-the-job trainings on Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care: Perspectives of nurses and midwives working in Rwanda's remote health facilities.

INTRODUCTION: One of the targets for the third sustainable development goals is to reduce worldwide maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. To address issues affecting women and the newborns during childbirth and postnatal period, concerted efforts from governments and their stakeholders are crucial to maximize the use of technology to enhance frontline health professionals' skills to provide the emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC). However, no study has garnered nurses' and midwives' perspectives regarding the application of technology-enhanced learning approach to provide on-the-job Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and factors that may influence the application of this training approach in the Rwandan context. METHODS: The study collected data from nurses and midwives from forty (40) public health facilities in remote areas nationwide. The study applied a qualitative descriptive design to explore and describe nurses' and midwives' perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of technology enhanced learning approaches such as e-learning, phone-based remote training, and other online methods to provide trainings in EmONC. Two focus group discussions with EmONC mentors, two with nurses and midwives were conducted. Twelve key informant interviews were conducted. Participants were selected purposively. In total, 54 individuals were included in this study. A thematic approach was used to analyse data. RESULTS: Nurses and midwives highlighted the need to provide refresher trainings about the management of pre-eclampsia. Most of the EmONC trainings are still provided face-to-face and the use of technology enhanced learning approaches have not yet been embraced in delivering EmONC CPDs for nurses and midwives in remote areas. Nurses and midwives found the first developed prototype of smartphone app training of the EmONC acceptable as it met the midwives' expectations in terms of the knowledge and skills' gap in EmONC. CONCLUSION: Although the newly developed application was found acceptable, further research involving practical sessions by nurses and midwives using the developed application is needed to garner views about the ease of use of the application, relevance of the EmONC uploaded content on the app, and needed improvements on the app to address their needs in EmONC.

Parto domiciliar planeado em Portugal: Assistência e desafios na prática do enfermeiro especialista em enfermagem de saúde materna e obstétrica / Planned home birth in Portugal: Assistance and challenges in the practice of nurses specialising in maternal health and obstetric nursing

Enquadramento: No âmbito da unidade curricular "Estágio com Relatório," integrada no X Curso de Mestrado em Enfermagem de Saúde Materna e Obstétrica, foi elaborado um relatório final que engloba uma descrição e reflexão acerca da componente de estágio, bem como uma abordagem à componente de investigação. No que concerne à vertente investigativa, o estudo teve como tema o "Parto Domiciliário Planeado em Portugal: Assistência e Desafios na Prática do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Saúde Materna e Obstétrica." Objetivos: Conhecer a prática profissional dos EEESMO em contexto de PDP; identificar as motivações dos EEESMO perante a opção de exercerem em contexto de PDP e descrever os desafios e obstáculos que os EEESMO enfrentaram na sua prática profissional em contexto de PDP. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório e descritivo com abordagem qualitativa. Participaram da pesquisa oito (8) profissionais com cédula profissional EEESMO em Portugal, que atuam em contexto de PDP há pelo menos um ano. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, e a análise foi conduzida seguindo a metodologia de análise de conteúdo proposta por Minayo (2007). Resultados: O estudo revelou a experiência profissional das EEESMO em contexto do parto domiciliar planeado. Foram explorados temas relacionados à acessibilidade das utentes ao serviço, medidas de segurança, material clínico para assistência ao parto, emergências e transferência para o hospital, bem como os contributos da entidade reguladora da profissão (Ordem dos Enfermeiros) para a prática profissional nesse contexto. Além disso, foram identificadas as motivações iniciais das participantes que optaram exercer a sua prática profissional no âmbito do parto domiciliar planeado, categorizadas em desejo de infância, desde a formação de EEESMO, experiência do seu parto no domicílio e preferência por um modelo de assistência diferente do hospitalar. No que concerne aos desafios e obstáculos enfrentados pelas participantes no contexto do PDP, ficou evidente que estes são diversos e abrangem várias esferas. Esses desafios foram categorizados nos âmbitos da formação, social, profissional e pessoal. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os desafios expostos pelas participantes revelam a complexidade do trabalho no contexto do PDP, ressaltando a importância de promover mudanças nesse contexto. A superação desses desafios contribuirá para uma prática mais segura, valorizada e efetiva no cuidado às mulheres e seus bebés durante o parto domiciliário. Considera-se que este estudo contribui de forma significativa para enriquecer a reflexão e o debate em torno desse tema, especialmente no meio acadêmico, ao estimular o desenvolvimento de estudos aprofundados relacionados à assistência das EEESMO no contexto do PDP.

Midwives' attitudes toward the use of cardiotocograph (CTG) machines in labor units: A study in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of cardiotocograph (CTG) usage is to detect any alterations in fetal heart rate (FHR) early before they are prolonged and profound. However, the use of CTG machines on a routine basis is not an evidence-supported practice. There is no Jordanian study that assesses the midwives' attitudes toward this machine. This study aimed to identify Jordanian midwives' attitudes towards the use of cardiotocograph (CTG) machines in labor units, alongside examining the relationships between midwives' personal sociodemographic characteristics and such attitudes. METHODS: A descriptive research design was used to identify Jordanian midwives' attitudes towards the use of CTG machines in both public and private labor units in Jordan. Data were collected using the valid and reliable tool designed by Sinclair (2001), and these were used to identify midwives' attitudes towards CTG usage. A total of 329 midwives working in the labor units of governmental and private hospitals in the center and north of Jordan participated in the study from May to July 2022. RESULTS: The total mean score for the attitude scale was M = 3.14 (SD = 0.83). More than half of the sample (N = 187, 58.4 %) demonstrated a mean score greater than 3.14, however, which indicates generally positive attitudes toward CTG usage in labor units. Midwives working in private hospitals and those holding Bachelor's degrees had more positive attitudes toward the use of CTG machines. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into the attitudes of Jordanian midwives towards CTG use in labor units. These suggest that it is critical to conduct training courses for registered midwives to help them develop and/or regain confidence and competence with respect to various key aspects of intrapartum care, including intermittent auscultation and the appropriate use of CTG.

'Doing' is never enough, if 'being' is neglected. Exploring midwives' perspectives on the influence of an emotional intelligence education programme, a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The role of the midwife is emotionally demanding with many midwives experiencing high levels of stress and burnout, and a great number considering leaving the profession. This has serious implications for the delivery of high-quality, safe maternity care. One of the major factors leading to job dissatisfaction is the conflict between midwives' aspiration of truly 'being' with the woman and the institutional expectations of the role which focuses on the 'doing' aspects of the job. 'Being' present to a woman's psychological needs, whilst meeting the institutional demands, requires high levels of emotional intelligence (EI) in the midwife. Therefore, enhancing midwives' EI could be beneficial. EI EDUCATION PROGRAMME: An EI programme was made available to midwives with the intention to promote their emotional intelligence and enable them to utilise relaxation techniques for those in their care. AIM: To explore midwives' perspectives on the influence of the EI education programme on their emotional wellbeing and experiences of practice. METHOD: The study took a descriptive qualitative approach. Thirteen midwives participated in focus group interviews. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The overarching theme of 'The Ripple Effect' included three themes of 'Me and my relationships', 'A different approach to practice' and 'Confidence and empowerment'. The programme was seen to create a positive ripple effect, influencing midwives personally, their approach to practice, and feelings of confidence in their role. CONCLUSION: EI education can reduce emotional stress in midwives, enhance their empathy and feelings of confidence, thus, improving the quality of care they provide.

The sustainability of midwifery group practice: A cross-sectional study of midwives and managers.

PROBLEM: Although there is robust evidence for the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP) caseload care, there are limited opportunities for women to access this model in Australia. There is also limited knowledge on how to sustain these services. BACKGROUND: MGP can benefit childbearing women and babies and improve satisfaction for women and midwives. However, sustainability of the model is challenging. While MGPs are often supported and celebrated, in Australia some services have closed, while others struggle to adequately staff MGPs. AIM: To investigate midwives and managers opinions on the management, culture, and sustainability of MGP. METHODS: A national survey of MGP midwives and managers was distributed (2021 and 2022). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 579 midwives and 90 managers completed the survey. The findings suggest that many MGPs do not support new graduates and students to work in MGP. Over half (59.8%) the participants (midwives and managers) reported that the women and families were the best aspect about working in MGP, while 44.3% said the effects on midwives' lifestyle and families were the worst aspect. DISCUSSION: The relationship with women remains the major motivator for providing MGP care. However, work-life imbalance is a deterrent, exacerbated by staffing shortages. Staffing might be improved by adequate renumeration, strengthening orientation, and attracting new graduates and students through experience in MGP. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to attract midwives to MGP and improve work-life balance and sustainability.

UK student midwives' theoretical knowledge, confidence, and experience of intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate during labour: An online cross-sectional survey.

AIM: This study aimed to explore student midwives' theoretical knowledge of intrapartum intermittent auscultation, their confidence in, and their experience of this mode of fetal monitoring. DESIGN AND SETTING: An online cross-section survey with closed and open questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse participants' intermittent auscultation knowledge, confidence, and experience. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within the free text about participants' experiences. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate midwifery students (n = 303) from Nursing and Midwifery Council-approved educational institutions within the United Kingdom. FINDINGS: Most participants demonstrated good theoretical knowledge. They had witnessed the technique being used in clinical practice, and when performed, the practice was reported to be in line with national guidance. In closed questions, participants reported feeling confident in their intermittent auscultation skills; however, these data contrasted with free-text responses. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional survey found that student midwives possess adequate knowledge of intermittent auscultation. However, reflecting individual clinical experiences, their confidence in their ability to perform intermittent auscultation varied. A lack of opportunity to practice intermittent auscultation, organisational culture, and midwives' preferences have caused student midwives to question their capabilities with this essential clinical skill, leaving some with doubt about their competency close to registration.

The importance of recovery and staffing on midwives' emotional wellbeing: A UK national survey.

BACKGROUND: There is currently a gap in the evidence on how working practices, such as the ability to take rest breaks, finish on time or intershift recovery influence outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the association of individual characteristics, work-related factors and working practices on emotional wellbeing outcomes of UK midwives. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey collated data between September and October 2020. Outcomes explored were work-related stress, burnout, being pleased with their standard of care, job satisfaction and thoughts about leaving midwifery. Univariate analysis identified the explanatory variables to be investigated using multivariable logistic regression. FINDINGS: A total of 2347 midwives from the four UK nations completed the survey. No standard approach in monitoring safe staffing or in-shift or intershift recovery was found. There were high levels of work-related stress, burnout and thoughts about leaving midwifery, and low levels of job satisfaction, with just half of midwives reporting they were satisfied with the standard of care they could provide. Multivariable regression revealed that working practices variables, generally related to impeded recovery or compounded by staffing issues, had a significant association with poorer emotional wellbeing outcomes. CONCLUSION: This research has demonstrated an association between impeded recovery, including a lack of formal methods to monitor this, and poorer emotional wellbeing outcomes, and that staffing levels are highly influential in determining outcomes. There is a need to re-evaluate current approaches to job design and how midwives are expected to work.

Midwives' views about the effects of climate change on maternal and child health: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Midwives have important responsibilities to protect the health of mothers and children from the negative effects of climate change. AIM: This research was conducted to determine how midwives perceived climate change, the effects of climate change on maternal and child health, and what midwives could do to combat these effects. METHODS: The research was designed as a case study, one of the qualitative research designs. The research sample consisted of 11 midwives selected by snowball sampling, which is one of the non-random sampling methods. FINDINGS: The data obtained were collected under five main themes. The themes were determined as "(I) the causes of climate change, (II) concerns about the consequences of climate change, (III) the effects of climate change on mother-child health, (IV) measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, and (V) midwives' role in protecting mother-child health against the effects of climate change." CONCLUSION: Midwives are knowledgeable about climate change. They are aware of the effects of climate change on maternal and child health and they are doing some practices in this regard (breastfeeding, promoting the regulation of fertility and adequate/balanced nutrition, etc.). Midwives are aware of the importance of the midwifery profession in raising awareness of the individual and society, in addressing the effects of climate change on human health and in reducing the negative effects of climate change on health, and they want to take action at the national level (with the support of the midwifery organization and the state) for the sustainability of health.

Navigating a maze: Midwives' identity response to the enactment of an abortion law in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Chilean midwives have been identified as essential for successfully implementing an abortion law, a practice which could potentially be understood as contradicting their central mission. Nevertheless, to date, there has been no investigation into how Chilean midwives have incorporated induced abortion care provision into their professional identity. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate how Chilean midwives understand and provide abortion care and how they have (re)defined their professional identity to include induced abortion care. This article reports the findings of the second part of this aim. METHODS: This study was underpinned by a constructivist grounded theory methodology informed by a reproductive justice and feminist perspective. Midwives from Chile who have cared for women undergoing abortion were invited to participate in the study. After purposive and theoretical sampling, fifteen midwives were recruited. FINDINGS: Midwives' identity is woman-centred, with high value placed on their role protecting life. These two aspects of midwives' identity are in contradiction when providing abortion care. Midwives' identity results from and informs midwives' practice. Midwifery regulation influences both practice and identity. The model 'Navigating a maze' explains the interaction of these three elements. CONCLUSION: Midwives' identity response to the enactment of the Chilean abortion law is an example of how professional identity must navigate regulation and practice to make sense of its purpose. In light of this study's findings, the current tension experienced in midwives' identity should be carefully attended to prevent adverse outcomes for midwives and the Chilean population.

Midwives' Intercultural Effectiveness Levels and Influencing Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Due to globalization, countries around the world are starting to notice diversity in their populations. It is crucial that midwives be able to communicate effectively with women from a variety of cultures to provide them with culturally effective health care. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 394 midwives who work in seven different regions of Türkiye. Data on the intercultural effectiveness and intercultural communication competence of midwives were collected. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. RESULTS: Midwives' intercultural effectiveness was influenced by their foreign language proficiency, experiences abroad, having friends from different cultures, following social media platforms in different languages and cultures, providing care to individuals from diverse cultures, and their willingness to do so. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that exposure to different cultures enhances the level of intercultural effectiveness. Consequently, it is recommended to make plans to support midwives to have positive experiences with different cultures.

Chilean midwives' experiences while providing induced abortion care after the enactment of a law decriminalising abortion.

INTRODUCTION: The recent change in Chilean legislation towards abortion enabled midwives to include the care of women having an induced abortion within their scope of practice. However, midwives' identity could be strained by induced abortion care provision as it is contrary to midwives' traditional role. Considering this, the aim of the study was to elucidate how Chilean midwives understand and provide abortion care. METHODS: A constructivist grounded theory study was conducted using online semi-structured in-depth interviews. Midwives were purposively sampled considering maximum variation criteria and then theoretical sampling occurred. Saturation was achieved with fifteen interviews. Interviews were conducted in Spanish and then translated into English. Constant comparison analysis generated categories. Data were managed using NVivo 12. All interviewees provided their consent to be part of this study. RESULTS: This article reports on the experiences of nine midwives who had provided lawful induced abortion care in Chile. The experiences of these midwives were grouped into two major categories: 'Defining a position towards abortion' and 'Abortion care is emotional labour'. CONCLUSION: Midwives can successfully provide abortion care despite being challenged by certain areas of it. Considering the high demand for emotional labour in abortion care, efforts should be made to increase midwives' emotional self-regulation skills. Likewise, organisations should strengthen and implement their offer of well-being and emotional self-care support to midwives.

"If I blink twice everything is OK" - A qualitative study of Swedish midwives' strategies for supporting birthing women while working in full personal protective equipment.

PROBLEM: Midwives all over the world have had to adapt to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue of how they managed to support birthing women, despite the use of PPE, has been insufficiently studied. BACKGROUND: Midwives support birthing women in one of their most life-changing situations. Having COVID-19 at the time of childbirth makes birthing women even more vulnerable. PPE has been shown to impact the ability of providing support to birthing women. AIM: To describe midwives' strategies for supporting birthing women while working in full PPE METHODS: A qualitative study based on focus group discussons with Swedish midwives. Data were analysed by inductive content analysis. FINDINGS: To support birthing women while in full PPE, the midwives adapted existing working methods, increased collaboration with colleagues, unveiled, adapted to the requirements for contagion prevention, addressed women's concern for the midwife and maintained focus on the birth while remaining mindful of the risk of contagion. DISCUSSION: Midwives adopted strategies in order to uphold provision of support to the birthing women, as well as to address contextual factors related to PPE that hinder provision of support. CONCLUSION: The respective effects of different PPE types and models on the birth experience should be explored. Explicit strategies for supporting birthing women while working in full PPE must be created and discussed among midwives.

Lessons From Birth.

A nurse and midwife shares 10 lessons she has learned by working at the bedside of birth.

Can mid-level providers manage medical abortion after 12 weeks' gestation as safely and effectively as physicians? A non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinical outcomes among clients undergoing medical abortion after 12 weeks' gestation differ by provider cadre. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial conducted among eligible clients seeking abortion between 13 and 20 weeks' gestation. Participants seeking in-facility abortion were randomized to receive care from a mid-level provider (nurse/midwife) or physician. The primary outcome was median time to expulsion with non-inferiority margin of -1.5 h between provider groups. Quantile median regression models assessed non-inferiority. Secondary outcomes included retained placenta, complications, and patient acceptability. RESULTS: After randomization and eligibility assessment by the provider, 171 women participated in the study: 81 in the physician group and 90 in the mid-level provider group. Their average age was 24 years, the mean gestational age was 16 weeks, and 65% were nulliparous in both groups. The median time to expulsion did not differ significantly, being 8.1 h for the mid-level group and 6.6 h for the physician group. The adjusted median difference was 0.8 h (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.15 to 2.66), within the non-inferiority margin. Retained placenta occurred similarly: 30.0% (n = 24) of the physician group and 20.5% (n = 18) of the mid-level provider group (adjusted risk difference [ARD] 7.6%, 95% CI -2.81 to 18.06). Complications occurred in 7% of cases, including 5.0% (n = 4) of patients in the physician group and 8.9% (n = 8) in the mid-level provider group (ARD -4.7%, 95% CI -12.43 to 3.12). Patient acceptability did not differ by group. CONCLUSIONS: Training mid-level providers to provide abortion services after 12 weeks' gestation independently of physicians is feasible and may result in comparable clinical outcomes.