Perceived social support in solo women seeking treatment with donor gametes and in women in heterosexual couples seeking IVF-treatment with own gametes.

Solo motherhood is a family constellation that is becoming increasingly common in high income countries. The demographic characteristics of solo women entering treatment with donated sperm or embryo have been shown to be different from that of cohabiting women. The general importance of perceived social support is frequently amplified when health and quality of life are concerned, and positively affects mental health status, experienced stress, perceived self-efficacy during the transition to parenthood and during parenthood itself. The objective of the present study was to compare demographic characteristics, social network and perceived social support among solo women and cohabiting women awaiting fertility treatment. This objective was explored with a study-specific demographic and background questionnaire as well as through questions on access to practical support and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) assessing different sources of support. This study is a part of a longitudinal prospective multicenter study of solo women who awaited donation treatment in six Swedish public and private fertility clinics and a comparison group of women who were cohabiting/married to male partner and awaited in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment with the couple's own gametes. A total of 670 women were invited and 463 accepted participation (69% response rate); 207 solo women (study group) and 256 cohabiting women (comparison group). The results show significant differences in age, education, and employment between the groups. Solo women were on average 3.6 years older, had a higher level of education, a higher-income profession, and were more frequently working full time. Solo women perceived an equally high degree of social support from their families, significantly higher levels of support from friends and significantly lower support from a significant other compared to cohabiting women. Solo women expected their mother to be the most supportive person in future parenthood, while cohabiting women most often stated their cohabiting partner to fill that role. The study adds to the body of knowledge of solo women as a sociodemographic distinct group going at motherhood alone, stating a high degree of currently perceived and expected social support. The previously studied negative impact that lack of a co-parent might have, may be attenuated by the expected and perceived social support from family and friends.

Effects of continuous midwifery labour support for women with severe fear of childbirth.

BACKGROUND: Continuous support by a midwife during childbirth has shown positive effects on the duration of active labour, use of pain relief and frequency of caesarean section (CS) in women without fear of childbirth (FOC). We have evaluated how continuous support by a specially assigned midwife during childbirth affects birth outcome and the subjective experience of women with severe FOC. METHODS: A case-control pilot study with an index group of 14 women with severe FOC and a reference group of 28 women without FOC giving birth. In this study the index group received continuous support during childbirth. RESULTS: The women with severe FOC more often had an induction of labour. The parous women with severe FOC had a shorter duration of active labour compared to the parous reference women (p = 0.047). There was no difference in caesarean section frequency between the two groups. Women with severe FOC experienced a very high anxiety level during childbirth (OR = 20.000, 95% CI: 3.036-131.731). CONCLUSION: Women with severe FOC might benefit from continuous support by a midwife during childbirth. Midwives should acknowledge the importance of continuous support in order to enhance the experience of childbirth in women with severe FOC.

Internet-delivered applied relaxation for vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: lessons from a failed trial.

Internet-delivered therapies have a short history and promising results have been shown for several health problems, particularly for psychiatric conditions. This study was a first attempt to evaluate whether Internet-delivered applied relaxation for hot flushes in postmenopausal women may be useful. Due to a high drop-out rate the study was prematurely terminated after inclusion of approximately two thirds of calculated women. The Internet-delivered applied relaxation must probably be modified for such populations and settings before it can be used further. This article will discuss the benefits and pitfalls to learn in order to meet the challenges of future studies. Clinical trial registration number: NCT01245907.

Physical activity and psychological well-being in obese pregnant and postpartum women attending a weight-gain restriction programme.

OBJECTIVE: the objective of the study was to compare the differences in psychological well-being and quality of life during pregnancy and post partum of obese physically active women and obese physically inactive women enroled in a weight gain restriction programme. We also wanted to explore whether physical activity influences weight change or health status during pregnancy. DESIGN: a prospective intervention study. SETTING: antenatal care clinic. PARTICIPANTS: a total of 74 obese pregnant women in a physically active group and 79 obese women in a physically inactive group. MEASUREMENTS: the women kept diaries of their physical activity during pregnancy and answered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Medical Study Short-Form Health Survey in gestational weeks 15 and 35 and 11 weeks post partum. Physical activity was measured in metabolic equivalents. FINDINGS: the physically active women experienced fewer depressive symptoms and estimated an improved quality of life during their pregnancies as measured by physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and general mental health as compared with the physically inactive women. There were no differences between the groups in gestational weight gain or weight change from early pregnancy to post partum or in prevalence of complications. KEY CONCLUSIONS: physical activity among obese pregnant women provides better psychological well-being and improved quality of life, but does not prevent weight change. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: staff at Antenatal Care Clinics that face obese pregnant women, should encourage and emphasise the benefits of being physically active throughout pregnancy.

A comparison between Swedish midwives' and obstetricians' & gynecologists' opinions on cesarean section.

To compare Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives' attitudes and opinions on different aspects of cesarean section (CS). In total 330 midwives from the south east of Sweden and 1280 Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists were asked to answer a study-specific questionnaire anonymously about their opinions on different issues concerning CS. The majority of obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives had more than 10 years of experience in their professions (75.2% vs. 73.6%). The midwives thought that a reasonable CS rate would be 11.5% whereas the corresponding figures for the obstetricians/gynecologists was 13.8% (P < 0.001). There are differences in opinions and attitudes concerning both CS rates and other aspects in connection with CS. There are evident differences in attitudes towards CS and mode of delivery between midwives and obstetricians/gynecologists. These need to be explored and discussed in relation to state-of-the-art knowledge and should become a part of the curriculum for both groups of professionals both in training as well as on a regular clinical basis.