The relationship between pregnant women's anxiety levels about coronavirus and prenatal attachment.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between pregnant women's anxiety levels related to concerns about the effect of coronavirus on prenatal attachment. DESIGN AND METHOD: This a descriptive and correlational design study was conducted from September 2020 to January 2021; it included 101 pregnant women who were more than 20 weeks pregnant. Introductory questionnaire, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: Of the participants, 80.2% were 35 years old or younger. The participants' mean Coronavirus Anxiety Scale score was 8.85 ± 5.02 (min: 0, max: 17), which was close to the scale's cut-off value. Of the participants, 68.3% had high levels of perceived anxiety about coronavirus. The participants' mean Prenatal Attachment Inventory score was 60.08 ± 21.26 (min: 21, max: 84). Of the participants, 54.3% had high levels of Prenatal Attachment Inventory. Correlation analysis found a negative, but significant relationship between the participants' scores on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (r = -244, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The participants' prenatal attachment levels increased as their perceived anxiety scores about coronavirus decreased.

The Covid 19 outbreak: Maternal Mental Health and Associated Factors.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the mental health of pregnant women during the early and peak stages of the Covid-19 outbreak DESIGN: Online survey PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant women over the age of 18 years with no mental disorder during the pre-pregnancy period (N = 729). MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: Mental disorders were assessed using the "Depression Anxiety Stress Scale" and social support was determined using the "Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale." Pregnant women had moderate levels of anxiety and depression and mild levels of stress. Anxiety, depression, and stress of moderate or high severity was reported in 62.2%, 44.6%, and 32.2% of the women, respectively. Pregnant women who lost their jobs during the pandemic period showed a 3-fold increase in the risk of anxiety, a 6-fold increase in the risk of depression, and a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of stress. An increase in the perception of social support has protective effects against all three mental disorders during pregnancy. In pregnant women with at least one obstetric risk, the risk of antenatal anxiety is 2 times higher than that in women with no risk. Similarly, women with a chronic physical illness before pregnancy have a higher risk of anxiety during pregnancy than healthy women. Financial strain has predictive value for anxiety and depression, and advanced age is a predictor for depression. KEY CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of mental disorders in pregnant women during the pandemic period was much higher than that during the pre-pandemic period. The high frequency of antenatal mental disorders can lead to an increase in the frequency of obstetric and maternal complications in the short and long term. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Early detection of inadequate social support and economic difficulties of pregnant women during the pandemic period is recommended for protecting their mental health. Pregnant women should have easy access to psychosocial support, and they should be provided obstetric counseling during the pandemic conditions.

Effects of pushing techniques during the second stage of labor: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous pushing is a method that is used in the management of the second stage of labor and suggested to be more physiological for the mother and infant. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of pushing techniques on the mother and newborn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized prospective study was performed between June 2013-March 2014 in a tertiary maternity clinic in Istanbul. 80 low risk, nulliparous cases were randomized to pushing groups. Valsalva pushing group was told to hold their breath while pushing. No visual-verbal instructions were given to spontaneous pushing group and they were encouraged to push without preventing respiration. Demographic data, second stage period, perineal laceration rates, fetal heart rate patterns, presence of meconium stained amniotic liquid, newborn APGAR scores, POP-Q examination and Q-tip test results were evaluated in these cases. RESULTS: The second stage of labor was significantly longer with spontaneous pushing. Decrease in Hb levels in valsalva pushing group was determined to be higher than spontaneous pushing group. An increased urethral mobility was observed in valsalva pushing group. CONCLUSIONS: Although the duration of the second stage of labor was longer compared to valsalva pushing technique, women were able to give birth without requiring any verbal or visual instruction, without exceeding the limit value of two hours and without affecting fetal wellness and neonatal results.