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IJERPH
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Holistic Approach to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Period
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Holistic Approach to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Period

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 5713

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Interests: gestational diabetes mellitus; fetal growth restriction; preeclampsia biomarkers; preterm delivery; fetal programming; excessive gestational weight gain; metabolic syndrome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium are unique periods in a woman’s life. During pregnancy, the mother’s body undergoes both anatomical and functional changes enabling the proper growth and development of the fetus. After giving birth, the pregnancy changes gradually subside, and the mother’s body returns to the non-pregnant state. Breastfeeding, Nature’s paramount health plan for the baby and a boon for both the mother and the child, is extremely important as well. The World Health Organization describes the postpartum period as the most critical, and simultaneously the most neglected, stage in the lives of mothers and their offspring; most maternal and infant deaths occur during this period.

More and more often it is emphasized that perinatal care should be based on a holistic model of care which involves taking care not only of the mother’s physical health, but of her mental health as well.

This Special Issue offers the opportunity to publish manuscripts on important public health issues related to gestational diseases, risky behaviors during pregnancy, complications of childbirth and puerperium, benefits and problems of breastfeeding, maternal health, maternity care, trends and sociological aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods. These various topics are pivotal to environmental health sciences and the protection of public health.

Dr. Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pregnancy
  • childbirth
  • puerperium
  • breastfeeding
  • maternal health
  • maternity care
  • postpartum depression
  • maternal programming
  • lactation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1004 KiB  
Article
Australian Women’s Experiences of Establishing Breastfeeding after Caesarean Birth
by Sharon L. Perrella, Sarah G. Abelha, Philip Vlaskovsky, Jacki L. McEachran, Stuart A. Prosser and Donna T. Geddes
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030296 - 3 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3734
Abstract
Breastfeeding exclusivity and duration rates are lower after caesarean birth, yet the factors contributing to these are not well understood. This mixed-methods study used an anonymous online questionnaire to examine the facilitators and barriers to establishing breastfeeding as identified by Australian women after [...] Read more.
Breastfeeding exclusivity and duration rates are lower after caesarean birth, yet the factors contributing to these are not well understood. This mixed-methods study used an anonymous online questionnaire to examine the facilitators and barriers to establishing breastfeeding as identified by Australian women after a caesarean birth. Quantitative data were reported using descriptive statistics, and multivariable models were used to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding outcomes including the timing of breastfeeding initiation, birth experience, and commercial infant formula use. Qualitative data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. Data were obtained for N = 961 women, of which <50% reported skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding initiation. The barriers to breastfeeding included aspects of clinical care and reduced mobility, while unrushed care, partner support, and physical help with picking up the baby were helpful. Following a non-elective caesarean birth, women had half the odds of early breastfeeding initiation (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.68; p ≤ 0.001) and 10 times the odds to report a negative birth experience (OR = 10.2; 95% CI: 6.88, 15.43; p < 0.001). Commercial milk formula use was higher in primiparous women (OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.60, 2.91; p < 0.001) and in those that birthed in a private hospital (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.32; p = 0.001). Pain and reduced mobility, as well as conflicting and rushed care, negatively impacted breastfeeding after a caesarean birth, while delayed breastfeeding initiation, higher pain ratings, and negative birth experiences were more common for women that birthed by non-elective caesarean. This study adds valuable insights into the physical, emotional, and clinical care needs of women in establishing breastfeeding after a surgical birth. Clinical staffing and care should be modified to include full access to partner support to meet the specific needs of breastfeeding women after a caesarean birth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Holistic Approach to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Period)
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Review

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16 pages, 366 KiB  
Review
Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect the Stress Levels among the Mothers of Premature Infants? A Narrative Review of the Present State of Knowledge, Prevention Strategies, and Future Directions
by Agata Trześniowska, Emilia Wagner, Alicja Ściseł, Kinga Szymańska, Karol Szyprowski and Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081095 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Understanding COVID-19’s effects on susceptible populations remains essential for clinical implementations. Our review aimed to examine whether the pandemic significantly impacted the stress levels in the mothers of premature infants in NICUs. The review of the literature from Google Scholar and PubMed resulted [...] Read more.
Understanding COVID-19’s effects on susceptible populations remains essential for clinical implementations. Our review aimed to examine whether the pandemic significantly impacted the stress levels in the mothers of premature infants in NICUs. The review of the literature from Google Scholar and PubMed resulted in identifying specific stressors such as the disruption of healthcare systems, limited access to neonatal care, uncertainty due to frequent changes in restrictions, the risk of COVID-19 infection, social isolation, and financial stress. While some quantitative studies concerning this topic did not show a significant increase in the perception of stress in this population compared to the pre-pandemic group, various research has indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic may result in enduring impacts on the emotional and neurological development of children. This article demonstrates a correlation between the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and an elevated incidence of depressive symptoms among the mothers of premature infants. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of pandemic-induced stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Holistic Approach to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Postpartum Period)
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