http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10868 2026-04-11T21:07:42Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11093 Title: Women’s views and experiences of pregnancy yoga. A qualitative evidence synthesis Authors: Cunningham, Orla; Brady, Dr. Vivienne Abstract: Background: Pregnancy yoga is a holistic practice to support the physiological and psychological changes women experience in pregnancy, with the potential to be offered by mainstream maternity services. Evidence suggests benefits of pregnancy yoga are reduced anxiety and stress, enhanced mood and sleep, with reported improvements in physical and overall wellbeing. Women report that yoga in pregnancy assists in their birth preparation and self-efficacy in labour, with improved labour and birth experience. To date, a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) of qualitative studies of women’s experiences of pregnancy yoga has not been undertaken and accordingly, the literature lacks a high-level synthesis of women’s first-hand accounts. Methods: This qualitative systematic review aims to synthesise and present new evidence about women’s views and experiences of pregnancy yoga. Qualitative studies reporting women’s views and experiences of practising pregnancy yoga as a sole intervention, were eligible for inclusion. Systematic searches of eight academic databases, AMED, ASSIA, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, MIDIRS, PsycInfo and Web of Science, accompanied by extensive searches of Grey Literature, and evidence libraries, took place in May 2022. The methodological quality of included studies was formally evaluated, independently, by two reviewers using an adapted quality assessment tool. Data extraction followed and thematic synthesis, using the Thomas and Harden 2008 framework, was the validated method for the development of six analytical themes. Results: Seven studies, providing the experiences of 92 pregnant women, were included in the review. The methodological quality of the studies was mixed, with three of the seven scoring highly and two scoring medium for weight of evidence. The three key synthesised themes were: Equilibrium; Personal Autonomy in Healthcare; and Connection. There were six analytical subthemes: intuitive knowing, embedding the practice of yoga practice, practical toolkit, holistic care, baby bonding and peer social support. Conclusion: Synthesis of pregnant women’s voices identified what women want - easy access to the holistic benefits of pregnancy yoga; what they recommend - pregnancy yoga provided as mainstream maternity support and what should be provided – pregnancy yoga for all women, not only those who can afford to pay; Paying attention to what women identify as important, brings us closer to a woman-centred maternity service. 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11092 Title: “We need to be heard. We need to be seen”: A thematic analysis of black maternal experiences of birthing and postnatal care in England within the context of Covid-19 Authors: Candice Williams a, * , a ,; Kail, Rachel Mc; Arshad, Rukhsana Abstract: mortality, complications and distress compared to White women. The Covid-19 pandemic saw unprecedented changes to maternity services, with emerging evidence highlighting a disproportionate impact on mothers from ethnically minoritized backgrounds. This uniquely positioned study explores Black women’s experiences of services during Covid-19. Design: The study used a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews, data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Setting: The study took was open to all in the UK, participants who took part were from England and were recruited via social media and community led organisations. Participants: The study recruited 13 self-identifying Black women, aged between 23 and 41 who received maternity care across settings (NHS wards, home birth and birthing centre) across England. Measurement and findings: Three themes were generated from the study: ‘The Ripples of Covid’, ‘Inequality within Inequality’ and ‘Conscientious Change for Maternity Systems’, with sub-themes including the impact of regulations, the invisibility of pain and the importance of accountability. Alongside multiple layers of inequality and emotional labour for Black women, the study found connection and advocacy as facilitators of good care. Key conclusions: Supporting existing research, Black women’s experiences of maternity services during Covid19evidence ongoing of structural racism within maternity provision, founded on stereotypes of strength and pain. Though moments of advocacy and connection, however, Covid-19 appeared exacerbated ongoing existing inequalities for Black women. Changes to service provision contributed to isolation, distress, and consequential inadequate care. Implications for practice: The findings, generated by Black women, established important implications for practice and policy, including an emphasis on creating conscientious change of systems through a racialised lens, the importance of meaningful equity, representation, and the need for co-production alongside Black communities. 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11091 Title: Text message conversations between peer supporters and women to deliver infant feeding support using behaviour change techniques: A qualitative analysis Authors: Knox, Olivia; Parker, Denise; Johnson, Debbie; Dombrowski, Stephan U.; Thomson, Gill; Clarke, Joanne Abstract: Objective: To analyse text message conversations between peer supporters (called Infant Feeding Helpers – IFHs) and new mothers using qualitative methods to understand how peer support can influence and support women’s feeding experiences. Design: Qualitative analysis of text messages conversations using both inductive thematic and deductive content approaches to coding. Thematic analysis of the text message transcripts and deductive content analysis was used to code if Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) were employed by IFHs in their interactions with women. BCTs coded in text messages were then compared with those tabulated from antenatal meeting recordings and documented in interview transcripts. Participants and setting: 18 primiparous women and 7 Infant Feeding Helpers from one community site in SouthWest England. Findings: Three key themes were identified in the18 text message conversations (1679 texts): ‘breastfeeding challenges’, ‘mother-centred conversations’, and ‘emotional and practical support’. The core BCTs of ‘social support’ and ‘changing the social environment’ were found at least once in 17 (94 %) and 18 (100 %) text message conversations respectively. Meanwhile, ‘instruction to perform the behaviour’ was used at least once in over 50 % of conversations. Generally, the use of BCTs was greatest between birth and two weeks during a period of daily texts when women reported many feeding challenges. The number and range of BCTs used in text messages were similar to those documented in audio-recorded meetings and interview accounts. Conclusion and implications: Infant Feeding Helpers were able to provide engaging and successful breastfeeding peer support through text messages. Messaging was shown to be an appropriate and accessible method of delivering BCTs focussing on ‘social support’ and ‘changing the social environment’. Peer supporters delivering BCTs via text messages is acceptable and appropriate to use if in-person support is limited due to unforeseen circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11090 Title: Psychological distress in subsequent pregnancy among women with a history of pregnancy loss: A latent profile analysis Authors: Luo, Xiangping; Chen, Bizhen; Shen, Qiaoqiao Abstract: Background: Women who have undergone pregnancy loss can experience a range of psychological distress during subsequent pregnancies; however, the outcomes may vary based on individual circumstances. Objective: To explore the potential patterns of psychological distress for pregnant women with a history of pregnancy loss, and to investigate the impact of factors related to pregnancy loss on these patterns. Methods: From October 2022 to August 2023, the participants were recruited from four medical centers in Guangdong Province, China. They completed a questionnaire survey comprising sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Pregnancyrelated Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Latent profile analysis was used to determine optimal patterns of psychological distress. The logistic regression was conducted to assess the associations between the number of pregnancy loss, types of pregnancy loss, interpregnancy interval, and distinct psychological distress patterns. Results: A total of 446 pregnant women with a history of pregnancy loss were included for formal analysis. Three distinct profiles were identified, namely the "mild psychological distress" (34.1 %), "moderate psychological distress" (57.8 %), and "severe psychological distress" (8.1 %). Recurrent pregnancy loss was associated with increased risks of both moderate (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.45, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.42–4.24; P = 0.001) and severe psychological distress (aOR 2.93, 95 %CI: 1.25–6.83; P = 0.013). Furthermore, compared to women who conceived after 6 months of pregnancy loss, those who conceived within 6 months of pregnancy loss were more likely to be categorized into the group of moderate psychological distress (aOR 2.00, 95 % CI: 1.21–3.30; P = 0.007). Conclusions: Approximately two-thirds of pregnant women with a history of pregnancy loss exhibit moderate to severe psychological distress. Such individuals could benefit from early screening and targeted psychological interventions, particularly those who have encountered recurrent pregnancy loss and those who conceive shortly after a pregnancy loss. 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z