Pre-Natal Learning Needs Perceptions of Expectant Parents and Childhood Educators

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between the unique learning needs of expectant parents and those perceived by childbirth educators. A purposive sample of 40 expectant parents and ten childbirth educators completed the Expectant Parents Learning Needs Tool (EPLNT) and a demographic inventory developed by the researcher. Subjects were classified into five groups based on their status as first-time fathers, repeat fathers, first-time mothers, repeat mothers, and childbirth educators. Data were analyzed using t-tests for independent samples and an ANOVA for group differences. The results showed significant differences in the learning needs between the expectant parents and childbirth educators

Teaching behavior modification to expectent parents

Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of teaching parents behavior modification in order to manage and prevent child-related problems. The present study investigated a preventive parent training program using a multiple baseline design by teaching expectant parents behavior modification principles and applications. Three expectant mothers received individualized home training and hands-on training at a nursery school. Each expectant mother also received videotaped feedback on instructions and differential attention and praise she provided to a pre-selected child-participant while at the nursery school. After training began, the expectant mothers increased their us~ of praise to the child\u27s cooperative behavior and their use of statements of a contingency and two behavior reduction procedures when the child was behaving oppositionally, The results indicate that expectant parents can successfully be taught effective child management skills before they have their children

Odottajan päätöksenteko ja tukeminen sikiöseulonnoissa : Systemoitu kirjallisuuskatsaus

Tämän opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli systemaattisen kirjallisuuskatsauksen menetelmin toteuttaa systemoitu kirjallisuuskatsaus odottajan toiveista ja tukemisesta sikiöseulontojen päätöksentekotilanteissa. Katsauksen tutkimuskysymyksinä olivat: 1. Millaisia toiveita odottajalla on sikiöseulontojen päätöksentekotilanteissa? 2. Miten tukea odottajaa sikiöseulontojen päätöksentekotilanteissa? Tämän kirjallisuuskatsauksen tavoitteena oli selvittää tehtyjen tutkimusten valossa sikiöseulontoja koskevia päätöksenteko- ja valintatilanteita, joita odottava äiti, isä, kumppani tai yksinodottaja joutuvat kohtaamaan raskauden aikana. Tarkoituksena oli kuvata systemaattisesti niitä toiveita, joita odottajalla on sikiöseulontoihin liittyvistä päätöksentekotilanteista. Lisäksi oli tarkoitus saada selville, miten ammattilaiset voivat parhaalla mahdollisella tavalla tukea odottajaa päätöksentekotilanteissa. Katsauksen perusteella oli pyrkimys ehdottaa ratkaisuja, joilla tukea odottajaa, isää, kumppania tai yksinodottajaa raskauden aikaisissa sikiöseulontoihin liittyvissä valinnoissa ja keinoja, jotka auttavat äitejä ja perheitä tekemään tutkimuksiin liittyviä valintoja entistä paremmin ja helpommin odotusaikana. Katsauksen aineistoa kerättiin keväästä alku syksyyn 2016. Koehakujen jälkeen päädyttiin kolmeen tietokantaan: CINAHL, MEDLINE ja ScienceDirect. Hakusanoina käytettiin: 1) odottaja/ expectant mother, expectant father, single parent, expectant parents 2) päätöksenteko ja tuki/ decision making, support 3) seulontatutkimus ja sikiötutkimus/ prenatal diagnosis, screening. Joitakin lisähakuja tehtiin näiden hakusanojen lisäksi. Alkuperäistutkimusten valinta pohjautui ennalta määritettyihin sisäänotto- ja poissulkukriteereihin ja niiden näytön aste ja laatu arvioitiin Joanna Briggs Instituutin JBI-arviointikriteeristön mukaisesti. Katsaukseen valikoitui 12 tutkimusta, jotka arvioitiin aineistolähtöisellä sisällönanalyysillä. Tämän kirjallisuuskatsauksen keskeisinä tuloksina olivat odottajien toive yksilöllisestä ja henkilökohtaisesta hoidosta ja tiedonsaamisesta sikiöseulontoihin liittyvässä hoitoprosessissa. Nämä tekijät olivat sellaisia, jotka tukivat odottajaa päätöksentekotilanteissa. Lisäksi parhaaseen mahdolliseen tuen saamisen kokemukseen liittyivät hoitoon osallistuvien ammattihenkilöiden ammattitaito ja ammatillisuus sekä kommunikaation luonne ja toimivuus. Huomion kiinnittäminen näihin seikkoihin asiakastyössä edesauttaa odottajaa saamaan myönteisen kokemuksen sikiöseulontaprosessista ja tekemään tietoisia valintoja.The purpose of this thesis is to carry out a literature review of the wishes and support needs expectant parents have regarding decisions of prenatal diagnosis by carrying out a systematic literature review. The research questions of the review include: 1. What kind of wishes expectant parents have when they are making decisions on prenatal diagnosis? 2. How to support expectant parents in the situations where they have to make decisions on prenatal diagnosis? The aim of the literature review is to investigate, based on previous research and studies, the decisions and choices involved in prenatal screening and diagnosis which expectant parents face during pregnancy. The purpose of the research is to systematically describe the wishes which an expectant person has with regards to decisions related to prenatal diagnosis. In addition, the review aims at finding out how professionals can best support expectant parents and families in their decision making. Based on the review carried out in this work, the purpose of the thesis is to suggest ways which best support expectant parents in making prenatal diagnosis decisions, and methods which help make the decision making process of mothers and families easier during pregnancy. The material of the literature review was collected between spring 2016 and early autumn 2016. Three databases were chosen after some pilot searches and these include: CINAHL, MEDLINE ja ScienceDirect. The keywords for the search included: 1) expectant mother, expectant father, single parent, expectant parents 2) decision making, support 3) prenatal diagnosis, screening. In addition, a few additional searches were also completed during the process. The selection of original studies was based on a predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and their quality was evaluated according to the JBI evaluation criterion. As a result, 12 studies were included in the review and these were analysed by using a data-driven content analysis. The key findings include the wishes of expectant parents and families for individual and personal treatment and information sharing during care processes of prenatal diagnosis. These elements support expectant persons in their decision making. In addition, the expertise and professionalism of persons involved in the care, as well as the communication between the parties, are key for providing the best possible support. The consideration of these areas in customer service enhance the experience of expectant parents in the prenatal diagnosis and screening processes and help them make informed decisions

Is Down Syndrome Doomed? How State Statutes Can Help Expectant Parents Make Informed Decisions about Prenatal Down Syndrome Diagnoses*

Giving birth to a child with Down syndrome is a choice and one that should be well-informed. It has become a trend for expectant parents to abort fetuses with Down syndrome before fully weighing their options.[1] Expectant parents may automatically assume that an individual with Down syndrome will not lead a worthwhile life and that raising the child will pose too many challenges for them.[2] In order to minimize the number of fetuses with Down syndrome that are being aborted (which may be greater than 90%),[3] expectant parents need access to up-to-date, comprehensive information about all aspects of raising a child with Down syndrome, including the many positive aspects. Whatever decision a parent makes regarding raising a child with Giving birth to a child with Down syndrome is a choice and one that should be well-informed. It has become a trend for expectant parents to abort fetuses with Down syndrome before fully weighing their options.[1] Expectant parents may automatically assume that an individual with Down syndrome will not lead a worthwhile life and that raising the child will pose too many challenges for them.[2] In order to minimize the number of fetuses with Down syndrome that are being aborted (which may be greater than 90%),[3] expectant parents need access to up-to-date, comprehensive information about all aspects of raising a child with Down syndrome, including the many positive aspects. Whatever decision a parent makes regarding raising a child with consent. Part IV examines current state and federal laws that require healthcare providers to give information to expectant mothers who receive a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis. Part IV also addresses why a law requiring post-Down syndrome diagnosis information is not unduly burdensome. Specifically, Part IV looks closely at the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act and state statutes in Missouri, New Jersey, Alabama, and Virginia.  Part V discusses why laws already enacted on this issue are inadequate and proposes a model statute that all states can follow in crafting their own similar laws. Finally, Part V addresses potential concerns related to the proposed law like cost, enforcement, and First Amendment rights, and how those issues may be resolved

Expectations: A Guide for Childbirth Education at Logan Regional Hospital

The purpose of this project is to develop a childbirth education handbook for expectant parents that specifically follows the ongoing childbirth classes taught at Logan Regional Hospital. At present, much of the information that is provided to expectant parents comes from companies that advertise their products through childbirth education brochures. It is desirable that the students be provided with a complete, objective handbook to supplement the instruction received in the classroom

Parents’ views on the maternity journey and early parenthood: what expectant and new parents have told us about their experiences of maternity and early years care

"The Department of Health commissioned three pieces of qualitative research about the experiences of expectant and new parents. The three projects explored how parents feel about the pregnancy and parenthood journeys, their expectations of the health service and whether they feel those expectations are met. This short interactive guide captures the main findings in a concise and practical style for healthcare professionals and commissioners of healthcare services. The key finding is that parents don’t perceive the health service as a service but as a set of prescribed interactions at key stages. They need to be encouraged to be more proactive in accessing the help available to them." - Introduction. A Powerpoint for presentation purposes is also available

A vitamin K prophylaxis survey among breastfeeding mothers

A survey was distributed among new breastfeeding mothers in northern England to gain insight into their experiences with different forms of neonatal vitamin K prophylaxis. Two-thirds of mothers were knowledgeable about the reasons for giving vitamin K and a quarter felt that they had not received adequate information on the subject. The importance of neonatal vitamin K prophylaxis must be fully explained by healthcare workers to all expectant parents

Expectant parents' views of factors influencing infant feeding decisions in the antenatal period: A systematic review

Objective: To explore the factors that influence expectant parents’ infant feeding decisions in the antenatal period. Design: Mixed method systematic review focussing on participant views data. Data sources: CINAHL, Medline, Embase and PsychInfo databases were interrogated using initial keywords and then refined terms to elicit relevant studies. Reference lists were checked and hand-searching was undertaken for 2 journals (‘Midwifery’ and ‘Social Science and Medicine’) covering a 3 year time period (January 2011–March 2014). Key inclusion criteria: studies reflecting expectant parents’ views of the factors influencing their infant feeding decisions in the antenatal period; Studies in the English language published after 1990, from developed countries and of qualitative, quantitative or mixed method design. Review methods: A narrative interpretive synthesis of the views data from studies of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method design. Data were extracted on study characteristics and parents’ views, using the Social Ecological Model to support data extraction and thematic synthesis. Synthesis was influenced by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-Ordinating Centre approach to mixed method reviews. Results: Of the 409 studies identified through search methods, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Thematic synthesis identified 9 themes: Bonding/Attachment; Body Image; Self Esteem/Confidence; Female Role Models; Family and Support Network; Lifestyle; Formal Information Sources; Knowledge; and Feeding in front of others/Public. The review identified a significant bias in the data towards negative factors relating to the breastfeeding decision, suggesting that infant feeding was not a choice between two feeding options, but rather a process of weighing reasons for and against breastfeeding. Findings reflected the perception of the maternal role as intrinsic to the expectant mothers’ infant feeding decisions. Cultural perceptions permeated personal, familial and social influences on the decision-making process. Expectant mothers were sensitive to the way professionals attempted to support and inform them about infant feeding choices. Conclusions: By taking a Social Ecological perspective, we were able to explore and demonstrate the multiple influences impacting on expectant parents in the decision-making process. A better understanding of expectant parents’ views and experiences in making infant feeding decisions in the prenatal and antenatal periods will inform public health policy and the coordination of service provision to support infant feeding activities

Twice the Opportunity: Policy Recommendations to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care and Their Children

In 2011 the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, commenced an effort to draw attention to the urgent and unmet needs of one of the more vulnerable populations in our society: youth in foster care who are expectant or parenting their children. These young families face significant challenges to becoming healthy, stable and successful for both parents and their children. They also present policymakers and child welfare administrators with an opportunity to design a comprehensive set of policies and programs to reduce the poor and costly outcomes that these families too often experience and to instead positively support these two generations to thrive. As more states extend foster care beyond age 18, child welfare agencies will face an increase in the number of expectant and parenting youth in their system. This guide presents elements of a policy agenda for addressing the health, safety, permanency, educational, housing and financial needs of both the expectant and parenting youth and their children. It is based on CSSP's experience working for the past two years with four jurisdictions (New York City, Washington DC, Knox County, Tennessee and the State of Washington) to support their efforts to improve outcomes for these young families. The policy recommendations in this guide build on the on-the ground experiences of the four sites and are also informed by the advice CSSP received from a group of national experts on expectant and parenting youth in foster care. This publication is an update of a set of draft recommendations that CSSP published in 2011

Expectant parents classes: Are they effective

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit