Healthy Birth Practices Revisited

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education describes this special issue where distiguished authors provide updated evidence-based reviews of the Lamaze International Six Healthy Birth Practices that promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.This issue is dedicated to Elisabeth Bing on the occasion of her 100th birthday.     

试论围生期TORCH感染及其防治

TORCH是组致畸微生物,围生期孕妇TORCH感染后,可通过胎盘、羊水、母血、母乳等途径感染胎婴儿,致使胎儿畸形、新生儿先天性缺陷。因此,必须从加强孕期卫生宣教,开展孕期感染源筛查、药物治疗、预防接种及优生保健等方面积极防治,从而降低病残儿的发生率,以促进优生优育,提高人口素质。     

It Takes a Team

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education (JPE) compares the need for careful planning, preparation, and coordinated teamwork in preparing for a safe, healthy birth with similar needs necessary for putting together each issue of JPE. The editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.     

A Grandmothers’ Tea: Evaluation of a Breastfeeding Support Intervention

This study’s purpose was to evaluate an intervention to facilitate grandmothers’ knowledge and support of breastfeeding. A pilot study with a quasi-experimental two-group posttest design was used to evaluate whether the intervention made a difference in grandmothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and intent to recommend breastfeeding. The 26 grandmothers in the intervention group attended A Grandmothers’ Tea program; the 23 grandmothers in the control group received written information. The intervention group had greater posttest knowledge scores than the control group but had no significant differences in attitudes or intent. However, a significant difference was evident between the attitude scores of grandmothers who breastfed their infants and of grandmothers who did not breastfeed their infants regardless of receiving the intervention.     

A Commitment to Excellence

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education describes two international credentialing programs, the Magnet Recognition Program and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Both require an ongoing commitment to excellence. The editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth. Open in a separate windowWendy C. BudinEditor     

Make the Stillborn Baby and the Loss Real for the Siblings: Parents’ Advice on How the Siblings of a Stillborn Baby Can Be Supported

This study aimed to investigate parents’ advice to other parents on the basis of their own experiences of siblings’ taking leave of a stillborn sister or brother. The study was a Web questionnaire study of 411 parents. The thematic content analysis resulted in two categories: “Make the stillborn baby and the loss real for the siblings” and “Take the siblings’ resources and prerequisites into account.” Parents’ advised that siblings should see and hold the stillborn baby and, thus, be invited and included into the leave-taking process with respect to the siblings’ feelings, resources, and prerequisites. Based on these findings, professional caregivers can usefully be proactive in their approach to facilitate and encourage the involvement of siblings.     

The value of using a prenatal education planning model: application to an aboriginal community

A conceptual model for planning adolescent prenatal programs was developed that anticipated future trends, was easily modifiable, and fostered community self-direction (Loos & Morton, 1996). However, the model's reliability with diverse groups in atypical settings required testing. Validation of its reliability focused on adolescent Aboriginal women living in an isolated northern community. Use of the model helped identify modifications in program design, implementation, and evaluation to meet the ethno-cultural, socioeconomic, and age-related needs differences of this population, suggesting that this model is an effective tool for program development.     

Where to Give Birth

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education discusses choices mothers make when deciding on where to give birth. The editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.     

Pressure From Above

The author of this guest editorial discusses the new perinatal standards endorsed by the National Quality Forum and goals to improve the health of all Americans announced by the National Priorities Partnership. She discusses the impact of the standards and goals on maternity care and what childbirth educators can do to help implement the standards and advance the goals.