Pregnancy and early parenthood mark a transformative period where women become caregivers and assume a new role with new responsibilities. While often portrayed positively, the transition to motherhood can be overwhelming. This is especially true for women living in adverse circumstances, presenting …

Background Globally, cesarean birth rates are rising, and while it can be a lifesaving procedure, cesarean birth is also associated with increased maternal and perinatal risks. This study aims to describe changes over time about the mode of birth and perinatal outcomes in second-pregnancy women with …

Objective To investigate trends in low Apgar scores in (near) term singletons using the Dutch Perinatal Registry. Methods In a cohort of 1,583,188 singletons liveborn ≥35 weeks of gestation in the period 2010–2019, we studied trends in low 5-min Apgar scores (<7 and <4) using Cochrane Armitage trend …

Objectives To describe characteristics of neonates with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia (SNH) and to gain more insight in improvable factors that may have contributed to the development of SNH. Design and setting Descriptive study, based on national Dutch perinatal audit data on SNH from 2017 to …

Introduction This study aims to explore maternal and perinatal outcomes of migrant women in Iceland. Material and methods This prospective population-based cohort study included women who gave birth to a singleton in Iceland between 1997 and 2018, comprising a total of 92 403 births. Migrant women were …

Background: In 2009, the Steering Committee for Pregnancy and Childbirth in the Netherlands recommended the implementation of continuous care during labor in order to improve perinatal outcomes. However, in current care, routine maternity caregivers are unable to provide this type of care, resulting …

Background: The maternity care system in the Netherlands is well known for its support of community-based midwifery. However, regular midwifery practices typically do not offer caseload midwifery care – one-to-one continuity of care throughout pregnancy and birth. Because we know very little about the …

A positive experience of the perinatal period is significant for women in midwifery care. The literature on women’s experiences of the care in this period is extensive. However, a clear overview of the dimensions important for women’s experiences is lacking. Consequently, care providers and researchers …

Background: Empowerment is expected to have a beneficial effect on a woman’s well-being during the perinatal period and her readiness to face the challenges of motherhood. In the literature on pregnancy and childbirth, empowerment is used widely in different contexts, with different connotations and …

Background Woman-centred care is a philosophy for midwifery care management of the childbearing woman. There is no mutually recognised internalised way in midwifery to provide woman-centred care. Objective To reveal midwives’ distinct perspectives about woman-centred care. Methods A Q-methodology …