Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of labor comfort on traumatic childbirth perception, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and breastfeeding after the fourth postpartum week. Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted between June 2019 and February 2020 in Turkey (n = 102). A personal information form and the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire were administered to pregnant women with cervical dilatation of 5–8 cm in the delivery room. They were also administered the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), PTSD Scale, and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale twice, including 4 weeks and 3 months after childbirth. Additionally, the TCPS and PTSD Scale were reapplied 6 months after childbirth. Results: The prevalence of traumatic childbirth perceptions and PTSD at 4 weeks of the postpartum period was 68.6% and 59.8%, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between physical labor comfort (p = 0.003), transcendence (p = 0.023), family history of labor difficulty (p = 0.027), and feelings about birth before labor begins (p = 0.005) and traumatic childbirth perceptions 4 weeks after childbirth. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between physical labor comfort (p = 0.001), psychospiritual labor comfort (p = 0.006), transcendence (p = 0.001), primiparity (p = 0.009), place of residence (p = 0.044), and traumatic childbirth perceptions (p < 0.001) and PTSD 4 weeks after childbirth. Physical labor comfort affected traumatic childbirth perceptions 3 and 6 months after childbirth (p < 0.05). Physical labor comfort affected breastfeeding self-efficacy 4 weeks and 3 months after childbirth (p < 0.05). A significant relationship was also found between high traumatic childbirth perception levels, high PTSD prevalence, and low breastfeeding self-efficacy 3 months after giving birth (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Puerperal women had high traumatic childbirth perception levels and PTSD prevalence. Low labor comfort increased traumatic childbirth perception and PTSD prevalence. There was a significant relationship between low labor comfort, high traumatic childbirth perception level, high PTSD prevalence, and low breastfeeding self-efficacy. Therefore, midwives should support pregnant women to increase labor comfort by using alternative methods. Thus, traumatic childbirth perception may decrease and breastfeeding self-efficacy may increase.

The aim of this study was to determine the perception of traumatic childbirth during pregnancy and the postpartum period and the postnatal mental health outcomes of traumatic childbirth perception....

Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of acupressure (SP6) on first stage of labor pain and duration.Methods: A single blind, randomized controlled experimental trial was conducted with 60 pregnant women: 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. At the active and transition stages of labor, acupressure was applied to the SP6 point of the experimental group, and the SP6 point of the control group was touched each contraction. The data were collected using the Pregnant Information Form. The Partograph Form was used to determine the duration of active stage and transition stage. The labor pain severity was measured using a numeric rating scale (NRS) immediately after each acupressure/touch SP6 in active and transition stages. A participant questionnaire on satisfaction was administered in the immediate postnatal period. The group difference was tested for statistical significance using the Chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann–Whitney U test.Results: As the primary outcome, labor pain was less and duration of labor was shorter for the experimental group. As the secondary outcome, satisfaction was increased that could be as a result of reduced pain in labor and/or shorter duration of labor. The perceived pain level in the active stage in the experimental group (n = 30) was less than the control group (n = 30) (labor pain: 7.17 + 0.89 vs. 7.66 + 0.71, p = .002). The mean duration of the first stage of labor in the experimental group was shorter than the control group (4.88 + 0.85 hr vs. 5.56 ± 0.66, p = .001). It was also found that pregnant women in the experimental group would recommend this method to other pregnant women (Chi‐square = 5.711, p = .017).Conclusions: Application of acupressure on SP6 was found to have a positive effect on pregnant women's labor experience and reducing the labor pain and shortening the duration of first stage of labor compared to touch on SP6. The women receiving acupressure had higher levels of satisfaction in acupressure application than women receiving only touch on SP6, which could be as a result of reduced pain in labor and/or shorter duration of labor.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the adaptation status of hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnancy and its effects on quality of life. Methods: The study was carried out between January and December 2018 in at the gynecology services and obstetrics clinics of a public hospital in Turkey. The study included pregnant women as the case group (n = 150) in their first and second trimesters diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and pregnant women with healthy pregnancy (n = 150). In order to obtain information pertinent to the participants, a “Personal Information Form” was used, the “Quality of Life (SF36) Form” was used to determine quality of life, and to determine adaption to pregnancy, the “Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale” was applied. Only the “Acceptance of Pregnancy” and “Acceptance of the Role of the Motherhood” subdimensions were included in the study since the pregnant women in their first and second trimesters participated. Results: Acceptance of pregnancy (p = .000) and acceptance of the role of motherhood (p = .018) were found to be significantly lower in the pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum in comparison to the healthy pregnant women. The quality of life levels of the pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum were found to be lower than those in the healthy pregnant women (p < .001). According to the correlation analysis that was performed, it was determined that the decrease in the quality of life coincided with the decrease in acceptance of the role of motherhood (p < .001). Conclusions: Hyperemesis gravidarum adversely affects quality of life. Additionally, hyperemesis gravidarum and low quality of life negatively affect acceptance of pregnancy and the role of motherhood.

Aim: This study aims to determine the sociodemographic and paternal factors affecting intrauterine paternal-fetal attachment Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with fathers whose partners were over the 24th week of their pregnancies (n=174). The fathers were applied a form regarding responsibility-taking for mother and baby and the Intrauterine Father Attachment Scale. Results: Fathers who are young, university graduates, have spouse working, planned the pregnancy, have no other children, and state that they had a good relationship with their father, were found to have significantly higher levels of attachment to the intrauterine fetus. Fathers who are attended the prenatal classes with their spouse, state that their spouse is supportive towards them, want to accompany their spouse during childbirth, and state that the baby is both the mother and the father’s responsibility after birth, were found to have significantly higher levels of attachment to the intrauterine fetus. Also, it was found that fathers who responsibility-taking for both mother and baby have a high level of attachment to the fetus (P <0.05). Conclusion: Considering that planned pregnancy and fathers’ participation in antenatal care increases the level of attachment, health professionals have a great responsibility in terms of planning pregnancies and encouraging fathers to participate in antenatal care.