It takes a virtual village: Childbearing women's experience of a closed Facebook support group for mothers

Parents' Experiences with Postpartum Support Groups using Videoconferencing: Perceptions of Safety in the Virtual Space

PURPOSE

To explore new parents' experiences with web-based videoconferencing as a mechanism of offering postpartum virtual support groups.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Virtual support sessions and individual interviews were conducted to explore participants' experiences with virtual postpartum groups.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven parents participated in seven virtual support sessions and 19 participated in individual interviews. Participant narratives centered on perceptions of safety when engaging in virtual support groups. Tools within the virtual space (camera; mute) created a relational paradox which provided safeguards but also hindered the building of trust. Participants described negotiating the fear of harm and judgment within virtual spaces alongside feelings of security in connecting from the safety of their homes.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The virtual environment provides a forum for new parents to access information and support and an avenue for engagement with maternal child nurses and care providers. Awareness of how parents perceive safety in the virtual environment is an important part of facilitating and structuring parent groups on videoconferencing platforms. Nurses should be familiar with videoconferencing technology and be able to guide parents. Experience facilitating virtual groups to ensure safety and security while providing needed support is a valuable nursing skill.

Taking the reins: A grounded theory study of women's experiences of negotiating water immersion for labour and birth after a previous caesarean section

BACKGROUND

Women seeking a vaginal birth after a caesarean section (VBAC) frequently want to keep their subsequent labour and birth free from intervention. Water immersion (WI) during labour is potentially an effective tool for women having a VBAC for its natural pain-relieving properties. However, negotiating access to WI can be difficult, especially in the context of VBAC.

AIM

To explore women's experiences of negotiating WI for labour and birth in the context of VBAC.

METHODOLOGY

This Grounded Theory study followed Strauss and Corbin's framework and analytic process. Twenty-five women planning or using WI for their VBAC labour or birth were recruited from two midwifery practices and a social media group across Australia. Participants were interviewed during pregnancy and/or postnatally.

FINDINGS

'Taking the reins', the core category explaining the women's experiences of assuming authority over their birth, comprised five categories: 'Robbed of my previous birth experience'; 'My eyes were opened'; 'Water is my tool for a successful VBAC'; 'Actioning my choices and rights for WI', and 'Empowered to take back control'. 'Wanting natural and normal' was the driving force behind women's desire to birth vaginally. Two mediating factors: Having someone in your corner and Rules for birth facilitated or hindered their birth choices, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The women became active participants in their healthcare by seeking information and options to keep their birth experience natural and normal. Support from other women and advocacy in the form of continuity of midwifery care was crucial in successfully negotiating WI for their VBAC when navigating the complex health system.

Baby-led weaning: A thematic analysis of comments made by parents using online parenting forums

BACKGROUND

Baby-led weaning (BLW) centres on making the baby an active partner, rather than a passive recipient of complementary feeding. Key features of BLW include self-feeding foods in their natural form, eating with the rest of the family and consuming family foods. This differs from traditional weaning (TW) where parents initially spoon feed purees, alongside finger foods, before graduating to more textured food. Previous research, however, has suggested parents may not fully adhere to one weaning style. This study aimed to explore how the meaning and interpretation of BLW may contribute to the weaning style used.

METHODS

Messages and responses posted on three UK parenting forums, and relating to complementary feeding, were analysed using an interpretive thematic approach.

RESULTS

The characterisation of BLW by parents was varied but they described BLW having an ethos which included trusting the baby, role modelling, developing confidence with food and sharing the social aspects of mealtimes. BLW also offered an alternative to those actively seeking something different or a default for those whose baby refused purees or spoon feeding. BLW felt like a natural progression, with low parental effort for some, and a source of anxiety, stress, choking risk and mess for others. Many parents struggled to find a process (what to eat and when) within BLW, that they could follow. Finger foods were used synonymously with BLW but many mixed/blurred aspects of both TW and BLW.

CONCLUSIONS

The interpretation of BLW varies considerably between parents and a broader definition of BLW may be required, along with guidance on the process and purpose of BLW. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.