How pregnant women learn about foetal movements: Sources and preferences for information
Author(s)
McArdle, Annie
Flenady, Vicki
Toohill, Jocelyn
Gamble, Jenny
Creedy, Debra
Year published
2015
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: Unexplained late gestation stillbirth is a significant health issue. Antenatal information about foetal movements has been demonstrated to reduce the stillbirth rate in women with decreased foetal movements. Midwives are ideally placed to provide this information to women. Aim: To investigate pregnant women's perceptions of information about foetal movements and preferences for receiving information. Methods: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of a large metropolitan maternity hospital. Findings: Pregnant women (n = 526) at 34 weeks gestation or later were recruited. Only ...
View more >Background: Unexplained late gestation stillbirth is a significant health issue. Antenatal information about foetal movements has been demonstrated to reduce the stillbirth rate in women with decreased foetal movements. Midwives are ideally placed to provide this information to women. Aim: To investigate pregnant women's perceptions of information about foetal movements and preferences for receiving information. Methods: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of a large metropolitan maternity hospital. Findings: Pregnant women (n = 526) at 34 weeks gestation or later were recruited. Only 67% of women reported receiving information about foetal movements. Women reported that midwives (80%), family (57%), friends (48%) and own mother (48%) provided this information. Midwives were the most preferred source of information. Around half (52%) of the women used the internet for information but only 11% nominated the web as their preferred information source. Conclusion: Women prefer to be given as much information about foetal movements as possible. Women favour information from health professionals, mainly from a midwife. Midwives are well-placed to partner with pregnant women and give them unbiased and evidenced based information enabling them to make decisions and choices regarding their health and well-being. While the internet is a prevalent information source, women want to be reassured that it is trustworthy and want direction to reliable pregnancy related websites.
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View more >Background: Unexplained late gestation stillbirth is a significant health issue. Antenatal information about foetal movements has been demonstrated to reduce the stillbirth rate in women with decreased foetal movements. Midwives are ideally placed to provide this information to women. Aim: To investigate pregnant women's perceptions of information about foetal movements and preferences for receiving information. Methods: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of a large metropolitan maternity hospital. Findings: Pregnant women (n = 526) at 34 weeks gestation or later were recruited. Only 67% of women reported receiving information about foetal movements. Women reported that midwives (80%), family (57%), friends (48%) and own mother (48%) provided this information. Midwives were the most preferred source of information. Around half (52%) of the women used the internet for information but only 11% nominated the web as their preferred information source. Conclusion: Women prefer to be given as much information about foetal movements as possible. Women favour information from health professionals, mainly from a midwife. Midwives are well-placed to partner with pregnant women and give them unbiased and evidenced based information enabling them to make decisions and choices regarding their health and well-being. While the internet is a prevalent information source, women want to be reassured that it is trustworthy and want direction to reliable pregnancy related websites.
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Journal Title
Women and Birth
Volume
28
Issue
1
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Reproductive medicine
Midwifery