- Neonatal Health Outcomes Before and After Introduction of a Midwifery-Led Care Model in Embu County, Kenya: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Oct 05. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a midwifery-led care model had a positive impact on some neonatal health outcomes, but not all. County policymakers should use these findings to develop standardized policy guidelines for midwifery-led care models, aiming to enhance neonatal health outcomes across the county. These findings can also inform policy decisions at national and international levels in developing evidence-based frameworks to enhance neonatal care.
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- Prenatal Education Strategies Designed to Support Women's Mobility During Labor: A Scoping Review. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Oct 05. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Despite recommendations to inform expectant women about active-labor options in prenatal education, relatively few studies provided structured, mobility-focused strategies. Where present, studies reported greater childbirth confidence, use of non-pharmacological pain relief, lower pain, and increased use of upright positions. A persistent research gap remains regarding targeted prenatal education that prepares women to make informed choices about mobility and positioning during labor.
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- Explaining Intentions for Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Israeli Women: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Oct 05. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to enhance knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding, foster supportive environments, and target specific interventions for women whose initial breastfeeding experiences were not successful. We conclude with a series of specific actions that healthcare providers and policymakers can take to improve breastfeeding rates.
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- Delivery Choice in Pregnancies Complicated by Cardiac Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Modified World Health Organization Staging. [Review]Birth. 2026 Oct 05. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: This study documents concerning CS overuse in cardiac pregnancies with disease severities. Current guidelines recommend vaginal delivery as standard practice, reserving surgical intervention for specific obstetric or critical cardiac conditions. However, our findings suggest a substantial gap between clinical practice and current guideline recommendations in this regard, requiring extensive attention.
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- Perceived Barriers Among Midwives to Implementation of the Modified Partograph in a Public Hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Oct 02. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations were made to overcome the barriers. The study stressed the need to roll out the modified partograph across all levels of care and to all relevant stakeholders, including the importance of adequate training. Sustained training, mentorship, audit systems, and health-system strengthening should be introduced to prevent confusion about the interpretation of the differences between the partographs and how to ensure complete record keeping.
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- Comment on "Supervised Multicomponent Exercise During Pregnancy Reduces Cesarean Section Rates Without Increasing Miscarriage Risk: A Randomized Clinical Trial". [Letter]Birth. 2026 Sep 30. [Online ahead of print]B
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- Experienced Continuity and Respect in Childbirth: A Cross-Sectional Survey Comparing Midwife-Led and Obstetrician-Led Care. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 28. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate differences of a substantial magnitude in experienced continuity of care, suggesting a need to enhance continuity in obstetrician-led care. Future research should explore strategies to implement and sustain midwife-led continuity models.
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- Birth Trauma: The Role of Obstetric Complications and Perceptions of Care Across the Perinatal Period. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 27. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Women's experience across the entire perinatal period, including complications and perceptions of care during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum, can influence their perception of birth trauma. Monitoring and attending to emotional distress and improving quality of patient-provider interactions throughout the perinatal period may help to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of traumatic birth.
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- Bolstering Reach: Tailoring Perinatal Mental Health Digital Care for Black and Native American Communities. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 27. [Online ahead of print]B
- Perinatal depression is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the US. Center M, a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy intervention, seeks to prevent perinatal depression through the development of a digital app to complement its' therapeutic intervention. The Center M app is used in conjunction with four, weekly, one-hour, telehealth group-based psychoeducational sessions facilitate…
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- Efficacy and Safety of Drotaverine Hydrochloride Versus Placebo in Primigravida Women Undergoing Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [Review]Birth. 2026 Sep 25. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Drotaverine may enhance cervical dilation and reduce active labor duration with short-term pain relief, without adverse maternal or neonatal effects. Larger studies are needed to confirm long-term safety and comparative effectiveness.
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- Using the Electronic Medical Record to Correlate Patient-Provider Perspectives in the Care of Black Individuals With High-Risk Pregnancies. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 21. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: We highlight limitations of using EMR alone as a tool to assess the quality of care for Black pregnant patients and propose a novel informed care model that encourages providers to center patient voices, assess personal biases, and consider patients' historical, personal, and community contexts while counseling patients with high-risk pregnancies.
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- Post-Traumatic Growth in a Canadian Perinatal Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Examination. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 20. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Identified themes reflect PTG theory and demonstrate that appreciating newfound time, particularly with family, is a foundational component of positive experiences for perinatal women. These findings highlight pathways to growth that can inform risk screening and tailored interventions in the context of future pandemics or individual challenges for perinatal women.
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- Status of Prenatal Care Received by Disabled Women. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 15. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Although disabled women had high rates of receiving prenatal care, they experienced problems due to their disabilities while receiving that care. Health professionals should have the knowledge and skills to provide individualized prenatal care that meets the needs of women with disabilities. Providers should use educational materials that accommodate for disabilities experienced by women in their care.
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- Sociostructural Interventions Concerning Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: A Scoping Review of Recent Studies. [Review]Birth. 2026 Sep 14. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of sociostructural interventional studies addressing VBAC, with few studies finding significant effects. While patient-centered interventions show promise in improving birth outcomes for those pursuing TOLAC, most published clinical trials focus on biomechanical interventions, overlooking the associated complex sociostructural elements.
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- Predictors of Shoulder Dystocia: A Retrospective Case-Control Study. [Journal Article]Birth. 2026 Sep 10. [Online ahead of print]B
- CONCLUSIONS: Fetal macrosomia was the most robust independent predictor of SD. Maternal overweight and diabetes mellitus were contributory and modifiable risk factors. Parity did not independently predict SD events, likely due to a Type I statistical error.
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