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Objective: Modern Singaporean mothers still embrace traditional confinement practices after childbirth, which often marks a significant milestone in maternal experiences. However, limited studies have explored in-depth the collective confinement experiences of mothers in Singapore. This study hence aimed to explore the postpartum confinement experiences of first-time mothers from the three major ethnic groups in Singapore, namely Chinese, Malay, and Indian., Design: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit participants. Individual semi-structured face-to-face/telephone interviews were used to collect data, which were analysed using thematic analysis., Setting and Participants: Sixteen first-time mothers were recruited from two obstetric clinics in a tertiary hospital in Singapore., Findings: Five themes emerged: "Specific diets adopted and avoided for different purposes", "Complexity of various traditional confinement practices (TCPs) adopted", "Reasons for adopting TCPs", "Reasons for modifying TCPs", and "Postpartum challenges"., Key Conclusions: Our study provided unique insights about Singapore's Chinese, Malay and Indian first-time mothers' postpartum confinement experiences. While confinement practices were still observed, many mothers no longer subscribed to guidelines followed by previous generations and were modifying or forgoing practices they deemed impractical. Mothers faced challenges adapting to new motherhood and often felt restrained or stressed by confinement practices., Implications for Practice: Healthcare professionals should take the lead to educate mothers and their families on harmful traditional confinement practices and their misconceptions. Future studies could explore alternative methods of postpartum check-up to improve first-time mothers' confinement experiences, and focus specifically on lower-income families to explore their unique confinement experiences., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Worldwide, the biomedical model of maternity care has been dominant, with the overuse of interventions., Aim: This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and opinions of Turkish midwives regarding the promotion of normal births., Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 midwives; data were analysed using grounded theory. The data were analysed according to the constant comparative method., Findings: The study generated a core category (We want to promote normal births, but have no power to do it), which means all participants wanted to promote normal births. However, they have been disempowered by the medicalised systems of care. There were also three main categories (different ideologies in the labour ward, the midwives have no power, unempowered women). The participants reported that different ideologies in the labour ward were a challenge to promoting normal births. Their working conditions and education level were not enough to support normal birth. The pregnant women were described as unempowered due to a lack of antenatal education and having a fear of childbirth., Conclusion and Implications for Practice: Normal birth could be promoted by enhancing the power and responsibilities of midwives. The women need antenatal education to have a normal birth. The normal birth may promote the enhanced readiness of women and midwives., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: The aim of the present study is to gain a deeper understanding of women's experiences of midwifery care in connection with home visits during the early postnatal period., Research Design/setting: A qualitative approach was chosen for data collection, and the data presented are based on six focus group interviews (n: 24). The women were both primiparous and multiparous, aged 22-37, and lived with their partners. All participants had given birth at a maternity unit responsible for about 4000 births a year. The transcribed interviews were analysed through systematic text condensation., Findings: The findings are reflected in three main themes: 'The importance of relational continuity', 'The importance of a postpartum talk' and 'Vulnerability in the early postnatal period'. When the woman had a personal relationship with the midwife responsible for the home visit she experienced predictability, availability and confidence. The women wanted recognition and time to talk about their birth experience. They also felt vulnerable in their maternal role in the early postnatal period and the start of the breast-feeding process., Conclusions: It is important to promote relational continuity models of midwifery care to address the emotional aspects of the postnatal period. Women generally wish to discuss their birth experience, preferably with the midwife who was present during the birth. Due to the short duration of postnatal care in hospitals, the visit from the midwife a few days after childbirth becomes all the more important., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)