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Objective: This study describes factors helping pregnant multiparas cope with their fear of birth and aims to contribute insight into measures that could be taken to support and develop care for multiparas with fear of birth., Methods: Purposive sampling was used for collecting data from closed discussion forums. An electronic questionnaire included structured background questions and qualitative open-ended questions related to the factors multiparas had found helped them cope with their fear of birth. After excluding respondents in early pregnancy (n = 20), the data consisted of answers from 78 pregnant multiparas from Finland. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis., Results: The factors helping pregnant multiparas to cope with their fear of birth included obtaining information, planning ahead, receiving empathic support, dealing with emotions in different ways, and focusing on the positive., Conclusions: The support multiparas receive for their fear of birth from healthcare providers is insufficient and the quality and content of care varies widely. As a result, multiparas have been left to personally take responsibility for coping with their fear., Implications for Practice: The care for treating fear of birth in multiparas needs to be improved. This requires a critical evaluation of the maternity system, policies, and competence of healthcare professionals who work with pregnant people., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The first aim of this study was to describe mothers' self-efficacy, satisfaction and perceptions when parenting their infants during the first days postpartum. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore the distinct sociodemographic as well as mother and infant related factors that are associated with the above parenting aspects., Design: A descriptive and cross-sectional study design was used., Setting: Three separate postpartum wards 1-7 days after childbirth in one university level hospital in Finland., Participants: All mothers who gave birth during March 1st to May 20th, 2019 and filled the inclusion criteria, were invited to participate in this study. A convenience sample of 250 mothers with healthy singleton infants agreed to participate., Measurements and Findings: The following instruments were used: The Parenting Self-Efficacy (PSE) scale, the Evaluation subscale of What Being the Parent of a New Baby is Like-revised (WBPL-R) and the Perception of Infant scale. Mothers' parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction were high during the first days postpartum. Age, marital status, education and type of birth were not associated with parenting self-efficacy nor satisfaction. Mothers who were unemployed or working only part-time reported higher scores across all categories of parenting self-efficacy, compared to full time employed mothers (p < .001). A higher number of children (≥ 3) were positively associated with both parenting self-efficacy and satisfaction. Mothers who reported poor breastfeeding initiation success also reported significantly lower scores in parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction across all categories. Mothers' perceptions of their infants' fussiness were not associated with parenting self-efficacy (p = .113) nor parenting satisfaction (p = .091)., Key Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results of this study can benefit postpartum maternity health care professionals by suggesting factors that could be focused on during the very short period that mothers stay in hospital. Discussing prior mothering experiences, work life before maternity leave, breastfeeding initiation experiences and perception of infant with the mothers after childbirth, may lead to better PSE and PS during the postpartum period., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: the study aimed at evaluating primiparous or multiparous mothers' perceptions of social support from nursing professionals (SSNP) in postnatal wards and factors associated with SSNP., Design: a cross-sectional and correlational design was used., Methods: data was collected in 2007-2008 in two maternity hospitals with a convenience sample of Finnish-comprehending primiparous and multiparous mothers (N=1300). Multiple-birth and early discharge mothers were excluded. The amount of SSNP including affection, affirmation and concrete aid was measured. Questionnaires were returned from 754 mothers (58%). Fisher's exact test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, ordinal regression and multiple regression were used in the analyses., Findings: mothers perceived the amount of SSNP as moderate. The amount of affirmational support was perceived as the highest compared with concrete and affectional support. Multiparas received statistically significantly less concrete aid compared with primiparas. The number of mother- and infant-related factors was substantial and their association was stronger among primiparas. Depressive symptoms were a significant factor among multiparas. Advice from nursing professionals, parenting self-efficacy, mother's age and infant age explained 54.0% of the variation in SSNP for primiparas. Correspondingly, advice from nursing professionals, state of mind on hospital discharge and family functioning explained 49.3% of the variation in SSNP for multiparas., Key Conclusion and Implications for Practice: primiparas that are vulnerable for a scarce amount of SSNP were easier to recognise on the basis of their background information, infant characteristics, childbirth-related factors, and sense of efficacy. Challenges lie in taking into account the whole family, especially among multiparas, and in developing professionals' guidance skills. Among primiparas the model of postpartum care may matter. Our results give professionals a better understanding of the resources and challenges faced by mothers in order to develop postnatal SSNP., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: to explore the relationship between maternity hospital practices and breast feeding self-efficacy., Design: the data were collected using a cross-sectional survey. The study is a part of a larger longitudinal research and development project called 'Urban parenthood'., Setting: three urban maternity hospitals in Southern Finland., Participants: altogether 1400 questionnaires were given out and 573 primiparous and multiparous women completed the questionnaire within a week after childbirth. The response rate was 41%., Findings: early and successful initiation of breast feeding, rooming-in and exclusive breast feeding during the hospital stay were associated with higher maternal breast feeding self-efficacy in both primiparous and multiparous women. The reason (medical or non-medical), frequency or method (bottle or cup) for supplementation was not associated with breast feeding self-efficacy., Key Conclusion and Implications for Practice: breast feeding experiences during the immediate postpartum period have an association with breast feeding self-efficacy. Mothers who are not able to initiate breast feeding within an hour after birth or whose infants are supplemented during the hospital stay may benefit from additional support and breast feeding counselling., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: this study evaluates how an internet-based intervention affects mothers' parenting satisfaction, infant centrality and depressive symptoms., Design: a quasi-experimental design and repeated measures were used., Settings: this study was conducted in two Finnish public maternity hospitals (intervention/control)., Participants: a convenience sample (N=1300) of primiparous and multiparous Finnish-speaking mothers were invited to participate. Multiple-birth and early discharge mothers receiving home visits were excluded. The analysis included 760 mothers., Intervention: the intervention offered online support for parenting, breast feeding and infant care beginning from the middle of pregnancy. It consisted of an information database, a peer discussion forum and expert advice., Measurements: Outcomes were measured by the Evaluation and Infant Centrality subscales of the What Being the Parent of a New Baby is Like-Revised, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale after childbirth, and six weeks, six months and 12 months post partum. Age, parity, parenting self-efficacy, and perception of infant and family functioning were used as the covariates., Findings: during the first postpartum year, mothers' parenting satisfaction increased significantly, whereas infant centrality and depressive symptoms decreased within groups. However, these changes were not linear. The mean difference between groups in parenting satisfaction and depressive symptoms was not significant within any of the four assessments. The mean difference in infant centrality between control and intervention mothers was significant only at six weeks post partum. Primiparas scored significantly higher in infant centrality and significantly lower in depressive symptoms than multiparas., Key Conclusion and Implications for Practice: an internet-based intervention did not significantly affect mothers' perceptions of parenting satisfaction and depressive symptoms, but intervention mothers experienced higher infant centrality compared with control mothers at six weeks. Parenting self-efficacy was a significant covariate for all measures. Parity needs to be taken into account when infant centrality and depressive symptoms are used as outcome variables in intervention studies. More research is needed to study the potential of information data bank, professional, and peer online support. This study also highlights the need to pay more attention to the selection of the target population, the selection of outcome measures, and implementation issues in intervention research., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The postpartum period presents several challenges related to learning infant care tasks, getting to know the infant and fulfilling self-expectations as parents. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of information-technology-based interventions that support parenting during this period., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an internet-based intervention to support mothers' and fathers' parenting satisfaction and parenting self-efficacy (PSE)., Design: A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group and repeated measures., Setting: Two public maternity hospitals (intervention/control) in southern Finland., Participants: A convenience sample of mothers and/or fathers (n = 1300 families). The inclusion criteria were primipara or multipara, and at least one parent willing to participate. Multiple birth, non-Finnish speaking and early discharge parents receiving home visits were excluded. A total of 500 mothers and 242 fathers returned complete sets of questionnaires., Intervention: The intervention offered online support for parenting, breast feeding and infant care beginning from the middle of pregnancy. It comprised an information database, a peer discussion forum and expert advice., Measurements: Outcomes were measured by the Evaluation Subscale of the What Being the Parent of a New Baby is Like-Revised and parenting self-efficacy instruments after childbirth and six to eight weeks post partum., Findings: Both intervention and control mothers' parenting satisfaction and PSE increased significantly during the postpartum period. Fathers' parenting satisfaction and PSE also increased, but this change was only significant in the case of PSE. Both parents felt that their affective skills related to PSE were the weakest after childbirth. During the postpartum period, affective skills improved more than cognitive and behavioural skills. Different groups of mothers and different groups of fathers showed an equally positive change in parenting satisfaction and PSE., Conclusion: Both intervention and control mothers' and fathers' parenting satisfaction and PSE became more positive during the postpartum period. However, no intervention effects were found. In the future, it would be interesting to study longer-term effects and more specific groups of parents. The results indicate that online support has the potential to reach parents from diverse backgrounds. More research is needed on gender differences and user preferences. More interactive methods are needed to support parents' affective skills related to PSE., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: to evaluate the amount of social support offered to Finnish mothers and fathers by nursing professionals in the postnatal ward, identify the type of additional support that mothers and fathers desire, and analyse the factors associated with support that mothers and fathers received in the postnatal ward., Methods: data were collected as part of a larger collaborative project called 'Urban Parenthood-Enhancing Well-being of Infants' Families' involving the well-being of families in the postnatal wards of two Finnish university hospitals during the winter of 2006-2007. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to measure social support on a scale from 1 to 6. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions. Mothers and fathers completed the questionnaire independently, either in the postnatal ward or immediately after discharge., Findings: questionnaires were returned by 863 (66%) mothers and 525 (40%) fathers. The amount of support received from nursing professionals was moderate or little. Of the three types of support, mothers and fathers experienced 'affectional support' most strongly [mothers' mean 4.12, standard deviation (SD) 1.04; fathers' mean 3.98, SD 1.25] and 'concrete support' least strongly (mothers' mean 3.08, SD 1.17; fathers' mean 3.03, SD 1.43). Least social support was received by parents in families where the mother was multiparous (p < 0.001) or older (p ≤ 0.001), and by fathers who were not able to stay in the ward around the clock (p < 0.001). Open-ended questions indicate that mothers and fathers desire greater social support in all its forms., Key Conclusions: health care during the postnatal period should be developed such that it becomes more family centred, encouraging and resource strengthening., Implications for Practice: Attention must be paid to the support received by older mothers and parents in families where the mother is multiparous. In addition, possibilities for fathers to participate in postnatal care must be increased., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)