Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care, Women

Improving the care of mothers between pregnancies

Monash University 2 mins read

Some Australian mothers regard navigating their personal health care in between pregnancies as confusing, inconsistent, and hard to access, new research by a Monash University-led team has found.

The focus of consultations between pregnancies is mostly on babies and children, while the health needs of mothers can be neglected with potentially negative consequences for women and their future children. Ensuring care between pregnancies can help prevent and manage health issues like gestational diabetes and hypertension.

The health sector calls the care between pregnancies interconception care, though knowledge and understanding of this term is not well understood by patients, the research found.

According to the paper, Australian women's experiences and perceptions of interconception care: A qualitative descriptive study, about 350,000 women die across the world annually, as a result of pregnancy and childbirth complications. In addition, more than 15 million live with lifelong pregnancy and childbirth related disabilities and illness.

Published in the journal BMJ - Sexual and Reproductive Health, the study was led by Sarmitha Kodavaluru as part of her Honours research under the supervision of Dr Sharon James and Professor Danielle Mazza, who form part of the SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence at Monash University.

“In Australia, the maternal mortality rate is higher among women with modifiable risk factors, such as high body mass index and smoking, emphasising the importance of early risk reduction,” said Dr James.

“For example, tailored support to address obesity may facilitate a healthy pregnancy and birth but it takes time for the benefits of lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity to occur.

“If left unchecked, lifestyle risks may lead to conditions such as gestational diabetes and hypertension, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, as well as preterm birth and growth restriction of the fetus inside the uterus.”

Lead author, Ms Sarmitha Kodavaluru said, “The interconception period is a critical time where issues including breastfeeding difficulties and mental health concerns may occur. Women are often also juggling childcare and employment. ”

“A stronger focus on women’s health during the interconception period provides an opportunity to significantly improve the health of women, infants and subsequent pregnancies.”

This type of care includes the review of conditions and outcomes from a previous pregnancy, the provision of and education about postpartum contraception and optimal spacing between pregnancies, and the identification and management of maternal risk factors such as lifestyle, medical, environmental, occupational and social risks.

The study involved detailed interviews with 15 mothers, who had given birth to at least one child and were planning to have more children.

This paper builds on other research by SPHERE researchers on interconception including (Women's needs for lifestyle risk reduction engagement during the interconception period: a scoping review - PubMed (nih.gov), and a study looking at the views of GPs on this issue, Interconception care in Australian general practice: a qualitative study | British Journal of General Practice (bjgp.org))

 

About SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence

SPHERE is the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care – a collaborative research centre comprising national and international experts in sexual and reproductive health.

Read the full paper in BMJ - Sexual and Reproductive Health: Australian women's experiences and perceptions of interconception care: A qualitative descriptive study

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2024-202408

 

For media enquiries please contact:

 

Monash University

Cheryl Critchley – Media and Communications Manager (medical)
E:
cheryl.critchley@monash.edu

T: +61 (0) 477 571 442

 

For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site 


For general media enquiries please contact:
Monash Media
E: 
media@monash.edu
T: +61 (0) 3 9903 4840

More from this category

  • Community, Women
  • 01/11/2024
  • 20:52
Women's Auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, WA

Western Australia’s Second-Ever Women-Led Peace Symposium for a Women-Only Audience Set to Inspire Dialogue, Unity and Empowerment.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Press members are warmly invited to attend and report on a pioneering initiative that seeks to inspire and empower women in peace and human rights advocacy. Perth, Australia – Perth, WA |The Women’s Auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is hosting Western Australia’s second annual peace symposium, exclusively organised and conducted by women for a women-only audience. Event Details: • Theme: Human Rights According to My Faith • Date: Saturday, 16 November 2024 • Time: 4:30 PM • Location: Nasir Mosque (239 Barrington Street, Bibra Lake, WA 6163) In a region where peace dialogues typically feature mixed-gender participants,…

  • Government Federal, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 01/11/2024
  • 12:22
Catholic Health Australia

Private hospital financial review confirms serious viability issues

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) welcomes the federal government’s report on the Private Hospital Sector Financial Viability Health Check released today, which confirms the sector is facing serious viability issues. “This report confirms what we have been saying for a long time — that the private health sector is under severe and unprecedented funding pressure, especially in mental health and maternity care,” said Catholic Health Australia Director of Health Policy Dr Katharine Bassett. “We thank the government for undertaking this important review and committing to swiftly identifying both short-term and long-term solutions. “We look forward to working with all sector stakeholders,…

  • Medical Health Aged Care, Research Development
  • 01/11/2024
  • 10:19
National Rural Health Alliance

National Rural Health Month: time to spotlight rural health

A time to celebrate and a time for action! November is National Rural Health Month and it’s time to spotlight rural communities and health…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.