Hannah Grace Dahlen

Western Sydney University · School of Nursing and Midwifery

Midwives provide reproductive healthcare to women, including during termination of pregnancy (TOP) after 12 weeks (late TOP). Their expertise, knowledge and woman-centred care approach sees them ideally placed for this role. However, the medical, social and emotional complexities of late TOP can cause midwives significant distress. An integrative r...

An increasing number of young females are undergoing chest masculinsation mastectomy to affirm a gender identity and/or to relieve gender dysphoria. Some desist in their transgender identification and/or become reconciled with their sex, and then revert (or detransition). To the best of our knowledge, this report presents the first published case o...

Aims: The primary aim of the review was to provide an overall assessment of residential parenting services in Australia, by describing the characteristics of infants and parents using residential parenting services, their prior service use and reasons for admission, referral pathways for access and parenting and infant outcomes. The secondary aims...

Background The Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service was developed to train midwives to promote maternal oral health, and a large trial showed it substantially improved the oral health, knowledge and behaviours of pregnant women. Aim Evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the program (post-trial) on maternal oral health knowledge, dental...

Background Maternity care in Australia is predominantly provided by midwives, many who give birth. There is a paucity of research on midwives own childbearing preferences and experiences. Aim To explore midwives childbirth preferences and outcomes when giving birth to their first child in Australia, after qualifying as a midwife. Methods An onlin...

Background There is a tiered healthcare system in Australia to support maternal and child health, including, non-psychiatric day stay and residential parenting services (RPS) such as Tresillian and Karitane (in New South Wales [NSW]). RPS are unique to Australia, and currently there is limited information regarding the healthcare trajectory of wome...

Background The majority of maternity care is provided by female midwives who have either become mothers or are of childbearing age, but there is limited research exploring midwives’ own personal childbearing experiences. This integrative review aims to explore the published literature and research on midwives’ own experiences of pregnancy and child...

Background In 2019 the Australian government released a guiding document for maternity care: Woman-centred care strategic directions for Australian maternity services (WCC Strategy), with mixed responses from providers and consumers. The aims of this paper were to: examine reasons behind reported dissatisfaction, and compare the WCC Strategy agains...

Background Severe perineal trauma (SPT) affecting the anal sphincter muscle complex is a serious complication following childbirth, associated with short-term and long-term maternal morbidity. Effective preventive strategies are still scarce. The aim of the Oneplus trial was to test the hypothesis that the presence of a second midwife during the se...

Background Perineal trauma requiring suturing is increasing, along with the associated physiological and psychological morbidities for women. Provider training appears to focus more on technical aspects rather than respectful, relational care for women. Studies exploring women’s experiences have identified that how women are cared for can significa...

Background In many countries caesarean section rates are increasing and this impacts on choices made around mode of birth in subsequent pregnancies. Having a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) can be a safe and empowering experience for women, yet most women have repeat caesareans. High caesarean section rates increase maternal and neonatal morbi...

Background Good mentoring is important for students to support their adjustment to and learning in the clinical environment. The quality of the mentoring relationship is key for students but there is a lack of evidence explaining how a good mentor/mentee relationship establishes and develops over time. Aim To explore the developing relationship be...

Objectives To critically evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service (MIOH-DS) designed to improve oral health of pregnant Australian women. Previous efficacy and process evaluations of MIOH-DS showed positive outcomes and improvements across various measures. Design and setting The evaluation used a cost-...

Background Early childhood caries remains a public health challenge and many interventions to manage this disease have focused on prevention during early infancy. Promoting oral health during pregnancy may also improve the oral health of children, however, there is limited evidence in Australia. The Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service (M...

Background: Early childhood caries remains a public health challenge and many interventions to manage this disease have focused on prevention during early infancy. Promoting oral health during pregnancy may also improve the oral health of children, however, there is limited evidence in Australia. The Midwifery Initiated Oral Health-Dental Service (...

Background In Australia, midwives care closely for women during pregnancy and birth and the immediate postnatal period. This scoping review aimed to explore the experiences of female maternity healthcare professionals when they return to work following a personal pregnancy loss or neonatal death. Methodology: A scoping review was carried out on pub...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background Severe perineal trauma sustained during childbirth is a serious complication since it can lead to both short- and long-term consequences for women. Some of the methods used to prevent perineal injuries have been evaluated in clinical trials, but there are still gaps in the evidence. A new clinical practice has been introduced, adopted by...

Nurses and midwives of Australia now is the time for change! As powerfully placed, Indigenous and non-Indigenous nursing and midwifery professionals, together we can ensure an effective and robust Indigenous curriculum in our nursing and midwifery schools of education. Today, Australia finds itself in a shifting tide of social change, where the voi...

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed an underlying pandemic of neglect affecting women's reproductive rights, particularly in the provision of abortion services and maternity care. The systemic neglect in the Australian context has resulted in a rise in demand for the services provided by privately practising midwives (PPMs) t...

Background: Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is a safe mode of birth for most women but internationally VBAC rates remain low. In Australia women planning a VBAC may experience different models of care including continuity of care (CoC). There are a limited number of studies exploring the impact and influence of CoC on women's experiences of p...

Introduction and hypothesisThe current data on the effectiveness of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) on childbirth outcomes are limited. Therefore, in this study the effect of antenatal PFMEs on labour and birth outcomes was assessed by undertaking a meta-analysis.Methods Databases were systematically searched from 1988 until June 201...

Objective Although guidelines recommend antenatal care providers such as midwives promote oral health during pregnancy, oral health training is not routinely provided in undergraduate midwifery curricula. The aim of this study was to implement an oral health module into an Australian undergraduate midwifery program, and evaluate its effectiveness i...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in the decision to access a planned epidural in labour was topicalised and negotiated between pregnant women and midwives. Design: This article uses conversation analysis to examine how decision-making unfolds in antenatal consultations in a large metropolitan hospital in South Austral...

Although induction of labor can be crucial for preventing morbidity and mortality, more and more women (and their offspring) are being exposed to the disadvantages of this intervention while the benefit is at best small or even uncertain. Characteristics such as an advanced maternal age, a non-native ethnicity, a high Body Mass Index, an artificial...

Background: Early childhood caries is a common chronic childhood disease and maternal oral health is a risk factor. Improving the oral health behaviours of pregnant women/young mothers can positively influence the oral health of children and reduce their caries risk. Such preventative strategies have been undertaken by non-dental professionals prod...

Background: Early childhood caries is a common chronic childhood disease and maternal oral health is a risk factor. Improving the oral health behaviours of pregnant women/young mothers can positively influence the oral health of children and reduce their caries risk. Such preventative strategies have been undertaken by non-dental professionals prod...

Background: Early childhood caries is a common chronic childhood disease and maternal oral health is a risk factor. Improving the oral health behaviours of pregnant women/young mothers can positively influence the oral health of children and reduce their caries risk. Such preventative strategies have been undertaken by non-dental professionals pro...

Background: Women want greater choice of place of birth in New South Wales, Australia. It is perceived to be more costly to health services for women with a healthy pregnancy to give birth at home or in a birth centre. It is not known how much it costs the health service to provide care for women planning to give birth in these settings. Aim: Th...

Background: Early childhood caries is a common chronic childhood disease and maternal oral health is an important risk factor. Improving the oral health knowledge and practices of pregnant women/young mothers can positively influence the oral health of children and reduce their caries risk. Such preventative strategies have been undertaken by non-d...

Background: Most women who have a caesarean can safely have a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) for their next birth, but more women have an elective repeat caesarean than a VBAC. Methods: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in Australia, the interactions wi...

Objective: To explore women's experience of skin-to-skin contact and what women want in the first two hours after a caesarean. Design: Audio recorded interviews were conducted with women as a part of a larger video ethnographic research study where video recordings, observations, field notes, focus groups and further in-depth interviews were conduc...

Abstract Background Sexual dysfunction can have a negative impact on women’s quality of life and relationships. There is limited information about female sexual function and treatment, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) on sexual function (SF) has not been studied adequately. T...

Issue Addressed All pregnant women should have a comprehensive oral health evaluation. Unfortunately, many pregnant women seldom seek dental care and some dentists are hesitant to treat during pregnancy. To address these issues, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH‐DS) program was developed in Australia. The aim of this study wa...

Objectives: The aim of this meta-ethnographic review was to examine refugee women's experiences negotiating motherhood and maternity services in a new country with a view to identifying the specific needs of refugee women accessing maternity care in high income countries. Design: A meta-ethnographic synthesis of qualitative research. Data sourc...

Background Depression and anxiety are common during the antenatal and postnatal period, and are known to have a significant impact on the woman and her unborn infant. Pregnant women state a preference for non-pharmacological treatment options, and use complementary medicines and therapies to manage these symptoms. We examined the effectiveness and...

Background: Anecdotally, the number of Australian women who choose unregulated birthworkers to support a homebirth without a registered midwife present is increasing. Aim: To explore the experiences and reasons why some women choose unregulated birthworkers for a homebirth, and examine what they might do if changes in legislation removed this ch...

Aim To examine the association between hypertensive disorders: preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, superimposed preeclampsia and eclampsia (Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy – HDP) on the short and long term health of both mother and baby. Method Linked population datasets from birth and death records and subsequent hos...

Introduction Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) is recommended as a first-line treatment for urinary incontinence. However, a review of the literature suggests the effect of PFME on sexual function (SF), particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period, is understudied. Aim To assess the effect of PFME on SF during pregnancy and the postpa...

Background: Despite well-known benefits of continuity of midwifery care, less than 10% of women have access to this model of care in Australia. Staff retention and satisfaction are strongly related to the quality of management; however, little is known about the attributes required to effectively manage a midwifery group practice. Purpose: To ex...

Background: Despite links between poor maternal oral health, adverse pregnancy outcomes and early childhood decay there is limited emphasis on maternal oral health in Australia. To address this, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in collaboration with the Australian College of Midwives. Aims: To un...

Despite decades of considerable economic investment in improving the health of families and newborns world‐wide, aspirations for maternal and newborn health have yet to be attained in many regions. The global turn toward recognizing the importance of positive experiences of pregnancy, intrapartum and postnatal care, and care in the first weeks of l...

Background: In Australia, the provision of homebirth services by unregulated birthworkers (doulas, ex-registered midwives, traditional midwives and lay workers) has increased. Accessing a homebirth with a registered midwife via mainstream services is limited. Concern is growing that new legislation aimed at prohibiting unregulated birthworkers pra...

Aims and Objectives This study aims to examine the characteristics and service needs of women and babies admitted to Residential Parenting Services (RPS) in the first year following birth in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Background In Australia there is a tiered system to support maternal, child and family health, which includes residential pa...

Background Induction of labour (IOL) is a common procedure yet we have little information on the efficacy of the process for women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). Objective To describe the birth type and associated factors in nulliparous HDP women undergoing an induction of labour. Study design Statutorily collected datasets on e...

Background The comparative safety of different birth settings is widely debated. Comparing research across high-income countries is complex, given differences in maternity service provision, data discrepancies, and varying research techniques and quality. Studies of births planned at home or in birth centres have reported both better and poorer out...

Objectives Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health issue affecting mainly women and is known to escalate during pregnancy and impact negatively on obstetric and perinatal outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of IPV in a pregnant multicultural population and to determine the relationship between IPV reported at bo...

Background Spontaneous vaginal birth rates are decreasing worldwide, while cesarean delivery, instrumental births, and medical birth interventions are increasing. Emerging evidence suggests that birth interventions may have an effect on children's health. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the association between operative and medical b...

Problem: Providing skin-to-skin contact in the operating theatre and recovery is challenging. Background: Barriers are reported in the provision of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact following a caesarean section. Aim: To explore how health professionals' practice impacts the facilitation of skin-to-skin contact within the first 2h following a...

Background Oral health care during pregnancy is important for the health of the mother and child. However, pregnant women have limited knowledge about maternal oral health and seldom seek dental care. Further, due to limited training antenatal care providers like midwives rarely discuss oral health with pregnant women. The Midwifery-Initiated Oral...

Objectives To determine incidence, associated factors, outcomes and geographical occurrence of born before arrival (BBA) in New South Wales, Australia. Design A linked population data study involving population-based surveillance systems was undertaken for the years 2000–2011. Setting New South Wales, Australia. Participants All women who underw...

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is common in infants. When the condition causes pathological symptoms and/or complications it is considered gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It appears to be increasingly diagnosed and causes great distress in the first year of infancy. In New South Wales (NSW), residential parenting services su...

Objective To assess whether the multitherapy antenatal education ‘CTLB’ (Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth) Study programme leads to net cost savings. Design Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, using analysis of outcomes and hospital funding data. Methods We take a payer perspective and use Australian Refined Diagnosis-Related Group (AR-D...

Problem: Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms following birth occur amongst a small proportion of women but can lead to poor maternal mental health, impairment in mother-infant bonding and relationship stress. This integrative review aims to examine the associated risk factors and women's own experiences of postnatal p...

There is evidence of a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and depression in non-pregnant adults; however, there has been little investigation into whether this bidirectional relationship also exists for pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes (GDM) during the pregnancy. GDM is increasing in the pregnant population and in some ethni...

Background: Research indicates some women experiencing depression during pregnancy are dissatisfied with conventional depression treatments due to incomplete effectiveness, dislike of side effects, unsatisfactory experiences with providers and concerns regarding in-utero and breastfeeding safety. Consequently, many explore alternative options incl...

Hannah G. Dahlen has been working with the media as spokesperson for the Australian College of Midwives for 20 years now and has undertaken research into media representations of midwives and obstetricians. There is enormous potential power when midwives work effectively with the media. Having a public voice enables you to shift thinking about chil...

Background: This is one of a series of reviews of methods of cervical ripening and labour induction. The use of complementary therapies is increasing. Women may look to complementary therapies during pregnancy and childbirth to be used alongside conventional medical practice. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific po...

Purpose: This article explores the development and evaluation of a smartphone mobile software application (app) to collect qualitative data. The app was specifically designed to capture real-time qualitative data from women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery. This article outlines the design and development of the app to include fun...

Background: Treatment strategies for the management of antenatal depression are limited by varied and often modest response rates, unpleasant medication side effects and uncertainty regarding foetal safety. Consequently, many pregnant women experiencing depression seek alternative non-pharmaceutical options. Acupuncture may provide a safe and pote...

Introduction: Health professionals are frequently exposed to traumatic events due to the nature of their work. While traumatic and adverse labour and birth events experienced by women are well researched, less attention has been given to midwives' and nurses' experiences of these events and the impact it has on their lives. Aims and objectives:...

Objectives We examined the effect of changing treatment timing and the use of manual, electro acupuncture on the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. Methods A randomised controlled trial was performed with four arms, low frequency manual acupuncture (LF-MA), high frequency manual acupuncture (HF-MA), low frequency electro acupuncture (LF-EA) and hig...

Diagnosis and point selection. (DOCX)

Trial exit questionnaire. (PDF)

Data analysis file PP (SPSS). (SAV)

Per protocol analysis. (DOCX)

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