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Biomedical subjects

A Lovell

Publications and source records attributed to A Lovell.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

The St. Thomas's Hospital maternity case notes study: a randomised controlled trial to assess the effects of giving expectant mothers their own maternity case notes.

At an antenatal clinic in St. Thomas's Hospital, London, 246 expectant mothers were randomly allocated to hold either their own maternity case notes or the standard co-operation card. Information was collected on three occasions during their care on attitudes and health behaviour. Clinical outcomes were recorded and the effects of the two systems on clinic administration were observed. More of the notes group expressed satisfaction with most aspects of their care and delivery and significantly more of the notes group felt well informed and satisfied with their companion during labour. There were no differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups except that, for no identifiable systematic reason, there were more assisted deliveries among the notes group. A number of administrative advantages resulted from mothers holding their own notes and although initial reservations were found amongst professional staff interviewed at the start of the study, the results proved persuasive and the practice of giving mothers their own notes is now to be extended throughout the department.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Some questions of identity: late miscarriage, stillbirth and perinatal loss.

This paper examines some of the attitudes and procedures which de-construct the identities of a mother and baby when loss occurs through late miscarriage, stillbirth and perinatal loss. Various factors which play a part in a woman's acceptance of her loss are explored, such as contact with the dead baby, formal and 'informal' ritual and early hospital discharge. Ways in which hospitals deal with and define these losses are looked at. It is suggested that all-too-often there seems to be no physical or psychological space for a maternity case without a baby. Is she a mother or is she a patient? The findings suggest that both roles may be lost simultaneously. The dead baby is usually whisked away and the bereaved woman sent back to the community with what feels like indecent haste. Birth and death seem to cancel out. Definitional ambiguities and anomalies about the status of the baby are examined and common sense views about 'hierarchies of sadness' are discussed. This study challenges existing assumptions about the way in which some babies are seen by the professionals as 'lesser' losses, and looks at the implications of these perceptions. The findings are based upon interviews with health professionals in four London hospitals; and a series of in-depth interviews with bereaved parents.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗