Margareta Johansson

Margareta, an associate professor in sexual and reproductive health has worked at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health since 2017, and as a clinical midwife since 1990. She is mainly involved in obstetric and reproductive healthcare research, midwifery education, and clinical midwifery at Akademiska University Hospital.

Margareta, an associate professor in sexual and reproductive health has worked at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health since 2017 with a previous academic position at Karolinska Institute, and as a clinical midwife since 1990. She is mainly involved in obstetric and reproductive healthcare research, midwifery education, and clinical midwifery at Akademiska University Hospital.

Her PhD investigated the sources fathers use to obtain information about pregnancy and childbirth, fathers’ preference for the mode of birth of their baby, and fathers’ childbirth experience and their perception of the postnatal care quality. Margareta’s research interests include postnatal care, support intervention development programme for expectant parents with childbirth fear, continuity of midwifery care during childbirth, and cultural doula support for pregnant migrant women.

Postnatal care

The purpose of the research project is to describe parents' and midwives’ experiences of postnatal care with a specific focus on home-based midwifery care when being early discharge from the hospital after birth.

For women’s decision on the postnatal care model to choose between, it is important to receive information on the different models during pregnancy, and after birth to have sufficient time to consider what kind of model to prefer.

Home-based postnatal midwifery care facilitated women’s transitions’ transition into motherhood. The women felt cared for by professional midwives. To be in the home environment was considered by women as a safe and secure space.

Postnatal care midwives described their work as guiding parents into parenthood. They had strategies to strengthen parents' self-confidence in their parental role. However, it was challenging to facilitate parents’ understanding of their parental role.

Support intervention programme for expectant parents with childbirth fear

The purpose of the research programme is to develop and examine the feasibility, acceptability, and implementation potential of a parent counselling intervention for fear of childbirth. In Sweden, approximately 110,000 women give birth annually, and 20% of expectant mothers and 14% of expectant fathers suffer from severe childbirth fear. Expectant parents with childbirth fears may have serious consequences such as fetal growth restriction during pregnancy, premature birth, and the baby in need of neonatal care. In addition, the fears also have been associated with postnatal depression with a negative impact on the child’s emotional and cognitive development. Professional parental support is important in dispelling or alleviating the fears associated with childbirth, however, evidence-based psychological support is limited. Maternity services are in a unique position to support parents with their mental health. Although mental health conditions such as childbirth fear are common, most parents do not receive the care they need.

On-going cooperation’s

• PhD Michael B. Wells, Karolinska Institute
• PhD Karin Lindelöf, Uppsala University
• PhD-student Carita Nordin-Remberger, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health; Center for Women’s Mental Health, WOMHER (Women’s Mental Health during the Reproductive lifespan) Uppsala University

Continuity of midwifery care during childbirth

The overall purpose of the research project is to describe women’s, midwives’, and midwifery students’ attitudes and experiences of midwifery-led continuity of care models during childbirth.

Continuity models of midwifery care are based on a personal relationship between the woman and the midwife. Women have described the midwife as a professional friend and as empowering. Continuity of care benefits both women and their babies, by improved outcomes for women and their babies, and by higher maternal satisfaction compared to women receiving standard care. The midwife–woman relationship is important as trust is built, personalized care is provided, and the woman feels empowered. World Health Organization and the Swedish government recommend continuity of care models. This project will give scientific guidance in the implementation process in Swedish maternity care.

On-going cooperation’s

• Professor Ingegerd Hildingsson, Uppsala University
• PhD Birgitta Larsson, Sophiahemmet University
• PhD-student Hanna Fahlbeck, Uppsala University
• PhD Sophia Holmlund, Umeå University
• PhD Maria Lindqvist, Umeå University

Cultural doula support for pregnant migrant women

The overall purpose of the research project is to investigate migrant women’s experiences of cultural doula support during pregnancy. Further, it describes cultural doulas’ experiences of supporting pregnant migrant women and midwives’ experiences of giving these women antenatal care.

Every fifth woman seeking maternal healthcare in Sweden in 2022 was born outside Europe. For these women, giving birth in a new, unfamiliar country may be stressful, and there are risks for adverse outcomes for these mothers and children, as they are more likely to report low quality of life and more often affected by negative life events, compared with native-born women. When migrant women have experienced a lack of social support, a confident and caring relationship with healthcare professionals has been valuable in better preparing them for childbirth.

On-going cooperation’s

• Associate Professor Helena Volgsten, Uppsala University
• Associate Professor Elenor Kaminsky, Uppsala University and Region Uppsala