Research, publications and media
The midwives at Reykjavík Birth Center are actively involved in research, teaching and professional development in midwifery and maternity care.
On this page, you will find selected research articles, professional publications, abstracts, interviews and media features by or with our midwives. The topics include birth experiences, respectful care, autonomy in childbirth, migrant women’s maternity care, midwifery-led models of care and the development of maternity services in Iceland.
Peer-reviewed research articles
Browse selected peer-reviewed articles by the midwives at Reykjavík Birth Center. The articles focus on birth experiences, respectful care, autonomy, migrant women’s maternity care, childbirth preparation and midwifery-led services.
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Adaptation and efficacy of a cultural competency training program for Icelandic midwives: A mixed-methods pilot study
Explores how cultural competence programs can increase midwives’ skills, knowledge, empathy and confidence when providing maternity services to migrant women.
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Birth interventions and outcomes among first time mothers: A population-based register study in four Nordic countries
Explores physiologic birth in four Nordic countries, including Iceland.
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Birth satisfaction and symptoms of childbirth related PTSD among women in Iceland: A population-based study
Explores how satisfaction with maternity care is associated with childbirth-related PTSD symptoms, highlighting the importance of control, support, communication and shared decision-making.
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Fostering empowerment through communication: The needs, expectations, and experience of maternity care among polish migrant women in Iceland
Explores Polish migrant women’s experiences of maternity care in Iceland, showing how respectful communication, language support and tailored information can support informed choice and autonomy.
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Childbirth Experience, Mistreatment, and Migrant Status: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Explores childbirth experiences and mistreatment in Icelandic maternity care, highlighting the importance of respectful care, cultural competence and effective communication.
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Respectful maternity care and women's autonomy in decision making in Iceland: Application of scale instruments in a cross-sectional survey
The results shed light on inequity in Icelandic maternity care and suggest that data from such surveys can provide valuable information on the changes that must be made in maternity health care services to ensure equity.
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Normal birth rates before and after the merging of mixed-risk and low-risk maternity wards in Iceland: A retrospective cohort study on the impact of inter-professional preventative measures
Examines changes in intervention-free birth rates following interprofessional preventive measures introduced alongside a mixed-risk and low-risk birth unit merger.
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Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries
With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways.
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Skin-to-skin contact after birth: Developing a research and practice guideline
Reviews evidence and WHO guidance supporting immediate, continuous and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth as a standard component of safe maternity care.
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Trends in labor induction indications: A 20-year population-based study
Examines trends in labour induction and suggests that the observed increase is largely related to underlying clinical indications, while some cases remain unexplained.
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Use of pain management in childbirth among migrant women in Iceland: A population-based cohort study
Examines pain management in labour and birth in Iceland and identifies differences in the use of non-pharmacological methods between Icelandic and migrant women.
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Changes in obstetric interventions and preterm birth during COVID-19: A nationwide study from Iceland
Examines reductions in elective caesarean section and preterm birth during and after the first COVID-19 lockdown in Iceland, while noting that underlying mechanisms require further investigation.
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Cesarean birth, obstetric emergencies, and adverse neonatal outcomes in Iceland during a period of increasing labor induction
Examines trends in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Iceland and explores whether observed changes may be related to increasing rates of labour induction.
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Challenges in migrant women’s maternity care in a high-income country: A population-based cohort study of maternal and perinatal outcomes
Examines associations between women’s citizenship, country-level Human Development Index and maternal and perinatal outcomes in Iceland, highlighting implications for equity in maternity care.
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Enhanced Antenatal Care: Combining one-to-one and group antenatal care models to increase childbirth education and address childbirth fear
Evaluates a combined one-to-one and group antenatal care model in Reykjavík, with findings suggesting possible improvements in education, support and childbirth fear.
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The international perinatal outcomes in the pandemic (iPOP) study: Protocol
Presents the international iPOP Study, a collaboration across 37 countries examining how the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced preterm birth and other perinatal outcomes.
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Midwifery students’ perspectives on how role models contribute to becoming a midwife: a qualitative study
Explores how Dutch and Icelandic midwifery students identify role models and how these influence professional identity, learning and trust in physiological childbirth.
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„ÞETTA VAR FYRIR SÁLINA OG HJARTAÐ, ÞETTA VAR MITT ÖRYGGI“ - Reynsla íslenskra foreldra af hópmeðgönguvernd
Explores expectant parents’ experiences of Enhanced Antenatal Care, a model combining one-to-one and group antenatal care, highlighting perceived support and educational value.
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Cross-cultural development and psychometric evaluation of a measure to assess fear of childbirth prior to pregnancy
Presents a new measure for assessing childbirth fear before pregnancy, with findings suggesting that the measure is reliable and valid.
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Obstetric interventions, trends and drivers of change: A 20-year population-based study from Iceland
Examines obstetric intervention trends in Iceland over 20 years, identifying increases in labour induction and epidural analgesia that were not fully explained by maternal characteristics.
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A systematic review of nonpharmacological prenatal interventions for pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth
Reviews interventions that may reduce childbirth fear and anxiety, with findings suggesting potential benefits of antenatal education, midwifery support and yoga.
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Opting for natural birth: A survey of birth intentions among young Icelandic women
Examines birth intentions before pregnancy and suggests that childbirth fear, confidence in birth knowledge and concerns about pain, safety and bodily impact may shape preferences for natural birth.
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Content of antenatal care: Does it prepare women for birth?
Examines the role of antenatal care in preparing women for birth, while identifying areas where information and support could be strengthened.
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Postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms and mother-infant bonding: A population-based cross-sectional study
Explores how postpartum post-traumatic stress symptoms are associated with mother–infant bonding difficulties, with implications for screening and support in postnatal care.
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Traumatic birth experience and posttraumatic stress disorder: The psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the City Birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS)
Evaluates the Icelandic version of the City Birth Trauma Scale, including its DSM-5-based structure and potential use in clinical and research settings.
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What happens to the self when a woman becomes a mother?
Explores how the sense of self may change when a woman becomes a mother, drawing on philosophy, midwifery and the development of the Endurheimt course at Reykjavík Birth Center.
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Anaesthesia for emergency caesarean birth among Icelandic and migrant women in Iceland, 2007–2018
Examines whether migrant women in Iceland were at increased risk of general anaesthesia for emergency caesarean birth, with findings suggesting higher odds of crash caesarean birth but not of general anaesthesia for emergency caesarean birth.
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Preterm births in Iceland, 1997–2018: Does maternal origin affect neonatal outcomes?
Examines preterm birth and neonatal outcomes among Icelandic and migrant mothers in Iceland, with findings suggesting differences in preterm birth rates and selected neonatal outcomes by maternal origin and country-level Human Development Index.
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Which factors are associated with exclusive breastfeeding one month after birth? A cross-sectional study among women in Iceland
Examines factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding one month after birth among women in Iceland, contributing to limited Icelandic research on breastfeeding practices and early postnatal support.
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Preterm birth rates and risk factors among Icelandic and migrant women in Iceland, 1997–2018
Examines preterm birth rates and associated risk factors among Icelandic and migrant women in Iceland, with findings suggesting differences in both preterm birth rates and maternal risk profiles.
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Postpartum haemorrhage after singleton birth in Iceland, 2013–2018
Examines risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage after singleton birth in Iceland, identifying emergency caesarean birth, instrumental birth, macrosomia, primiparity and BMI ≥30 as independent risk factors.
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Births without complications: A holistic perspective on maternal and neonatal health
Describes births without selected maternal or neonatal complications in Iceland over a 10-year period, with findings suggesting a slight decrease over time, partly related to increased postpartum haemorrhage rates.
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Birth positions among women in Iceland, 2012–2018, and associated factors
Examines birth positions among women in Iceland and factors associated with position choice, with findings indicating that most women gave birth in horizontal positions, particularly semi-sitting.
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Postnatal home care by midwives in Iceland, 2012–2019
Examines postnatal home care by midwives in Iceland, identifying increases in emergency visits and lactation consultant visits, particularly among women with more complex health needs.
In the media
Interviews, articles and media features with the midwives at Reykjavík Birth Center on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, midwifery-led care and maternity services in Iceland.
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Increase in births outside hospital
Radio interview on Bylgjan í Bítið, 11 August 2025
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The importance of connection
Vesturbæjarblaðið, December 2023
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A place where ideas can grow and dreams can take shape
Interview in Heimildin, 14 December 2023
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Birth outcomes among women of foreign origin in Iceland
Radio interview on Rás 2, 30 October 2023
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Open house for the Polish community at Reykjavík Birth Center
News feature on RÚV, 30 October 2022
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Childbirth interventions among women of foreign origin in Iceland
Feature on Kastljós, Icelandic national television, 18 October 2022
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Empowering women at the new Reykjavík Birth Center
Vísir, 29 September 2022
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What is the Reykjavík Birth Center?
ljosmodir.is, 19 April 2022
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