A trial carried out in Zambia evaluated midwife
home visits for normally-delivered mothers and healthy full-term newborns (90). The
focus of this study was to evaluate the effect of a midwife home visiting (intervention)
programme at 3, 7, 28 and 42 days after birth on the prevalence of health problems and
breastfeeding behaviour. During each home visit, which lasted about one hour, the mother
was asked about her perception of her own and her baby’s health, what health problems
she had observed, and what actions she had taken in case of symptoms. She was also
asked about her breastfeeding pattern and what kind of social support she had at home,
if any. The mother and infant were examined by the midwife and further care, counselling,
advice and medical treatment were provided. The fourth trial, performed in Denmark,
compared a synthetic analogue of ergonovine (methylergomtrine 0.2 mg thrice daily for
three days) with a placebo (89). The primary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy