Essential Coaching Postpartum: Evaluating a Parent-focused Postpartum Text Message Program in Nova Scotia

What this study is about

The transition to parenthood is often an exciting yet hard period for parents. In the first year after a new baby, many parents feel less confident, have more anxiety and depression, and feel more isolated and alone. During this time, many parents use their phones and the Internet to seek out information and support. Thus, the investigators are exploring the opportunity of using mHealth, or mobile health, to provide information directly to parents after the birth of their first baby. The investigators have developed a program for both birthing and non-birthing parents called the Essential Coaching Postpartum program. This program provides 332 parents with text messages sent for 6 weeks after birth to share information on newborn care and parent outcomes. This will be tailored based on whether they are the birthing parent (Essential Coaching for Every Mother) or non-birthing parent (Essential Coaching for Every Partner). The investigators will evaluate this program by comparing a group of parents who receive the messages to a group of parents do not receive any text messages. To determine the success of the Essential Coaching Postpartum program, the investigators will compare parents' confidence, anxiety, depression, and co-parenting between the two groups after six-weeks and six-months. The investigators believe that parents who get the text messages will have higher confidence and co-parenting outcomes and lower anxiety and depression. The investigator's goal with the Essential Coaching Postpartum program is to help make the first few weeks after a new baby less stressful by providing information and support directly to parents that they know they can trust.

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• early postpartum (<7 days) with their first child
• understand English
• have a cell phone with text and data
• be 18 years of age or old
• live in Nova Scotia. Eligible non-birthing parents will:
• be early postpartum (<7 days) with their first child
• understand English
• have a cell phone with text and data
• be 18 years of age or old
• live in Nova Scotia.

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• newborn die or are expected to die prior to leaving the hospital
• they have no access to mobile phone, either personal or shared
• unwilling to receive SMS messages
• decline or withdraw to participate
• participated in a previous iteration of this project (e.g., either the development or evaluation).

Where this trial is running

• IWK Health, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Who to contact

Justine Dol, PhD · 902-470-7766 · justine.dol@iwk.nshealth.ca

It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT06996067.