Maternal Perception of the Newborn and Confidence and Gratification of Mothering Role

어머니의 신생아 지각, 역할 수행에 대한 자신감 및 만족감

The purpose of this study was to evaluate maternal perception of the newborn, confidence and gratification of mothering role, and contribute to maternal nursing and neonatal nursing. The questionnaire, maternal perception of the newborn(Ⅰ) was completed by 47 mothers at three hospitals in the Kyoung-In area during the first to third day after birth. The questionnaire, maternal perception of the newborn(Ⅱ), confidence and gratification of mothering role were completed at fourth to sixth week after birth. The data were analyzed by a SPSS program. The results were as follows ; 1) The means of perception of the newborn(Ⅰ) and (Ⅱ) were 2.28±4.81 and 3.83±4.84. The means of confidence and gratification of mothering role were 40.38±5.51 and 39.30±6.70. 2) Half of the mothers(48.9%) rated their newborn as better than average newborn at first to third day after birth, and 74.5% of mothers did at fourth to sixth week after birth. 3) The score of maternal perception of the newborn (Ⅰ) was significantly correlated with the score of confidence and gratification of mothering role. The score of maternal perception of the newborn(Ⅱ) was correlated with the score of confidence and gratification of mothering role. The score of confidence and gratification of mothering role was related. 4) Maternal gratification of mothering role was significantly different by maternal perception of the newborn(Ⅰ), and maternal confidence was different by maternal perception of the newborn (Ⅱ). 5) Mothers who had religions and who wanted the pregnancy had higher perception of the newborn(Ⅰ) than those who did not. Mothers whose newborns were boys had higher perception of the newborn(Ⅱ) than those whose newborns were girls. Mothers who wanted the pregnancy had higher confidence of mothering role than those who did not. Mothers who planed cow's milk had lower gratification of mothering role than those who did not. The above findings indicate that mothers who have a different level of perception of the newborn, confidence and gratification of mothering role. Therefore, it is important that maternal perception of the newborn, confidence and gratification of mothering role were precisely evaluated, and nursing intervention for improving perception of the newborn should be provided for mothers.