• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.322-331
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• 1998

The postpartum is a period of transition to motherhood where a childless woman transforms into a woman with children. Parents, especially mothers must perform an essential role of implementing instrumental and emotional care behaviors on part of the helpless, dependent, and immature infant. First-time mothers, however, suddenly face the responsibility of round the clock duty without neither parenting training during pregnancy, nor a time to gradually adapt to growing responsibilities after birth, with confusion and frustration as a result. Thus, after providing first-time mothers with childcare education as maternal role preparation, this study will try to examine its effects on childcare behaviors and confidence in maternal role during the early postpartum period. This quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design, was carried out from March 1995 to May 1996 to verify the effects of a childcare education program with first-time mothers who had vaginal delivery in Ewha University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, and collected data from 60 subjects who consented to the study. The education was given in the early postpartum period(48-72 hours after delivery) and to measure its effects, a posttest was done 4 weeks later with the results analyzed by SPSS shown in the following : 1. The childcare behavior score of the experimental group that had received the newborn care education was higher than the control group(t=3.5, P=.001). 2. The control group and the experimental group which had received the education showed no difference in degree of confidence in maternal role. 3. The higher the childcare behavior score, the higher the degree of confidence in maternal role was among the subjects(r=.56, P=.001). The preceding results are significant in that childcare practices can be promoted by providing child-care education to first-time mothers in the early postpartum period. Thus, this education can be used as a nursing intervention strategy in the early postpartum period.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.326-335
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the construct validity, reliability, measurement invariance, and latent mean differences in the Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale-Short Form (BFAS-SF) for use with mothers at 2 weeks postpartum. Methods: This methodological study was designed to evaluate the validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the BFAS-SF at 2 weeks postpartum, with data collected from 431 breastfeeding mothers. Confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to assess the factor structure and the measurement invariance across employment status, delivery mode, parity, and previous breastfeeding experience, and the latent mean differences were then examined. Results: The goodness of fit of the six-factor model at 2 weeks postpartum was acceptable. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis supported strict invariance of the BFAS-SF across employment status and delivery mode. Full configural invariance, full metric invariance, and partial scalar invariance across parity and full configural invariance and full metric invariance across previous breastfeeding experience were supported, respectively. The results for latent mean differences suggested that mothers who were employed showed significantly higher scores for breastfeeding confidence. Mothers who had a vaginal delivery showed significantly higher scores for sufficient breast milk and baby's feeding capability. Multiparous mothers showed significantly higher scores for baby's feeding capability and baby's satisfaction with breastfeeding. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of the BFAS-SF at 2 weeks postpartum are acceptable. It can be used to compare mean scores of breastfeeding adaptation according to employment status, delivery mode, and parity.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of education and practice of the maternal role and becoming a mother using the concepts of self-confidence in caring, maternal attachment, and maternal identity. Methods: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. Data was collected with the use of self-administered questionnaires from November 2007 to April, 2008. A total of 54 women at a Sanhujoriwon (postpartum care center) participated in the study. The experimental group consisted of 26 women (Nov-Dec), whereas the control group had 28 women (Feb-Apr). Education and practice on the maternal role was given individually and consisted of explanations, demonstrations and practice on breast feeding (day1 to 3), maternal attachment (day 8 to 9), bathing (day 10 to 11) and infant healthcare (day 13 to 14). The experimental group received education and practice on the maternal role while the control group received routine education only. Results: Data collection was done using pre and post questionnaires at admission and fourteen days later. The experimental group showed significant increases in self-confidence in caring (t=-3.31, p=.002) and maternal identity (t=-2.16, p=.036) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Education and practice on the maternal role and being a mother was an effective intervention in increasing self-confidence in caring and maternal identity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.182-191
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• 2001

Anemia in women during pregnancy and after delivery has been known to affect the mother, the fetus, and the infant's growth and health status. Studies examining, changes in iron and folate status associated with anemia during pregnancy and during pregnancy, and those supplements are stopped after postpartum. However, the effects of those have not been clearly determined in pregnant and lactating Korea women. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the changes in maternal iron and folate status during pregnancy and six months after delivery longitudinally in six pregnant women who consumed supplements from 20 wk to delivery. We concluded that the iron status deteriorated during pregnancy and especially was weak in the third trimester, but had a tendency to recovery after delivery. On the other hand, the folate status deteriorated in the first and second trimester and was good in the third trimester, but had a tendency to decrease after delivery. These results suggested that the iron status was not improved despite consuming total iron supplements of 50 mg/day through diets and supplements during the second half of the pregnancy. On the other hand, the folate status improved at the end of pregnancy by consuming folate supplements of a total of 800 mg/day through diets and supplements. However, folate status was poor in the first half of the pregnancy, and the tendency of folate status to decrease during postpartum was advanced. At the point in which iron and therefore supplementation is essential. However, the effects of supplement intake time and intake dosage need to be verified and the nutritional status changes of postpartum women should be carefully monitored.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.507-517
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to understand home care needs for parturient women and neonates up to the postpartum period. Methodology : The design of this study is a cross-sectional survey study. The subjects of this study are 88 postpartum mothers who delivered a first baby during the period from December 1996 to July 1997. Data collection was done with a structured questionnaire by mailing. Data were collected at the point of six months after delivery. A structured questionnaire composed of items related to home care needs. Data analysis was done with descriptive statistics. The study results are as follows : .The highest need was personal hygiene(93.2%) for the parturient women, and the peak period was the two week period after delivery. .The most frequent maternal needs regarding neonates were cord care (72.4%) during the first week, elimination(67.9%) during the first two weeks, baby crying(88.3%) and sleeping pattern(71.5%) at one month after delivery, and baby temperament(30.4%) at sixth months after delivery. .The mothers requested home care methods such as written material for self health care (35%) and counseling(34%) and direct home visits (5%) for neonate care. - Conclusion : The most important period for home health care needs was one week after delivery, and the health care needs for neonate temperament, behavior and sleeping pattern rose rapidly at the period of 6 months after delivery. Therefore it could be concluded that the postpartum home care should be done by those, written material should be enhanced for parturient women care, and counseling enhanced for neonate care.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2020

Background: Childbirth represents a significant transition for women, with physical and psychological sequelae. Reentry to the workplace during the postpartum period is understudied, with implications for maternal well-being and job-related outcomes. This study's aim was to examine selected pregnancy, childbirth, and return-to-work correlates of overall self-rated health within the first month of work reentry after maternity leave. Methods: Between December 2016 and January 2017, we surveyed women employed at a large, public Midwestern university who had given birth in the past five years (N = 249) to examine self-rated overall health in the first month of work reentry. Using ordinal logistic regression, we examined whether physical or psychological health problems during pregnancy, childbirth complications, length of maternity leave, and depression and anxiety at work reentry were related to overall health. Results: Women who experienced depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.096 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 0.019 to 0.483, p = 0.004]) and anxiety (OR = 0.164, [95% CI = 0.042 to 0.635, p = 0.009]) nearly every day reported worse health at work reentry than those with no symptoms. Controlling for demographics and mental health, women who experienced medical problems during pregnancy (OR = 0.540 [95% CI = 0.311 to .935, p = 0.028]) were more likely to report poor health, while taking a longer maternity leave (OR = 14.552 [95% CI = 4.934 to 42.918, p < 0.001]) was associated with reporting better health at work reentry. Conclusion: Women who experience medical complications during pregnancy, return to the workplace too soon after birth, and experience mental health symptoms are vulnerable physically as they return to work.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-35
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• 1998

This study attempted to determine the relation between the maternal role strain and their husbands' support in employed and nonemployed first-time mothers, and how it changed over time. A descriptive, longitudinal and comparative study design was conducted to collect and analyzed the data at three times(at 3-4days, at 4-6wks and at 3-month postpartum) regarding the change of maternal role strain and their husbands' support in employed and nonemployed first-time mothers. The subjects were 133 first-time mothers who delivered vaginally at K university hospital in Deagu, Korea from Dec., 1994 to Oct., 1995. Among these 58 were employed and 75 were nonemployed first-time mothers. This instruments used to data collection in this study were by Hobbs(1968 : The Difficulty Index for First-time Parents), Staffensmeier(1982: Transition Difficulty Measure), Tayer(1976: Emotional Support from Husband), Lee, Hae Kyoung(1992 : Physical Support from Husband). The analysis of data was done with SAS/PC program which included percentage, $x^2$-test, Pearson correlation, Repeated Measure ANOVA, Time Contrast Analysis and t-test. The results were as follows : 1. There was a significant negative correlation only at 3-4days(r=-.19, P=.0265) and at 4-6wks postpartum(r=-.18, P=.0392) between maternal role strain and husband's support of the first-time mothers. Thus, the more support from husband, the less maternal role strains the first-time mothers felt. Therefore, the 1st hypothesis that "the more husband's support the first-time mother felt at all the time of testing, the less maternal role strains they got" was partially supported at 3-days and 4-6 weeks postpartum. There was no correlation between maternal role strain and t husband's support of the employed first-time mothers at al testing times(at 3-4days postpartum : r=-.95, P=.9548, at 4-6wks postpartum : r=-.0960, P=.4733 and at 3-month postpartum : r=-.05, P=7306). On the contrary, the unemployed first-time mothers felt less maternal role strain when they received more support from their husband at 3-4 days postpartum(r=-.31, P=.0073) and at 4-6wks postpartum(r=-.23, P=.0490). 2. There was no difference of maternal role strain between two groups with regards to employment status(F=.97, P=.3270). But the maternal role strains of two groups were changed differently each other over time(F=3.89, P=.00234). Therefore, the 2nd hypothesis that "there was the difference in the maternal role strains with regard to employment status and over time" was rejected. 3. There was no difference in husband's support between the employed and the nonemployed first-time mothers(F=3.06, P=.0826). But there was a significant interaction between employment status and over time(F=3.64, P=.0267), so the support from husband of the employed and the unemployed first-time mothers was changed differently each other over time. The support from husband of the employed first-time mothers was lowered significantly and continuously at 4-6wks (F=5.20, P=.0263) and at 3-month postpartum(F=6.47, P=.0137) than at 3-4 days postpartum. On the contrary, there was no difference in change of husband's support of the employed first-time mothers between the 3-4 days and the 4-6wks postpartum(F=1.70, P=.1962) and between the 3-4 days and the 3-month postpartum(F=.21, P=.6513). Mean husband's support of the nonemployed first-time mothers was raised at 4-6wks postpartum than at 3-4 days postpartum but lowed at 3-month postpartum. The support form husband of both groups was tending downwards at 3-month postpartum than at 4-6wks postpartum, but the one between two groups was changed differently each other over time. The husband's support of the employed first-time mothers(M${\pm}$SD=64. 26${\pm}$8.63) was higher than the one of the nonemployed first-time mothers(M${\pm}$SD=59.16${\pm}$11.11) (t=-2.98, P=.0035), so the 3rd hypothesis that "there was the difference in the husband's support with regard to employment status and over time" was supported. On the basis of these conclusions, the following suggestion is proposed. This study examined the change and relationship between maternal role strain and husband's support in the employed and the nonemployed first-time mothers. So the further study regarding the comparison between the employed and the nonemployed multiparas is necessary.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.148-157
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data for developing a program for effective intervention for home health care need of postpartum mothers and newborn babies. The subjects were 104 women. The data were collected from march, 2003 to June, using a 81 item questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS program for frequency, Mean, ANOVA. The results were as follow. 1. The mean of care needs of newborn babies was higher than that of physical demand of Postpartum mothers. The mean of physical demand of Postpartum mothers was $3.99\pm.42$. The mean of care needs of newborn babies was $4.11\pm.50$. 2. The most highest mean of physical demand of Postpartum mothers was wound care for caesarean section and episiotomy($4.53\pm.66$), and then breast engorgement care($4.38\pm.71$). The most highest mean of care needs of newborn babies was emergency care methods($4.58\pm.52$), and then infection control $4.51\pm.56$). 3. 66.3% of postpartum mothers positively desired consultation hospitals centered home care need during postpartial periods. 4. Influential variables of home health care need was postpartial periods. they wanted the first week after delivery, more freqently visiting of home care nurse. 37.5% of postpatial mothers wanted visiting within 1 weeks after delivery. 31.7% wanted 2 times/week. In conclusion, it is necessary to study to make a program in nursing of home health care for postpartum mothers, and to keep on studying repeatedly in order to raise the number of objects and to find related variables.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.121-130
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• 2001

Objectives : As participation of women in public affairs increases, they are more concerned about postpartum management. However, objectivity of its effect tends to be insufficient. This study was done to investigate the clinical applications of postpartum management in Oriental Medicine. Subjects and methods : This clinical study was done on 74 patients who were treated by postpartum management in the Oriental Medical Hospital of Woosuk University from November 1999 to August 2000. We analyzed the changes of hematology and blood chemistry. Then, we examined the differences between two groups : one group had undergone vaginal duct delivery and the other cesarean section in mode of delivery. Results : I) The ratio of vaginal duct delivery to cesarean section was 39:35. Two major age groups were 25-29 and 30-34, respectively 43% and 35%. 2) According to the hematology, hemoglobin, hematocrit, REC and platelet count significantly increased, while WBC and ESR level significantly decreased. 3) To the hematology by mode of delivery, WBC level decreased in both groups. WBC level of the vaginal duct delivery group was significantly lower than that of cesarean section. RBC level increased in both groups, the cesarean section group were statistically significant. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count increased but they were not significant in either group. 4) To the blood chemistry, Triglyceride (TG), protein, albumin and sodium levels were significantly increased but cholesterol, ALT, BUN, creatinine, potassium and chloride levels were not statistically significant. 5) According to the blood chemistry by mode of delivery, TG level of the vaginal duct delivery group was significantly reduced but the others were not significant. Conclusious : The effective results were shown that postpartum management by Oriental Medicine assisted postpartum health care as well as postpartum anemia.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between perineal demage, a physiological element that mothers experience immediately after delivery, and postpartum depression. The postpartum depression level of women after delivery was $6.67{\pm}4.34$ points at delivery, $7.41{\pm}4.77$ after 2 weeks, and $7.77{\pm}5.27$ after 6 weeks. The degree of mild postpartum depression increased to 26% after delivery, 33% after 2 weeks, and to 41.4 after 6 weeks. At 2 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum, the feeling of discomfort during walking or sitting caused by perineal incision had a direct correlation with postpartum depression. Therefore, in order to prevent postpartum depression, management of discomfort associated with the perineal incision should be given priority.