| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北護理健康大學 === 護理助產研究所 === 104 === Background: Despite its many advantages, the practice of rooming-in may increase the perceived postpartum stress of new mothers. In addition to the inclination toward rooming-in and the physical condition of the new mother, the degree to which family members and medical personnel support rooming-in is a key factor that affects postpartum stress.
Purpose: To investigate the level of rooming-in-related stress that is perceived by postpartum women and to assess the mediation and moderation effects of medical personnel and family member social support in reducing this stress.
Methodology: Data for this descriptive, correlational research study was collected between December 2015 and May 2016 using a convenience sample. The inclusion criteria were: 1) >20 years of age, 2) able to read and write Chinese, 3) >37 weeks gestation, 4) singleton birth, 5) maternal newborns in pregnancy, 6) and lack of medical complications during the labor and postpartum periods. A total of 143 cases were enrolled as participants. The research instrument, which included a demographic and obstetrics datasheet, the Postpartum Stress Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale, was completed by participants on the day of discharge.
Results: Factors that were identified as predictors of the level of postpartum stress include: giving vaginal birth, having prior lactation and nursing experience, long rooming-in times, and relatively frequent nighttime breastfeedings. Average rooming-in time was found to have a direct and negative effect on postpartum stress, with longer rooming-in times associated with lower levels of postpartum stress.
The findings showed that the social support of family members and health care workers only partly moderated the perceived postpartum stress of the participants. The results found that the level of social support that was provided by family members and medical staff had no effect on rooming-in time or level of postpartum stress. Thus, no significant mediator / moderator effects were established.
Conclusions / Implications for Practice: The results of the present study support encouraging pregnant women and their partners to participate in prenatal classes that explain the advantages and disadvantages of vaginal and caesarean section deliveries in order to help pregnant women better understand their innate birthing and feeding capabilities. In cases where both maternal and child health situations are stable, vaginal delivery should be recommended in order to avoid unnecessary caesarean section procedures and to encourage exclusive breastfeeding. In addition, during the third trimester, prenatal classes should include teaching proper feeding posture, comforting techniques, changing diapers, nursing care, and other parenting skills. With regard to fostering proper postpartum maternal neonatal healthcare in the hospital, medical personnel should provide breastfeeding guidance and assistance that is tailored to the needs of the individual mother in order to relieve postpartum stress. Finally, our findings give further support to the importance of encouraging midwives / nurses to dispel the false, but still widely held, belief that rooming-in increases postpartum stress and of encouraging postpartum mothers to practice rooming-in.
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