Postpartum health in mothers of term and preterm infants

Mothers have inadequate information about what to expect in the postpartum period in terms of their own health. Understanding common patterns of postpartum health may be particularly important for mothers of preterm low birthweight infants, so that they can plan how to optimize their own health as they care for their vulnerable infants. The purpose of this study was to compare the health of mothers of preterm and term infants prospectively for the first four months following delivery. This longitudinal descriptive study measured health status of 33 mothers of preterm infants and 32 mothers of term infants using health diaries and the Health Review Questionnaire every month for the first four months following delivery. No difference was observed between the two groups of mothers in how ill mothers reported feeling over time. The most common symptoms mothers experienced were headaches and cold symptoms. On average mothers reported between one and four days every month that they were not able to conduct their usual activities. Mothers reported feeling ill more frequently than they sought health care. The average mother at four months postpartum was still reporting she felt ill between 3 and 7 days during the month. This study has implications for families, health care providers, and policy makers.