[Primaparas' perceptions of their delivery experience and their maternal-infant interactions: compared according to...

One of the important tasks for new parents, especially mothers, is to establish warm, mutually affirming interpersonal relationships with the new baby in the family, with the purpose of promoting the healthy development of the child and the wellbeing of the whole family. Nurses assess the quality of the behavioral characteristics of the maternal-infant interaction. This study examined the relationships between primiparas perceptions of their delivery experience and their maternal infant interaction. It compared to delivery experience of mothers having a normal vaginal delivery with those having a cesarean section. The purpose was to explore the relationships between the mother's perceptions of her delivery experience with her maternal infant interaction. The aim was to contribute to the development of theoretical understanding on which to base care toward promoting the quality of maternal-infant interaction. Data were collected directly by the investigator and a trained associate from Dec. 1, 1987 to March 8, 1988. Subjects were a random sample of 62 mothers, 32 who had a normal vaginal delivery and 30 who had a non-elective cesarean section (but without other perinatal complications) at three general hospitals in Seoul. Instruments used were the Stainton Parent-infant Interaction Scale (1981) and the Marut and Mercer Perception of Birth Scale (1979). The first observations were made in the delivery room (for vaginally delivered mothers only), followed by day 1, day 2, day 3, and 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks after birth, for a total of 7-8 contacts (Cesarean section mothers were observed on days 4 and 5 but the data not used for analysis). Observations in the hospital were made during the hour prior to scheduled feedings. The infant was placed beside the mother. Later contacts were made at home. Data analysis was done by computer using as SPSS program and included X2 test, paired t-test, t-test, and Pearson Correlation coefficient: the results were as follows. 1. Mothers who had a normal vaginal delivery tended to perceive the delivery experience more positively than cesarean section mothers (p = 0.002). The finding supported the hypothesis I that perception of delivery would vary according to the method of delivery. Mother's perceptions of birth were classified into three dimensions, labor, delivery and the baby. There was a significantly different and positive perception by the vaginally delivered mothers to the delivery experience (p = 0.000) but no differences for labor or the baby according to the delivery method (p = 0.096, p = 0.389).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)