Postpartum mothers' perceptions of competence for infant care

A descriptive study was undertaken to examine the relationship between mothers' early postpartum experiences and their perceptions of competence for infant feeding and care. A sample of 140 primiparous and multiparous mothers completed a 68-item, self-administered questionnaire before discharge from a midwestern hospital's family-centered unit. The mothers' perceptions of competence for infant feeding and care were associated with in-hospital preparation for bottle-feeding mothers and amount of perceived rest for breastfeeding mothers. The findings suggest the need for early assessment of bottle-feeding mothers' perceived competence for infant feeding and care, and adequate provision of rest during the postpartum period for breastfeeding mothers.