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An Australian study of functional status after childbirth
1Faculty of Health, Division of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia. c.mcveigh@uws.edu.au
Objective:
To identify key predictive variables of functional status after childbirth.
Design:
An investigative survey design.
Setting:
Primary health care maternal child health centres in one large city in Victoria, Australia.
Participants:
200 mothers selected from a culturally diverse population. All were aged 20 to 35 years, had experienced normal pregnancies, labours, deliveries and delivered a healthy baby between 37 and 42 weeks' gestation. MEASURES AND FINDINGS: The Inventory of Functional Status After Childbirth (IFSAC) (Fawcett Tulman & Myers 1988) was used as the main outcome measure. Three variables predictive of functional status after childbirth were identified, namely, satisfaction with level of stamina and well-being, sleep pattern at night and perceived lack of support following childbirth.
Key Conclusions:
Return to full functional status as measured by IFSAC takes longer than physiological recovery after childbirth. Women who experience diminished well-being, interrupted sleep patterns and lacked support, appeared to be at greater risk of role congestion, overload and dysfunction.
Implications For Practice:
To help women avoid the additive nature of assuming the motherhood role while also resuming past role responsibilities, practitioners could encourage pregnant women to develop a postnatal support plan. Women need to be proactive in negotiating specific and ongoing support from others with household responsibilities and some aspects of baby care.