Effects of teaching on the recovery patterns of postpartum women

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not giving women additional teaching and a postpartum restoration prescription in both the antenatal and postnatal periods would affect their postpartum recovery patterns. The research method use was a quasi-experimental design utilizing four study groups: three experimental and one control. Sixty-three women, multipara and primiparas, comprised the study sample. Each subject was randomly placed into one of the four study groups. Subjects in the first group received a teaching session at approximately 8 months gestation, an additional teaching session in the hospital within 48 hours of delivery, and a postpartum prescription. Subjects in group 2 received a teaching session in the hospital within 48 hours of delivery and a postpartum prescription. Subjects in group 3 received a teaching session within 48 hours postdelivery. Group 4 served as the control group. All subjects answered a questionnaire consisting of six scales assessing the subjects perception of their resolution of five major postpartum tasks. By random assignment, subjects were placed into two groups. Group 1 responded to the questionnaire every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, and Group 2 every 1 week for 6 weeks. Data analysis revealed an interruption in resolution of postpartum tasks at 3 weeks. This appears to be due to a decrease in available help in the home. Women at this time must devote more energy to resuming household responsibilities and less energy to resolution of their five postpartum tasks. Data analysis also revealed that those women who had complications in labor, delivery and postpartum or who had a cesarean section needed more energy for physical recovery and therefore displayed less complete resolution of other postpartum tasks than did those women who had not complications and vaginal births. Data analysis did not lend some support to the usefulness or postpartum teaching and uses of a postpartum restoration prescription in improving postpartum recovery patterns. Recommendations for further study and for postpartum care are included.