NEW MOTHERS EXPERIENCES OF POSTPARTUM CARE - A PHENOMENOLOGICAL FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

The aim of this study is to explore and describe the new mother's expe riences of postpartum care. It is part of an ongoing clinical longitud inal research project studying experiences of health, suffering and ca re and the organizational culture of Finnish maternity care. Postpartu m care is seldom either technological or dramatic and has been shown t o take low priority in both practice and research. This article uses t he theoretical perspective of Eriksson as a basis for discussing insig hts gained from the phenomenological study. Nine women were interviewe d at the end of their pregnancy and 3 weeks, 3 months and 2 1/2 years after giving birth. The research approach was that of Colaizzi, which has its roots in phenomenological philosophy and which attempts to pre sent accurately the lived experiences of those studied. Data suggest t hat the transitional process from being an expectant mother to being a new mother occurs slowly but intensely in a unique way during the fir st days after the baby is born. The new mother experiences caring comm union in sharing her life situation with the midwife, learning directl y through the midwife's teaching and indirectly when the midwife enabl es her to be in peace and quiet together with her baby and family. Oth er new mothers are caring towards the woman reciprocally, sharing the same situation, helping one another and learning together. Three chall enges in postpartum care emerge from this study. These are to understa nd the meaning of caring, to involve family and other new mothers more consciously, and to see the woman as a new mother who needs both to c are and be cared for both by her family and friends and by professiona l carers.