Abstract
Objectives The first 6 weeks postpartum represent a time of significant adjustment and learning for parents. Healthcare providers accurately understanding parents’ needs and preferences regarding support, education, and services during this critical time is essential for optimizing maternal and infant health. The first objective of this study was to explore parents’ experiences adjusting to the parenting role during the first 6 weeks postpartum. The second objective was to elicit from parents where and how they sought support and information during the early postpartum period, and what hindered this process. Methods Five focus groups were conducted with 33 mothers and fathers of young children, stratified by ethnicity, education, and income. An interdisciplinary team thematically coded verbatim transcripts and identified emergent themes. Results Main themes included low confidence in parenting and sifting through parenting information. Additional themes included communicating with partner about changing roles, breastfeeding, maternal mental health, and maternal postpartum recovery. Low parenting confidence was closely linked with information seeking, yet participants expressed being overwhelmed by the task of managing conflicting parenting information. Women reported that providers focused on infant needs, leaving them feeling unprepared for their own mental and physical health needs. Conclusions for Practice Parents report extensive needs for education and support in the early postpartum period, yet also report feeling overwhelmed by the quantity of parenting information available. These findings suggest parents need and desire reliable healthcare education after discharge that includes parent health and adjustment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbass-Dick, J., Stern, S. B., Nelson, L. E., Watson, W., & Dennis, C. L. (2015). Coparenting breastfeeding support and exclusive breastfeeding: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 135, 102–110.
Barbour, R. (2007). Doing focus groups. London: SAGE.
Bryanton, J., Gagnon, A. J., Hatem, M., & Johnston, C. (2008). Predictors of early parenting self-efficacy: Results of a prospective cohort study. Nursing Research, 57(4), 252–259.
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2014). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (4th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.
Criss, S., Woo Baidal, J. A., Goldman, R. E., Perkins, M., Cunningham, C., & Taveras, E. M. (2015). The role of health information sources in decision-making among Hispanic mothers during their children’s first 1000 days of life. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 19, 2536–2543.
Darvill, R., Skirton, H., & Farrand, P. (2010). Psychological factors that impact on women’s experiences of first-time motherhood: A qualitative study of the transition. Midwifery, 26, 357–366.
DiBari, J. N., Yu, S. M., Chao, S. M., & Lu, M. C. (2014). Use of postpartum care: predictors and barriers. Journal of Pregnancy. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/530769.
Elberg, L., Högberg, U., & Lindh, V. (2010). ‘We feel like one, they see us as two’: New parents’ discontent with postnatal care. Midwifery, 26(4), 463–468.
Feinberg, M. E., & Kan, M. L. (2008). Establishing family foundations: Intervention effects on coparenting, parent/infant well-being, and parent–child relations. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(2), 253–263.
Fox, S., & Duggan, M. (2013). Health Online 2013. Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/01/15/health-online-2013/.
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New Brunswick, NJ: Aldine Transaction.
Henshaw, E. J., Durkin, K. M., & Snell, R. J. (2016). First-time parents’ shared representation of postpartum depressive symptoms: A qualitative analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 160, 102–110.
Howell, E. A., Mora, P. A., Chassin, M. R., & Leventhal, H. (2010). Lack of preparation, physical health after childbirth, and early postpartum depressive symptoms. Journal of Women’s Health, 19(4), 703–708.
Jevitt, C. M., Groer, M. W., Crist, N. F., Gonzalez, L., & Wagner, V. D. (2012). Postpartum stressors: A content analysis. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 33, 309–318.
Kitzinger, J. (1995). Qualitative research: Introducing focus groups. BMJ, 311, 299–302.
Lu, M. C., & Prentice, J. (2002). The postpartum visit: Risk factors for nonuse and association with breast-feeding. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 187(5), 1329–1336.
Martin, A., Horowitz, C., Balbierz, A., & Howell, E. A. (2014). Views of women and clinicians on postpartum preparation and recovery. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18, 707–713.
Pilkington, P. D., Milne, L. C., Cairns, K. E., Lewis, J., & Whelan, T. A. (2015). Modifiable partner factors associated with perinatal depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 178, 165–180.
Suplee, P. D., Bloch, J. R., McKeever, A., Borucki, L. C., Dawley, K., & Kaufman, M. (2014). Focusing on maternal health beyond breastfeeding and depression during the first year postpartum. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 43, 782–791.
Wilkins, C. (2006). A qualitative study exploring the support needs of first-time mothers on their journey towards intuitive parenting. Midwifery, 22, 169–180.
Youash, S., Campbell, K., Avson, W., Peneva, D., Sharma, V., & Xie, B. (2013). Influence of health information levels on postpartum depression. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16, 489–498.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by Denison University Research Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henshaw, E.J., Cooper, M.A., Jaramillo, M. et al. “Trying to Figure Out If You’re Doing Things Right, and Where to Get the Info”: Parents Recall Information and Support Needed During the First 6 weeks Postpartum. Matern Child Health J 22, 1668–1675 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2565-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2565-3