An Australian study of functional status after childbirth

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 states 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.