Comfort in the Post Partum Experience

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the nurse's role in improving comfort for the post partum mother. The paper describes the reasons that comfort may be needed in a post partum situation and discusses the use of comfort in improving the health and recovery of the new mother and baby. The paper also defines attributes of comfort that can be used by the nurse who is involved.

Table of Contents:
Relating Theory To Practice
Uses of Comfort
Defining Attributes Of Comfort

From the Paper:

"A myriad of comfort directed behaviors are required to care for the new mother, especially in preparing them for their home life with a new baby. Most notably, "hormonal changes and physical discomfort are known to affect sleep" (Lee, Zaffke & McEnany, 2000, p. 17). Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of more pronounced cases of postpartum related depression, lasting longer than 12 - 14 days. Moore (2001) tells us that lack of a social support system is a primary contributing factor to postpartum depression. Nurses are often seen in the role of providing the necessary social support. Between the hormonal influences on postpartum depression and the lack of a social system in place, nursing care oriented towards comfort can significantly decrease the postpartum depression experience. Moore (2001) says the nurse should practice anticipatory management for postpartum depression when the mother is still in the hospital and comfort directed care could be provided."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barclay, L. & Vega, C. P. (2004). Exercise improves pelvic girdle pain after pregnancy. Spine 29, 351-359.
• Bianchi, A. L. & Adams, E. D. (2004). Doulas, labor support and nurses. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 19 (4), 24-30.
• Collin, B. A., McCoy, S. A., Sale, S. & Weber, S. E. (1994). Descriptions of comfort by substance-using and nonusing postpartum women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecological Neonatal Nursing 23 (4), 293-300.
• Comfort. (n.d.). The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved January 27, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/comfort
• Comfort. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved January 27, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/comfort

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