Postpartum psycho-educational interviews to promote adaptation in new mothers: A preliminary study

Abstract

Objective: Adapting to the birth of a child can be stressful for new mothers. Caregivers (nurses and midwives) lack the tools to adequately assist with this adaptation. A perinatal psycho-educational interview was developed and systematically implemented on a daily basis for all mothers hospitalized postpartum in the maternity ward of our institution. Our first objective was to assess whether this psycho-educational interview was used systematically by care personnel, and whether it provided them with a greater sense of purpose in their professional role. Our second objective was to assess whether use of this interview decreased new mothers’ perceptions of stress and improved their perceived adaptations to motherhood.

Methods: An assessment before (T1) and after (T2) implementation of the psycho-educational interview (intervention) was carried out with 60 caregivers and 250 mothers.

Results: The results show 41% of mothers in this study received two or more interviews during their hospital stay. Caregivers’ job satisfaction was seen to increase (t = -3.2; p < .05), and feelings of frustration towards their work decreased (t = 2.65; p < .05). Mothers felt less stressed and less worried in T2 (t = -2.4; p < .05).

Conclusions: These encouraging results show an increase in the use of this treatment in the postpartum setting, with desirable effects. Further studies should be carried out to consolidate these preliminary results.