Postpartum Period: Cultural Differences In Nursing

Postnatal period is the Latin word which means “After birth”. It starts immediately after birth and last for six weeks. Postnatal period usually referred as fourth stage of pregnancy. Canadian women spend 2 days in hospital after normal vaginal birth. After C-section, hospital stay is for 3-4 days (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2009). Nurse must be competent enough in caring for both mother and infant and teaches information in short time. Nurse starts preparing mother and family in immediate postpartum period. Teaching is according to the individual‘s need and also family circumstances. Care provider needs to be aware of cultural differences involve in childbirth and postpartum care. Routine care in the postpartum period involves various medical and social needs of the mother. Mother adopts various physiological, endocrine and immunological changes during pregnancy. These adaptations support fetus in the intrauterine life and prepare mother for ongoing pregnancy changes including postpartum period. Care provider needs to be aware of these changes. In postpartum period, hemodynamic status of the mother should be assessed carefully. Other important aspects are vaginal bleeding, pain, postpartum haemorrhage, deep venous thrombosis and infection. (American …show more content…
This includes physiological assessment of newborn, feeding, and nursing care to promote bonding between infant and mother. Other important aspect of postpartum care is to teach mother for infant care after discharge and check safety measures. For family, postpartum period is the time of significant social and psychological adjustment. Therefore, nurse Prepare family members including siblings and grandparents for adjustment. New mother needs time for recovery and takes rest while family takes care of infant, this includes feeding, bonding, bathing and diaper care. (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2010,