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Comparing mothers’ postpartum concerns in two clinical trials 18 years apart

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
To determine if U.S. women's postpartum concerns have changed over time.


METHODS
Mothers' postpartum concerns were compared in two clinical trials: 1997 (high-risk pregnancy) and 2015 (first-time mothers). Advanced practice nurses (APNs) provided care through 8 weeks postpartum and recorded interactions in clinical logs. Content analysis of logs was used for identifying concerns.


RESULTS
Ninety-five percent of 58 1997 mothers were African American; 64% of 62 2015 mothers were Hispanic. The number of infant concerns (129 vs. 144) was similar to four of the top five infant concerns; infant feeding was the top concern for both groups. The 1997 mothers were concerned with body changes, birth control, breastfeeding, maternal health problems, and had more concerns about their health (142 vs. 43); the 2015 mothers were concerned with not having help, fatigue, finding things hard. Both groups had postpartum pain concerns and problems accessing mother/infant governmental programs.


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers' concerns regarding infant care were essentially the same over the two time periods with infant feeding as the top concern. Maternal concerns in common were postpartum pain and needing help accessing government programs. Women who had high-risk pregnancies had more health concerns.


IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
Results provide guidance for helping minority mothers in the postpartum period.