Major concerns of women after cesarean delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To identify women's major physiologic, psychologic, and life-style concerns at 2 and 8 weeks after cesarean delivery.


METHODS
Descriptive study with open-ended interviews.


METHODS
Large urban hospital affiliated with a major university.


METHODS
One hundred six women who had unplanned cesarean deliveries and delivered live, full-term neonates. The mean maternal age was 28.7 years.


METHODS
The major physiologic, psychologic, and life-style concerns.


RESULTS
Seven women reported no concerns at both data points. The number of physiologic concerns that the women expressed decreased markedly from 2 to 8 weeks postdelivery, but the number of psychologic and life-style concerns did not.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings reinforce the need for prenatal teaching and postnatal follow-up regarding these concerns.
Miovech
S M
SM
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Bristol.
Knapp
H
H
Borucki
L
L
Roncoli
M
M
Arnold
L
L
Brooten
D
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008019:Life Style; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy