Maternal perceived quality of life following childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
To examine preterm, near-term, and term mothers' self-reported quality of life in the early postpartum period.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal repeated measures design.


METHODS
Four medical centers in the Midwest.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 184 mothers of either a preterm, near-term, or term infant.


METHODS
Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life tool.


RESULTS
Mothers of preterm infants scored significantly lower on the subscale psychological/baby of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life tool compared to mothers of near-term and term infants.


CONCLUSIONS
Infant gestational age at birth has relevance for maternal quality of life during the postpartum period. Health care professionals need to be cognizant relative to infant gestational age and individualize nursing care.
Hill
Pamela D
PD
College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Quad Cities Regional Program, Moline, IL 61265, USA. phill@uic.edu
Aldag
Jean C
JC
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires