title: Postpartum experiences of older Japanese primiparas during the first month after childbirth.
abstract: This study aimed to describe the postpartum experiences of older Japanese primiparas during the first month after childbirth. The participants were 21 primiparous women over 35 years of age who gave birth to a healthy child at three urban hospitals. Data were collected from July 2011 to April 2012 through a semi-structured interview about postpartum experiences after discharge. Data were analysed using content analysis. We obtained Institutional Review Boards' approval and written informed consent from all participants prior to study initiation. Thirteen themes of postpartum experiences were extracted. The findings revealed that the mothers' experiences varied greatly and were highly personal. Also, participants described common experiences, unique child-care support needs and the strengths of older primiparas. Understanding the postpartum experiences of older primiparas assists health-care professionals to identify better ways to provide appropriate support.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakajo
authors.forename: Kunie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: maternal age; nulliparity; postnatal women; postpartum care