"Health challenges and midwifery support for new mothers after childbirth: A cross-sectional study in Sweden"

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate new mothers’ self-rated and perceived health problems and complications; their reasons for, and the frequency of, emergency department visits; how emergency department visits were associated with sociodemographic and obstetric factors; and new mothers’ experiences of received support from the midwifery clinic. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting and participants: The study was conducted at 35 of 64 midwifery clinics in Stockholm, Sweden. The study population consisted of 580 new mothers. Measurement and findings: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used. New mothers experience a range of different health problems and complications during the first four weeks after giving birth. Sixteen percent sought emergency care. The odds of seeking emergency care increased for women with higher age and poorer self-rated health. Sixty-three percent of the new mothers received support from a midwife in primary care within the first four weeks after childbirth. Mothers who did not receive the support they wanted, expressed a wish for earlier contact and better accessibility. Conclusion and implication for practice: It is notable that 16 % of new mothers seek emergency care in the first weeks after childbirth. This study has practical implications for midwifery practice and policy. There is a need for tailored postnatal support strategies so that midwives potentially are able to mitigate emergency department visits. Further studies should look at whether the high number of emergency visits among new mothers varies throughout Sweden, and whether this may be a result of reduced time of hospital stay after childbirth or other factors.