Maternity Nursing: Postpartum Q 50
A primiparous woman is in the taking-in stage of psychosocial recovery and adjustment following birth. The nurse, recognizing the needs of women during this stage, should:
A. Foster an active role in the baby’s care.
B. Provide time for the mother to reflect on the events of and her behavior during childbirth.
C. Recognize the woman’s limited attention span by giving her written materials to read when she gets home rather than doing a teaching session now.
D. Promote maternal independence by encouraging her to meet her own hygiene and comfort needs.
Correct Answer: B. Provide time for the mother to reflect on the events of and her behavior during childbirth.
The focus of the taking-in stage is nurturing the new mother by meeting her dependency needs for rest, comfort, hygiene, and nutrition. Women express a need to review their childbirth experience and evaluate their performance. This dependence is mainly due to her physical discomfort from hemorrhoids or the after pains, from the uncertainty of how she could care for the newborn, and also from the extreme tiredness she feels that follows childbirth. Encouraging the woman to talk about her experiences during labor and birth would greatly help her adjust and let her incorporate it into her new life.
Option A: Once they are met, she is more able to take an active role, not only in her own care but also the care of her newborn. The taking hold phase starts 2 to 4 days after delivery. The woman starts to initiate actions on her own and makes decisions without relying on others. Demonstrate newborn care to the mother and watch her do a return demonstration of every procedure.
Option C: Short teaching sessions, using written materials to reinforce the content presented, are a more effective approach. The woman still needs positive reinforcements despite the independence that she is already showing because she might still feel insecure about the care of her child. Allow the woman to settle in gradually into her new role while still at the hospital or healthcare facility because making decisions about the child’s welfare is a difficult part of motherhood.
Option D: This is the time of reflection for the woman because, within the 2 to 3 day period, the woman is passive. The woman becomes dependent on her healthcare provider or support person with some of the daily tasks and decision-making. The taking-in phase provides time for the woman to regain her physical strength and organize her rambling thoughts about her new role.