• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 1981

Serum concentrations of $T_4,\;T_3$, and free $T_4$ were measured by radioimmunoassay in normal pregnant women at each trimesters, in postpartum women, and cord blood of neonates. Total $T_4$ were increased during pregnancy, remarkably high in the first trimester, and also somewhat increased in postpartum, and normal in neonate. Total $T_3$ were in normal range during pregnancy, but increased in postpartum, whereas decreased in neonate. Free $T_4$ were decreased in 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, however normal in post partum and neonate.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 1992

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of antenatal breast care on decreases in breast discomfort and increases in the breast feeding rate during the postpartum period. A nonequivalent control group posttest research design was used. The experimental group consisted of fifty -one pregnant women(primigravida) who were receiving antenatal care in the OBGYN clinics of four hospitals between March 5 and May 30, 1991. The control group was made up of seventy - five postpartum women who delivered at two hospitals OBGYN clinic and one midwife clinic between May 4 and June 15, and between September 5 and October 15, 1991. Data were collected via telephone interviews on the seventh postpartum day and at the end of the second month. Data analysis methods used frequencies and the x$^2$- test. The results were as follows : 1. The rate of breast feeding practice at two months was higher in the experimental group(70.6%) than in the control group(25.3%) (p＜.01). 2. Nipple soreness in the early breast feeding period was lower in the experimental group(14.6%) than in the control group(25.3)(p＜.01). 3. Severe breast discomfort in the early breast feeding period was lower in the experimental group (12.5%) than in the control group(39.2%)(P＜.01). 4. There was a significant relationship between the breast feeding practice and the planned feeding method(p＜.05), and between breast feeding practice and nipple soreness(p＜.01) in the experimental group, and the presence of a job(p＜.01), the sex of the infant(p＜.05), and the first feeding time(p＜.05) in the control group. 5. The reasons for unsuccessful breast feeding were a deficiency of breast milk (66.7% in the experimental group, 30.4% in the control group), poor sucking on the part of the baby(13.3% in the experimental group, 21.4% in the control group).

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to test the effects of Oketani breast massage on breast pain and breast milk pH of mothers, and sucking speed of neonates. Methods: A nonequivalent control group and a pretest-posttest design was used. Postpartum mothers complaining of breast pain were recruited at a postpartum care center. The application of Oketani breast massage by an Oketani massage therapist was the experimental treatment. The control group received the conventional massage technique from a nurse at the postpartum care centre. The collected data were analysed using a $x^2$-test and a t-test with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: The participants were homogeneous in age, gestation period, and birth weight. Breast pain (t=8.384, p<.001) was significantly relieved, and breast milk pH (t=4.793, p<.001) was significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. The sucking speed of the neonates in the experimental group was significantly increased compared to the control group (t=9.920, p<.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that Oketani breast massage is effective in relieving breast pain and increasing breast milk pH as well as the sucking speed of neonates.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.307-317
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support (K-PICSS) for postpartum mothers. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The K-PICSS was developed through forward-backward translation. Online survey data were collected from 284 Korean mothers with infants 1-2 months of age. The 19-item K-PICSS consists of functional and structural domains. The functional domain of social support measures infant care practices of postpartum mothers. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and known-group comparison were used to verify the construct validity of the K-PICSS. Social support and postpartum depression were also measured to test criterion validity. Psychometric testing was not applicable to the structural social support domain. Results: The average age of mothers was 32.76±3.34 years, and they had been married for 38.45±29.48 months. Construct validity was supported by the results of EFA, which confirmed a three-factor structure of the scale (informational support, supporting presence, and practical support). Significant correlations of the K-PICSS with social support (r=.71, p<.001) and depression (r=-.40, p<.001) were found. The K-PICSS showed reliable internal consistency, with Cronbach's α values of .90 overall and .82-.83 in the three subscales. The vast majority of respondents reported that their husband or their parents were their main sources of support for infant care. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the K-PICSS has satisfactory construct validity and reliability to measure infant care social support in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of a newborn care education program using ubiquitous learning (UL-NCEP) on exclusive breastfeeding and maternal role confidence of first-time mothers in Vietnam. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent control group design was conducted at a university hospital in Hue city, Vietnam, between June and July 2018. Eligible first-time mothers were conveniently allocated to the experimental (n=27) and the control group (n=25). Mothers in the control group received only routine care, whereas mothers in the experimental group received UL-NCEP through tablet personal computers in addition to routine care in the hospital. Then, the educational content was provided to mothers by their smartphone for reviewing at home. UL-NCEP was developed based on the World Health Organization's "Essential Newborn Care Course" guidelines. The exclusive breastfeeding rate and maternal role confidence level after birth and at 4 weeks postpartum were assessed in both groups to assess the effect of UL-NCEP. Results: At 4 weeks postpartum, the experimental group showed a significantly higher level than the control, for exclusive breastfeeding rate (p<.05) as well as mean maternal role confidence (p<.05). Conclusion: UL-NCEP was a feasible and effective intervention in increasing first-time Vietnamese mothers' exclusive breastfeeding rate and maternal role confidence level. This program may be integrated into routine care for postpartum mothers to promote mother and infant health among first-time mothers in Vietnam.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.363-368
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• 1998

Taurine is only supplied to the infants from the breast-fed or formula milks because the enzyme activities of taurine biosynthesis are limited in early stages of infants . The objectives of present study were to quantitate the contents of tarurine in human milk and to estimate the intake of taurine by breast-fed infants during early period of lactation. Thirty -three lactating women, volunteered and delivered in R hospital in Serou. were recruited. Milk samples were collected every day at B1-B5 day(from 1 to 5 day dafter start of milk secretion), 15th and 30th day postpartum. Taurine contents were determined by HPLC equipped with RF-detector. The intake of taurine by infants was estimated by multiplization with the infant milk intake reported in our laboratory. The content of taurine was 406$\pm$174nmol/ml at B1-B5 day, and then gradually decreased to 359$\pm$125nmol/ml at 15th day and to 304$\pm$94nmol/ml at 30th day postpartum. The estimated intake of taurine was almost same as 24-25mg/day at B1-B5 day, and 15th , 30th days postpartum . This results was due to the increase of the intake of milk by infants.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2020

Objectives : Postpartum depression is known to occur in 10-15% of mothers. The concentration of cytokine varies depending on stress, depression, pregnancy and general medical conditions. We hypothesized that the concentration of cytokines may be related to reproduction and childbirth, and that women with postpartum depression would show alterations in cytokines levels. Methods : A total of 104 pregnant women were selected as subjects, and 60 non-pregnant women were selected as normal controls. Symptoms of depression were evaluated in the pregnant study subjects using the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The pregnant subjects were divided into three groups perinatal non-depression controls (n=61), postpartum depression-recovery (n=18), and postpartum depression (n=25). Results : The plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1 was higher in the pregnant group than in non-pregnant controls (TGF-β1 ; p<0.01, IGF-1 ; p=0.026). At 24 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks of delivery, there were no significant differences in the plasma concentration of TGF-β1, IGF-1, β-NGF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α between the three groups. There was no statistically significant difference in all three groups during the course of depression in pregnant women. Conclusions : This study found significant difference in plasma cytokines concentrations between non-pregnant controls and perinatal non-depression controls.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 1991

The longitudinal changes on human milk volume per day and lactational performance of 23 Korean lacto-ovo-vegetarians(primiparae=11, multiparae=12) from 0.5 to 5 months after parturition have been studied by test weighing method. The human milk volume per day tended to increase during lactation. The mean volume (SD, ml/day) at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months were 502(102), 692(127), 697(100), 684( 125), 757(52), 703(70), respectively. The overall mean volume was 661$\pm$132ml/day. The peak milk volume during the lactation was observed at most lactating women at the 1st month. The distributions of the individual mean volume during the first 5 months of lactation were found over 750m1(8.7% ), 650-750ml(47.9% ), 550-650m1(2l.7% ), and 450-550ml(2l.7% ) The number of feeding per day was 8.1 ($\pm$1.0) at 0.5 months postpartum, which was consistently decreased. However, the mean volume per feeding was increased from 62($\pm$9.5)ml at 0.5 month to 112($\pm$13.3)ml at 5 months postpartum. The milk volume was correlated with the peak volume. and maternal age. but not with weight before delivery. maternal height and birth weight. No differences of milk volume and lactational performance between facto-ovo-vegetarian and nonvegetarian women were observed. This study suggests that the human milk volume cited in the recommended dietary allowances for Koreitns is over estimated.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.493-505
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to contribute to maternal nursing in the early postpartum stage and neonate nursing. Data were collected through self-report questionaires which were constructed to include perception of the newborn scale, parental role stress scale and anxiety scale. The subjects consisted of 81 mothers of preterm babies at seven hospitals in Seoul and Kyoungki-Do, from July 15 to September 30, 2000. Data were analysed by SPSS/PC using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The mean of perception of the newborn in the early postpartum stage was 1.35. The mean of parental role stress was 10.78. The mean of anxiety of mother was 39.74. 2. There were significant positive correlation between parental role stress and anxiety of mothers. 3. There were not significant influencing general characteristics to perception of the newborn and parental role stress. General characteristics related to the level of anxiety were economic status, expectation of pregnancy, birthing order, newborn weight. The above findings indicated that the level of parental role stress and anxiety of preterm birth mothers were correlated. Therefore nursing intervention for reducing parental role stress and anxiety should be provided for preterm birth mothers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.264-274
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate breastfeeding effectiveness scale to measure effectiveness of breastfeeding for mothers in the early postpartum period. Methods: A conceptual framework was constructed from properties of effective breastfeeding (Yang and Seo, 2011), and item construction was derived from literature review and analysis of the data along with interviews with breastfeeding mothers. Content validity was tested by experts. Each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale. The preliminary questionnaire was administered to 248 breastfeeding mothers. Data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$. Results: From the factor analysis, 20 items in seven factors were derived. The factors were identified as mother's satisfaction, suckling, assurance of milk quantity, infant's satisfaction, latching on, infant's feeding desire, and breastfeeding positioning. The seven factors explained 65.1% of total variance, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ of the total items was .83 and the factors ranged from .44 to .75. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that breastfeeding effectiveness scale is a reliable and valid instrument to measure breastfeeding effectiveness of mothers in the early postpartum period.