• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.461-472
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• 2001

A study was done to identify mothers' perception of fatigue in postpartum period. Questionnaires were collected from 267 normal postpartum mothers in Korea from July to December 2000. The questionnaires used to measure mothers' fatigue were "Subjective Symptoms of Fatigue Test" designed by Research Committee of Industrial Fatigue in Hygienic Association of Japan Industry. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS-Win. The results revealed that The average fatigue score of subjects was 1.70; Physical fatigue had the highest value with a mean of 1.89, followed by psychological fatigue with a mean score of 1.62, neuro-sensory fatigue was rated lowest with a mean of 1.58. Sorting out the subjects fatigue level per a week during Sweeks, 6th week after postpartum had the highest value with a mean of 1.85. Degree of fatigue was also compared with the respect to the general characteristics of mothers: There were statistically significant differences according to mothers' job (t=-2.021, p=.046), sleeping time (t=2.771, p=.006), having a nap (t=-2.132, p=.034), baby character (F=3.089, p=.047), baby sex (t=-2.054, p=.041), having a person who help domestic affairs (t=2.292, p=.023). Therefore variable nursing intervention should be provided to alleviate the fatigue according to the postpartum period. Especially the nursing intervention program to alleviate the physical fatigue is needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the relationship between postpartum care performance and postpartum health status. Sample: The study subjects were 82 mothers who delivered full-term infants at 3 hospitals at P city. Data were collected for their health status at the postpartum unit and the sample was followed up to 6 weeks postpartum to collect postpartum care performance and health status. Results: Mothers rated postpartum care performance as moderate to high and especially rated the maternal role attainment the highest. Mothers experienced 4 physical symptoms and moderate levels of fatigue. In addition, they experienced moderate levels of positive affect and low levels of negative affect at both times. Canonical correlation revealed that ostpartum care performance was related to postpartum health status with 2 significant canonical variables. The first variate indicated that mothers who performed hospitality, physical and emotional recovery, self-caring, and role attainment well showed higher positive affects, lower negative affects, fewer physical symptoms, and lower levels of fatigue. The second variate showed that the greater the performance of caring and physical and emotional recovery, the fewer physical symptoms and lower levels of fatigue. Conclusion: Although Korean traditional postpartum care performance was related to postpartum health status, the further study is needed to identify the causal relationship between them. Nurses need to integrate the perspective of westernized postpartum care and Korean traditional views of postpartum approach to maintain and promote women's health.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.266-276
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was correlation study to identify the factors influencing sleep quality, fatigue, and postnatal depression in mothers who have given birth during the past 6 months. Methods: The study was conducted using a survey with questionnaires to 329 mothers who visited E University Medical Center, or three local clinics located in D city, between August and October 2013. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: Out of 329 subjects, 18.2% showed that they had mild postnatal depression whereas 24.3% had severe postnatal depression. Accordingly, 42.5% reported having postnatal depression. Postnatal depression had a significant correlation with sleep hours after childbirth (r=-.16, p=.003), spousal support (r=-.28, p<.001), sleep quality (r=-.35, p<.001), physical fatigue (r=.66, p<.001), psychological fatigue (r=.69, p<.001), and neurosensory fatigue (r=.56, p< .001). Factors influencing postnatal depression include psychological fatigue, sleep quality, number of child births, and neurosensory fatigue, and these accounted for 53% of postnatal depression. Conclusion: Results indicate that factors influencing postnatal depression involve psychological fatigue, sleep quality, number of child births, and neurosensory fatigue. Therefore for nursing intervention for postpartum mothers, it is necessary to assess the level of depression, fatigue, and sleep quality, and to provide interventions to relieve depression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.587-594
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• 2015

Purpose: To identify the effects of foot reflexology massage on fatigue, stress and depression of postpartum women. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-post design was used. A total of 70 women in a postpartum care center were recruited and were assigned to the experimental group (35) or control group (35). Foot reflexology massage was provided to the experimental group once a day for three days. Data were collected before and after the intervention program which was carried out from December, 2013 to February, 2014. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test. Results: The level of fatigue in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.74, p=.008). The level of cortisol in the urine of women in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.19, p=.032). The level of depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 3.00, p=.004). Conclusion: The results show that the foot reflexology massage is an effective nursing intervention to relieve fatigue, stress, and depression for postpartum women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.427-438
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to collect basic data the health care of postpartum women. Three hundred seventy five women who were 3 days postpartum were enrolled at two university hospitals. Data were collected from April 1999 to November, 1999 using a questionnaire titled 'Symptom Table on Fatigue Perception' designed by the Fatigue Research Committee of Japan. The collected data were scored by the use of mean and standard deviation according to the subjective symptoms of fatigue and each item was analyzed independent variable by the t-test and the ANOVA test. The results were as follows: 1. The average fatigue score of subjects was 1.61. Physical fatigue had the highest value with a mean of 1.82, followed by neuro-sensory fatigue with a mean score of 1.54, psychological fatigue was rated lowest with a mean of 1.45. 2. With the respect to the general characteristics of subjects, there were statistically significant differences in difficulty of labor (t=2.335. p=.020), sleeping time (t=2.340. p=.020) and desirability of pregnancy (t=2.409. p=.018).

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.196-208
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to test the efficacy of a nurse-led postpartum self-care (NLPPSC) intervention at reducing postpartum fatigue (PPF) and depressive mood and promoting maternal functioning among first-time mothers in Bangladesh. Methods: A non-synchronized quasi-experimental design was used. First-time mothers were recruited during postpartum and assigned to the experimental or control group (34 each). The experimental group received the NLPPSC in the hospital, a 1-day intervention that focused on increasing self-efficacy. The control group received usual care. Data on PPF, depressive mood, maternal functioning, self-care behaviors, postpartum self-efficacy, and self-care knowledge were collected at postpartum 2 weeks (attrition 23.5%) and 6 weeks (attrition 16.1%). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate statistics, and linear mixed model analysis. Results: One-third (33.3%) of new mothers experienced depressive mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores of ≥13 points). The NLPPSC intervention was statistically significant in decreasing PPF (β=-6.17, SE=1.81, t=-3.39, p<.01) and increased maternal functioning at postpartum 6 weeks in the experimental group (β=13.72, t=3.73, p<.01) compared to the control. Knowledge was also statistically significant for increased maternal functioning over time (β=.37, SE=.18, t=2.03, p<.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in depressive mood over time. Conclusion: The NLPPSC intervention was feasible and effective in improving fatigue and maternal functioning in Bangladeshi mothers by postpartum 6 weeks and thus supports implementing the NLPPSC intervention for new mothers after childbirth.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2002

This study was to compare mother's postpartum physical health, mental health, and role performance between mothers with fullterm infants and preterm infants over 3 months postpartum period. The study used a correlational and longitudinal design and was secondary data analysis from a large study. A convenience sample of 132 mothers who had fullterm and preterm infants was followed up for 3 times (postpartum 1-2 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months) during the first 3 months postpartum period. Postpartum physical health was assessed by level of fatigue in the morning and in the afternoon, and number of physical symptoms. Postpartum mental health was assessed by positive affect, anxiety, and depression; and postpartum role performance was measured by role functional status. Mothers with preterm infants experienced higher levels of fatigue in the morning, lower positive affect, higher anxiety and higher depression over 3 data collection time points, compared to mothers with fullterm infants. Mothers with preterm infants also resumed lesser self-care activity and social and community activity than the counterparts. It implies that some aspects of preterm birth and caring for preterm infants continue to negatively affect the mother's health outcomes during the postpartum period.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2005

Purpose : The keeping warm and avoidance of cold are one of important Korean traditional postpartum care, but sometimes overwarm for example over-bundling, an overheated room or a steam bath cause heavy sweats. I observed and treated three　patients complained of heavy sweats, chills, fatigue, malaise, cold sensation and pain caused by keeping overwarm for postpartum care. Although the symptoms have aggravated, they have maintained keeping overwarm because of a belief of Korean traditional postpartum care. The purpose of these cases studies are to report postpartum hyperhidrosis caused by keeping overwarm and to make a point of keeping the appropriate room temperature and humidity during puerperium. Methods : I observed and treated three patients complained of heavy sweats, chills, fatigue, malaise, cold sensation and pain caused by keeping overwarm for postpartum care. I found that a cause of the symptoms was hyperhidrosis by keeping overwarm, and administered herbal medicine and was to keep the appropriate room temperature. Results : After medication of Herbal medicine(補中益氣湯加味方) and keeping the appropriate room temperature, they were improved. Conclusion : Postpartum care is not to keep overwarm but to keep the appropriate room temperature and humidity.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.241-255
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• 2001

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study which compares the level of postpartum women's physical, phychological, neurosensory fatigue between rooming-in and non rooming-in groups. The data were collected by using self-report questionnaire from April 1 to May 31, 2001. Subjects were 68 mothers who opted the rooming-in choice and 98 mothers who did not choose the rooming-in at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. They all had NSVD. The research questionnaire consisted of 36 items on general chracteristics and 30 items on postpartum fatigue developed by Pugh (1993). The data were analyzed by using the SPSS 10.0 window program. The results of this study were as follow: 1. There was significant statistical difference in general characteristics between rooming-in and non rooming-in groups in prenatal class attendance ($x^2$=3.935, p=0.047), maternal fetal attachment score (t=2.130, p=0.035), husband attendance during the labor and delivery ($x^2$=9.147, p=0.002), breast feeding ($x^2$=12.503, p=0.000), and self feeding time including bottle feeding (t=4.588, p=0.000). 2. There was no significant statistical difference in the level of total fatigue score between two groups (t=0.282, p=0.780). 3. The physical and neurosensory fatigue scores were slightly higher in rooming-in group ($21.63{\pm}4.92$, $18.53{\pm}4.60$) than those ($20.71{\pm}5.78$, $18.23{\pm}5.39$) of non rooming-in group. And the phychological fatigue score was slightly higher in non rooming-in group ($17.67{\pm}4.95$) than that ($17.04{\pm}4.63$) of rooming-in group. However, there was no significant statistical difference in the level of three sub-dimension fatigue between two groups (t=1.068, p=0.287; t=-0.827, p=0.410; t=0.368, p=0.714). 4. Even after controlling characteristics showed significant differences between two groups, there was no significant statistical difference in the level of fatigue between two groups (F=0.135, p=0.714). According to this study, there was no significant statistical difference in the level of postpartum fatigue whether they were rooming-in or not. Based on this result, the common notion of rooming-in mothers will be more fatigue than non rooming-in mothers is proved to be false. However, it is necessary to develop appropriate nursing interventions to meet the need of mothers who decide to rooming-in.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Sin-Ga-Tang in the treatment of Hypogalactia. Method : After 4 weeks of dosing Sin-Ga-Tang, observe the changes and analyze results in 3 cases. Result : 1. Hypogalactia is exacerbated by the postpartum fatigue and digestive dysfunction. 2. After dosing Sin-Ga-Tang, Postpartum fatigue and digestive dysfunction resolved, Showed beneficial effects in the treatment of Hypogalactia. Conclusion : Sin-Ga-Tang is effective on Hypogalactia associated with digestive disorders, However, in-depth study for digestive dysfunction affecting Hypogalactia should be considered as progress.