Voices of Clients and Caregivers in a Maternity Home

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived health-related needs of women who spent part of their pregnancy, labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum days in a maternity residence that provided adoption placement services. The method was qualitative; semistructured interviews and content analysis were used. The authors concluded that the perceived needs of this population were essentially congruent with those of the nurse caregivers. Information and support in labor were cited as primary needs. The authors suggest that this population may significantly underestimate postpartal needs. A second finding was that these mothers seemed to express a heightened sense ofjoy and relief in their newborn's health, which may reflect the compressed time they have to demonstrate maternal behaviors.