Examination of the Postnatal Education and Counselling Services of Nurses: Medical Education

Higher infant mortality rate in our country compared to developed countries increase the importance of mother and infant care. Education and counselling services starting at the prenatal period and maintained during the postnatal period, have a major role in the health promotion of the mother and infant. Postnatal period is challenging in that the mother has to adapt to her baby, to postnatal disturbances and to the new family organization. The time between delivery and discharge from the hospital is nor adequate to give all the necessary information oil the care of the mother and the baby. The most appropriate time to educate mothers is the time after they go home. However, educating the mother lot urgent needs before being discharged, distributing pamphlets including written information, establishing parent support groups, arranging a follow-up program by phone call and home visiting programs by public health nurses after discharge will help mothers solve problems related to healthcare. In addition, individualized approaches in education regarding the changing needs of the mother are particularly beneficial. Altough the needs can change according to different stages of the postnatal period, nurses generally should gibe education and Counseling on the characteristics of a normal infant, problems confronted frequently in infants, usual infant care, infant nutrition and materials required for infant care. Regarding mothers, education topics should include painful perinea, abdominal pain/cramps, breast care, exhaustion, nutritien, family planning, resumption of menstruation/sexuality, meeting family needs, lactation, fever, and arranging bowel Movements. In addition, to establishing valid evidence to determine the precise contents and duration of education, further studies are recommended to include issues such as the contents of the education given to mothers, the number of deliveries, duration of data collection, and postpartum week of the mothers.