Postnatal care: is it based on ritual or a purpose? a reflective account

Wray, J

Abstract

Postnatal care has for too long been the C inderella of the
childbirth continuum and marginalized within maternity care
services. Most women in the U K are hospitalized after giving
birth and spend time on a postnatal ward. Women tend to view
this aspect of their childbirth journey as the least satisfying,
and in-depth analysis as to the reasons for this perspective is
limited. T his article presents a thought-provoking debate on
postnatal hospital care and is underpinned by data that have
emerged from observing postnatal wards as part of a larger
research study. T wo main points are pursued: reflections on
carrying out ‘fieldwork’ and the notion that postnatal care is
becoming deficient in purpose. Questions are raised as to the
intention of hospitalization after birth, given the culture and
context of a busy ward. Many factors impinge upon the woman’s
experience of the postnatal ward: the availability of midwives,
the status/value of postnatal work and having enough time
to spend with women on a busy ward. H owever, the essence
of midwifery and intention of postnatal care must not be lost.
Evidence to support postnatal care by midwives needs to be
visible.

Citation

Wray, J. (2006). Postnatal care: is it based on ritual or a purpose? a reflective account. British Journal of Midwifery, 14(9), 320-326

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Oct 20, 2009
• Journal: British Journal of Midwifery
• Print ISSN: 0969-4900
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 320-326