Abstract
This study aimed to clarify midwifery practice performed by midwives from an obstetric facility during postnatal home visits as well as issues related to such practice. The study conducted a semi-structured interview with eight midwives working in an obstetrics department who have the experience of carrying out a postnatal home visit.
It was found that during home visits, midwives have focused on interacting with the mother in a way that would help them “receive the mother’s feelings.” Midwives were providing support to the mother caring for her baby by “alleviating the mother's anxiety and concerns and approving her ways of caring for her baby.” Additionally, midwives were “making decisions and providing care that can be achieved through continuous interaction,” “providing care by using the strengths of a midwife,” and “making decisions and providing care in accordance with the mother’s living environment.” They were also “providing post-discharge support through interprofessional collaboration” when it was necessary. As “improvement of regional cooperation system and improvement of midwifery care for continuing home visits after childbirth”, it became clear that there is a need for multidisciplinary collaboration and cooperation, evaluation and review of postpartum home visits, improvement of the quality of midwifery care that takes advantage of the condition of the mother and child after discharge, and self-improvement of midwives for seamless support to mothers and children and their families after discharge.
