An intervention to build maternal confidence in new mothers one month after childbirth

Abstract

Purpose
To verify the outcomes of care provided by midwives for the purpose of building maternal confidence in new mothers.
Methods
This research was designed as a sequential, quasi-experimental study targeting an intervention group of 27 new mothers and a comparison group of 35 new mothers. Confidence-building care was given to the intervention group at 2-weeks postpartum (by phone) and 3-weeks postpartum (by interview). This care consisted of a midwife listening to a mother talk about the kinds of experiences that made her feel capable of taking care of her baby, and the kinds of experiences that made her feel as if she was doing her best, or has done her best, to care for her baby. The midwife then recognized the mother’s efforts, and communicated assurances and a positive assessment. The Japanese version of the Maternal Confidence Questionnaire (hereafter, J-MCQ) was administered 4-5 days postpartum (pre-test) and 1-month postpartum (post-test). A t-test was conducted to validate the intervention outcomes.
Results
The average J-MCQ score for the pretest was 34.2 points (SD=8.3) for the intervention group and 34.5 points (SD=7.9) for the comparison group. No significant difference was seen between the groups (t=0.191, p=.849). The average J-MCQ score for the posttest was 46.3 points (SD=9.1) for the intervention group and 42.8 points (SD=7.5) for the comparison group. No significant difference was seen between the groups (t=1.663, p=.101). Both groups scored significantly higher in the post-test than the pre-test (intervention group: t=9.446, p=.000; comparison group: t=6.28, p=.000).
Conclusion
The confidence-building care for first-time mothers conducted by midwives was not demonstrated to be effective, but whether or not the intervention was implemented, this study clearly showed that mothers at 1-month postpartum possessed more confidence that at 4-5 days postpartum.