Abstract:

Background: It is very important to determine the level of pain and fatigue experienced by the mother during the postpartum period and the effect of breastfeeding self-efficacy on the type of birth. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine maternal pain, fatigue levels and breastfeeding self-efficacy at postpartum 24th hour and 4th week according to type of birth. Methods: The descriptive study was conducted with 153 mothers in the postpartum period in a gynecology clinic of a university hospital between January-September 2016. The data were collected by using face-to-face interview method in the 24th hour of postpartum at hospital and by phone in the 4th week of postpartum period by using the Individual Identification Form, The Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Breastfeeding Self-Efficiency Scale-Short Form. Descriptive statistics, chi square, Mann-Whitney U test and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of data. Results: It was found in the study that mothers who had vaginal birth had lower pain scores in the 24th hour and 4th week of postpartum period compared to mothers who had bold birth and their breastfeeding self-efficacy was higher. A relationship was found only between self-efficacy breastfeeding and pain in the 4th week of postpartum period of mothers who had vaginal birth. However, no relationship was found for mothers that had cesarean birth. Also there was no relationship between maternal fatigue and breastfeeding self-efficacy regarding the birth type. Conclusion: Nurses should know that the fatigue, pain and breastfeeding behaviors / successes that occur in the postpartum period may vary according to the birth pattern. They should take immediate precautions to ensure that those conditions do not adversely affect the mother's quality of life, baby care and breastfeeding.

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