Nurses’ Knowledge of Traditional Chinese Postpartum Customs

Disastrous delayed postpartum hemorrhage after 3 days of Shenghua decoction treatment

Taiwanese women frequently receive Shenghua decoction treatment for uterus involution. However, prolonged Shenghua decoction treatment can be detrimental. Herein, we report the case of a woman with disastrous postpartum hemorrhage after prolonged Shenghua decoction treatment. A 36-year-old woman underwent scheduled cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion. On the 8^th postpartum day, she started taking Shenghua decoction twice per day. Massive vaginal bleeding was noted after 3 days of Shenghua decoction treatment. Emergency hysterectomy was performed due to severe hypotension and refractory postpartum hemorrhage. Despite being rare, disastrous delayed postpartum hemorrhage could occur after 3 days of Shenghua decoction treatment. Further research might be needed to clarify the relationship between prolonged Shenghua decoction treatment and delayed postpartum hemorrhage.

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Many cultures around the world observe specific postpartum rituals to avoid ill health in later years. This qualitative systematic review examined the literature describing traditional postpartum practices from 51 studies in over 20 different countries. Commonalities were identified in practices across cultures. Specifically, the themes included organized support for the mother, periods of rest, prescribed food to be eaten or prohibited, hygiene practices and those related to infant care and breastfeeding, among others. These rituals allow the mother to be ‘mothered’ for a period of time after the birth. They may have beneficial health effects as well as facilitate the transition to motherhood. In today's society, with modernization, migration and globalization, individuals may be unable to carry out the rituals or, conversely, feel pressured to carry out activities in which they no longer believe. The understanding of traditional postpartum practices can inform the provision of culturally competent perinatal services.

Low prevalence of breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life in a rural area of Sichuan Province, China

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization recommends that newborn infants be breastfed within the first hour of life, a practice that improves infant health and reduces neonatal mortality. The objectives of this study were to report the rate of breastfeeding initiation within 1 hour of birth in Jiangyou, China, to determine its impact on "full breastfeeding" at discharge, and to investigate factors associated with early breastfeeding initiation.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of infant feeding practices was undertaken during 2010 and 2011 in Jiangyou, 2 years after an earthquake caused extensive damage. A total of 695 mothers were recruited from hospitals and health centers and interviewed at discharge.

RESULTS

In this study, 9.1 percent of women began breastfeeding within 1 hour postpartum. Mothers who initiated breastfeeding early were more likely to be fully breastfeeding at discharge (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.23-3.60). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that giving birth at a health center was associated with delayed breastfeeding initiation (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.04-0.32), whereas attending antenatal classes (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.36-4.87) and receiving encouragement from hospital staff to initiate breastfeeding (OR 5.60, 95% CI 2.31-13.55) were correlated with putting the baby to the breast soon after delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Early breastfeeding initiation rate was low and the use of prelacteal foods was widespread in Jiangyou. Early breastfeeding initiation was associated with higher "full breastfeeding" rates at discharge. It is important to educate doctors and nurses to assist mothers with early breastfeeding initiation and to discourage the use of non-breastmilk prelacteal feeds.

The Association between Traditional Chinese Dietary and Herbal Therapies and Uterine Involution in Postpartum Women

Background. Traditional Chinese postpartum care is believed to help in the recovery of women after delivery. Objective. This study investigated the association of elements in dietary and herbal therapy with uterine involution. Methods. Indices of uterine involution were measured ultrasonographically in 127 postpartum women between 4-6 weeks after delivery. A self-reported retrospective questionnaire was used to query women about their frequencies of taking herbal medicines and consuming special diets during the first month after delivery. Correlation coefficients were calculated to identify the associations, then the regression models were used to identify the predictors. Result. Among the herbal medicines and diet, consumption of Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides) negatively correlated with the AP diameter of the uterus and the cavity. E. ulmoides was also the only predictor of maximum AP diameter of the uterus, AP diameter of the uterus 5 cm from the fundus, and the maximum AP diameter of the cavity. Moreover, consumption of Sheng-hau-tang was significantly correlated with anteverted uterus and was a predictor of anteverted uterus. Conclusion. E. ulmoides and Sheng-hau-tang positively correlated with the degree of uterine involution after delivery, implying that both therapies might possess the pharmacological efficacy of uterine contraction in postpartum women.