Includes curriculum vitae and index.

ABSTRACT
This research seeks to explore the degree of diligence and the relative correctness of nursing assessment and interventions performed by nurses to postpartum mothers in the OB Ward of MCM. This study was conducted during the second semester, school year 2007 - 2008. Specifically, it answered the following sub-problems: What is the socio-demographic profile of the respondents in terms of ; a Age; b. Civil Status; and c. Type of Delivery? 2. What are the levels of postpartum care extended to the respondents by the staff nurses of MCM in terms of; a. Physiologic Status Assessment; b. Pain and Discomfort Care and Intervention; C. Breast Engorgement Intervention; d. Infant Interaction Teachings; e. Postpartum Complications, and f. Discharge Plans?
The methodology used in assessing the mother's perception regarding postpartum care rendered by nurses at MCM was descriptive method. It also identifies the degree of diligence and the relative correctness of nursing assessment and interventions performed by nurses to postpartum mothers in the OB Ward of MCM. Likewise, it is used to organize, summarize and describe measurers of a sample. The researcher sought permission to the chief Nurse of Medical Center Muntinlupa by giving them a letter noted by the researcher's adviser and dean of the College of Nursing. Upon the approval, respondents were briefed on the nature and purpose of the study. Questionnaires were directly handed to the postpartum mothers under the supervision of the researcher. The researcher conducted the data gathering from March 25 (Tuesday) to March 29, 2008 (Saturday) in the said institution's OB ward.

The Following were the findings of the study: a. There was an equal distribution of respondents in terms of age. Out of the total of 8 postpartum mothers, four were between 21 to 30 years old and four were between 31 to 40 years old. b. Majority of the respondents were married. C. Most of the mothers delivered their babies through normal spontaneous delivery (NSD). Information Related to Study a. Monitoring of blood pressure was noted by respondents to be the most consistently done by nurses in assessing the physiologic status of postpartum mothers. b. Giving of analgesics was noted to be the most frequent treatment applied to relieve pain and discomfort after giving birth. c. Encouraging mothers to do breastfeeding to relieve breast engorgement was sometimes recommended by nurses. d. In terms of teaching postpartum mothers regarding infant care, the most frequent practice was teaching them on how to interact with their babies through talking to them. e. On teaching postpartum mothers regarding complications after delivery, the two most notable complications which were fairly reminded and observed were chills and bogginess of the fundus. f. Childhood immunization was the highly taught reminder to postpartum mothers as part of their discharge plans. In the postpartum period, women need: 1. Information/counseling on the care of the baby, what happens to their bodies - including signs of possible problems, self care - hygiene and healing, sexual life, contraception, and nutrition 2. support from health care providers, partner and family: emotionally, and psychologically 3. health care for suspected or manifest complications 4. time to care for the baby 5. social reintegration into her family and community From the findings and conclusions, the researcher recommends the following: 1. On service and care provision, the first step is to identify the community's
perceptions of postpartum events in connection with the existing healthcare system to be able to design services. 2. The necessary tools for implementing quality postpartum care 3. The training / human resource issues which should include development of knowledge, skills (including counseling) and attitudes of health workers to provide normal and complicated care postpartum, enhance competence in life saving skills of health providers at all levels of care; and include comprehensive postpartum care in curricula of nursing and medical schools. 4. Health protection and promotion which should include developing strategies for
providing women and communities with focused, accurate and sensitive information about the postpartum period and its warning signs - and answering their specific questions, ) exploiting all opportunities to strengthen the knowledge base, self care and care seeking within the community regarding postpartum needs and create new opportunities (health education in schools, rites and ceremonies, women's groups etc). 5. Research should address the following areas: psychological / emotional response to childbirth, recovery after childbirth including sexuality of women and men after childbirth, variation in breastfeeding and non breastfeeding women, effective interventions in postpartum care (e.g. significance of temperature rise after labor, Epidemiology of long term morbidities, Health systems and operations research on how to best operationally an integrated postpartum care service, appropriate technologies: any technology used in postpartum should be carefully evaluated before introduced for general use. Such evaluation should include efficacy and safety, economic implications and cultural acceptability; and parenting role of men and their involvement in postpartum period.
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