The National Institutes of Health funded a study surveying new mothers to inquire about the source of their infant care advice ranging from baby sleep positions to immunizations to breastfeeding. Sources of advice were classified as health care practitioners such as doctors and nurses, family members, and the media.
New Mothers Don’t Receive Infant Care Advice Says Study
With packed schedules and a completely different set of routines and responsibilities, new mothers may not be receiving appropriate attention from their physicians when it comes to advice on infant care according to a study in Pediatrics.
The study was conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center, Boston University, and Yale University.
The Study of Attitudes and Factors Affecting Infant Care Practices (SAFE), researchers asked 1031 women from 32 hospitals around the United States to complete a questionnaire 2 to 6 months after giving birth. The questionnaire would show whether the mothers received advice and, if so, whether the advice was consistent with health care practitioner latest recommendations.
Deciphering How Physicians Advise New Mothers; Baby Sleep Position
The study revealed that many aspects of care were not being adequately covered by doctors and nurses, although recommendations and even guidelines on each aspect of infant care has been thoroughly researched to help promote infant safety.
The study revealed a shocking 20 percent of new mothers did not receive any advice from their physicians in regards to infant sleep position. More than 50 percent also reported receiving no advice about where infants should sleep.
The current recommendation for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is placing the baby to sleep on his or her back. The best location for a baby is in the same room as the parents, a practice known as room-sharing, though not within the same bed.
More than 25 percent of recommendations regarding sleep position and location given by physicians were not consistent with the latest recommendations. The authors believe that the physicians may not offer the advice due to lack of knowledge of the recommendations or because the physician does not agree with it.
Physicians Should Offer More Time and Do So Equally
Another revelation of the study was that not all new mothers were treated equal. African American, Hispanic, and first time mothers were more likely to receive guidance from physicians than their white mother counterparts and mothers who had children already.
According to Marian Willinger, Ph.D.., of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), new mothers are more likely to listen to their physician’s advice.
“This survey shows that physicians have an opportunity to provide new mothers with much-needed advice on how to improve infant health and even save infant lives,” Willinger said. Physicians should take the extra time for each new mother to explain proper infant care. Learning about infant care and its updated recommendations can save many newborn lives as well as help new mothers cope with the stress and joy that is motherhood.
Musio might be easier to take care of:
What to Do With Your Baby: New Mothers Need More Infant Care Advice
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