Seeking Newborn Information as a Resource for Maternal Support

The purpose of this descriptive, longitudinal study was to identify topics and sources of information sought by new mothers. Eighty-nine mothers were recruited from prenatal classes conducted at two health-care systems located in the Midwest region of the United States. Telephone contact was made with the mothers between 2 and 3 weeks postpartum. Each mother completed prenatal and postpartum questionnaires addressing mothers' perceived support systems. Findings indicated that, despite attending prenatal classes and receiving child and postpartum care instruction, mothers often want additional information after they bring their baby home. The study's results contribute to nursing knowledge by confirming that new mothers seek and receive information regarding childcare from multiple sources. Nurse-initiated contacts with postpartum mothers provide support and information that can assist mothers in caring for their newborns.