Scale, comfort & safety (t=2.876, p=.005), feeding (t=2.281, p=.024), infant's behavior (t=2.395, p=.018), hygiene control (t=2.978, p=.003), p<.001) and confidence in newborn care showed significant total scores (t=2.997, p=.003). Based on the Fatigue Continuum Form, the physical, psychological, and neurosensory fatigue scores and the total fatigue score did not show any statistical significance in each area (t=1.169, p=..244)(t=1.941, p=.054)(t=1.863, p=.064)(t=1.897, p=.060). The present findings can be applied as the reference data conducive to correcting the myth among puerperal mothers that rooming-in will increase the postnatal fatigue and supporting the benefits of rooming-in.

This descriptive survey research elucidates the confidence in newborn care and the postpartum fatigue of puerperal mothers in rooming-in and non-rooming-in groups, and investigates relevant factors with intent to provide reference data needed to perform proper nursing intervention for the confidence in newborn care and the postnatal fatigue. A total of 159 subjects (43 in a rooming-in group vs. 116 in a non-rooming-in group) staying in a university hospital and a women's hospital in Uijeongbu City within 48 hours after giving birth were selected. The confidence in newborn care was measured with the Revised Self Confidence Scale, whilst the postpartum fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Continuum Form. Demographic information and obstetric characteristics were collected with a self-reporting questionnaire survey. In short, based on the Revised Self Confidence Scale, comfort & safety (t=2.876, p=.005), feeding (t=2.281, p=.024), infant's behavior (t=2.395, p=.018), hygiene control (t=2.978, p=.003), health & illness (t=3.646, p<.001) and confidence in newborn care showed significant total scores (t=2.997, p=.003). Based on the Fatigue Continuum Form, the physical, psychological, and neurosensory fatigue scores and the total fatigue score did not show any statistical significance in each area (t=1.169, p=..244)(t=1.941, p=.054)(t=1.863, p=.064)(t=1.897, p=.060). The present findings can be applied as the reference data conducive to correcting the myth among puerperal mothers that rooming-in will increase the postnatal fatigue and supporting the benefits of rooming-in.

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