Experience of Sanhujori from the women who used postpartum lay helper

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of Sanhujori, the traditional postpartum care, from women who used postpartum lay helper and provide basic data for developing the postpartum lay helper education programs that are to apply proper care to women and their newborn babies during postpartum. Focus group interview was conducted with twelve women who used postpartum lay helper from August 1 st to August 31 st of 2013. As a result, four major observations were found: 1) frustration of having no place to lean on 2) feeling of relief that comes from receiving a helping hand 3) happiness of taking postpartum care with their family, and 4) disappointment with unprofessional lay helper. The study has found out both positive and negative results according to postpartum lay helper they were cared. Unprofessional lay helper brought about a result that women could not receive adequate postpartum care during an important period to recover their health and make newborns adapt to the new environment properly. Therefore, effective postpartum lay helper education program development is required to help mothers receive healthy and pleasant postpartum care and learn how to take care of themselves and their newborns properly.