Health behaviors in postpartum women

The postpartum is a time when healthy, young women interact with the health care system and when they may be uniquely interested in increasing healthy behaviors both for their own welfare and that of their newborn infant. For women who care for small preterm infants, unique challenges may be posed in optimizing healthy behaviors in the early months of their young infants' Lives. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in health behaviors between mothers of preterm, very low birth-weight infants and of mothers of healthy term infants. Specifically, changes in weight loss, nutrition, exercise, sleep, caffeine intake, and smoking were examined over the first four postpartum months. The sample consisted of 124 mothers of term and preterm infants who reported weight, a 24-hour diet recall, a sleep log, and the Four Week Physical Activity Questionnaire, and who had peripheral blood drawn to measure caffeine and cotinine. No differences were noted in the health behaviors of mothers of preterm and term infants. Mothers were successful in losing weight and managing sleep. Minimal amounts of caffeine were ingested. However, mothers consumed high fat diets, had minimal exercise, and increased smoking activity over the first four postpartum months. Recommendations for hearth care professionals are made.