The relationship between first-time mothers and care providers in the early postnatal phase: an ethnographic study in a Swiss postnatal unit.

OBJECTIVE to consider the relationship between first-time mothers and care providers in an organisational context. DESIGN an ethnographic approach was used to study the views and behaviours of providers and recipients of postnatal care. Fieldwork involved mainly conversations or qualitative interviews and observation. SETTING a postnatal unit in a tertiary referral hospital in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS 10 child-bearing women and the care providers assigned to them. ANALYSIS analysis of the data was organised using the women's expectations of care and the maternity unit's mission statement. Thematic analysis centred around two main themes: the experience of 'being on a postnatal journey' and 'caring relationships'. FINDINGS the findings presented fall within the framework of the second theme. A caring relationship was established through 'weaving the net'. This relationship was then maintained through 'keeping the thread'. The relationship was eventually ended through 'finishing off'. KEY CONCLUSIONS the quality of the caring relationship between a woman and a care provider influences satisfaction with received care. It determines the extent to which women feel in control of their situation at discharge. Organisational and professional factors influence this relationship, which in turn can influence a nurse's level of job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE changes in the provision of postnatal care may involve organisational as well as clinical interventions to ensure continuous and consistent care.