Intensive care nurses' experiences of infants and partners' presence on the postoperative ward after an emergency caesarean section; An interview study.

It is evident that immediate skin-to-skin care after birth has the potential to improve breastfeeding outcomes and maternal satisfaction after a caesarean section; hence partners and infants should be present on the postoperative ward.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intensive care nurses' experiences of having the infant and partner present on the postoperative ward after emergency caesarean sections.

DESIGN: Interviews with semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

SETTING: The interviews were conducted at a hospital in Stockholm, Sweden; where close to 10,000 births occur each year. After a caesarean section the mother is treated on a postoperative ward for at least two hours. Eight intensive care nurses participated in the study.

RESULT: The analysis yields the theme 'The challenges of caring for infants on a postoperative unit' covering the following categories; collision between the intensive care nurse and midwife, responsibility versus knowledge and organisational issues. The study concluded that improved routines and increased continuity between involved clinics could improve care. There is also a need for education for staff involved in caesarean section regarding the benefits of early skin-to-skin care between the mother and her infant.