The purpose of this study was to compare the predictors between the early and late postpartum period in parturient women.

The Subjects were 399 healthy postpartum women who visited the obstetric clinic at 5 hospitals for a routine check up after childbirth. They were divided into two groups: one was in the early postpartum period, the first three weeks after childbirth (n=107), the other was in the late postpartum period, four to six weeks after childbirth (n=292). The data were collected by using a self-report questionnaire from July to September, 2006. The data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 Win program.

There were significant statistical differences in age and parity between the two groups. Postpartum fatigue was significantly predicted by postpartum depression and age in the early period, and postpartum depression, sleep satisfaction, and childcare stress in the late period. The mean scores of childcare stress and perceived infant difficulty in the late period were significantly higher than those of the early postpartum period.

Postpartum depression was the most important predictor of postpartum fatigue regardless of the postpartum period. In addition, especially in the late period, sleep satisfaction and childcare stress were significant predictors of postpartum fatigue. Based on these results, primary nursing interventions for reducing postpartum fatigue should focus on postpartum depression management, and nursing interventions for increasing sleep satisfaction and decreasing childcare stress would be helpful for management of postpartum fatigue in parturient women in the late period.