Effect of Relaxation Training to Pregnant Mothers on Quality of life and Postpartum Blues

In the postpartum period, mothers are exposed to some potential complications and their health many decrease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of relaxation on postpartum blues and quality of life. In this clinical trial study, 84 pregnant women who referred to health centers of Shiraz (2010) were selected through a simple sampling method and were randomly assigned to case and control groups. The relaxation was taught to the case group whereas nothing was taught to control groups. Severity of postpartum blues was evaluated by Zung self rating depression scale on the 1st and 10th days after birth in case and control groups and quality of life was evaluated as well. There was not statistically significant difference between two groups with regard to demographic and obstetric variables (P>0.05). Mean of postpartum blues on the 1st day and 10th day after delivery showed a significant difference between case and control group (P<0.05). The mean score of quality of life subscales (Feelings of mothers to herself and mother towards her child) were significantly higher in case group and there was a significant difference between the two groups in this regard (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that relaxation training to pregnant mothers was effective in decreasing postpartum blues severity and it was beneficial to mothers’ health and quality of life. Therefore, it is a simple, useful and cost free method to improve postpartum blues and its application is recommended for improving maternal psychological health.