Assistance to the puerperium and the construction of a flow chart for nursing consultation

Abstract Objectives: to identify the main complaints and problems presented by women in the puerperium during nursing consultations and create a care flow chart. Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional exploratory study with quantitative treatment of data conducted in a private hospital in Brazil, with a sample of 114 women. Results: of the puerperal women evaluated, 57.9% were primiparous and 66.7% reported not having received guidance about the puerperal period. Cesarean sections occurred in 89.5% of the sample, and 80.7% of the women presented difficulties inherent to the care given to the newborn or self-care. All mothers were breastfeeding and 42.1% of them reported difficulties in this process. Among breast complications, 30.7% corresponded to fissures. In view of the needs observed in the nursing consultation, women received guidelines from the nurses, and were referred for specialized evaluation when pertinent. Conclusions: it was observed that problems and complaints presented by women in the puerperium were related with care to the newborn, breastfeeding, emotional state and family support. Health professionals who give puerperal consultations should consider the sociocultural environment in which the puerperal woman is inserted in order to link their beliefs with science.