Introduction:
For many women, delivery and the lying-in period is the time full of anxiety and concerns. Women fear the pain related with delivery and possible labour complications. They are concerned about their own health and the health of the baby. Women who experienced a difficult delivery are more often exposed to the occurrence of post-delivery depression, and they find it more difficult to bond with the baby. Therefore, in this important period of life, care and support from the medical staff are very important, which would allow women to experience and enjoy motherhood. The presented study was aimed at evaluation of the level of care provided by the medical staff in obstetric wards from the point of view of the patients. The evaluation covered the way of passing information by medical staff, satisfaction of biopsychosocial needs of the mothers, as well as nursing care of the baby. The study covered 112 patients of obstetric wards from 3 provincial hospitals in the Lublin Region, and was conducted using an original questionnaire form containing items related to: evaluation of post-surgical care of women who had undergone Caesarean section, satisfaction of biopsychosocial needs of the women after delivery, and care of the newborn. Results of the study showed that the care of mother and newborn provided by the staff of obstetric wards was evaluated as being on a very good level. However, some areas evaluated in more negative terms were observed, in the case of doctors’ staff this was the way of passing information, while in nursing staff – not allowing observation by the mother of nursing procedures with the baby. Key words: care of medical staff, maternity wards, care of newborn