Functional status after childbirth: a review of the literature.

The objective is to summarize the existing nursing literature on the concept of functional status after childbirth. Studies were selected by incorporating all existing published literature, including inquiry into functional status after childbirth as measured by the Inventory of Functional Status After Childbirth. The data were extracted from online nursing databases such as CINAHL (1982-present) and dissertation abstracts. Results of the literature review indicate the need for further development of functional status after childbirth and the instrument used to measure it, the Inventory of Functional Status after Childbirth. The author concludes that functional status after childbirth is a highly important nursing concept and further inquiry is needed to guide nursing practice.