Relationship between Fatigue and Heart Rate Variability in Mothers up to Three Months Postpartum

This study examines the validity of an objective assessment method for fatigue up to 3months postpartum in women. Heart rate variability was analyzed to evaluate the state of the autonomic nervous functions. Sixteen mothers who were in their third or fourth day postpartum and who consented to take the "Subjective Symptoms Assessment" and to use a memory heart rate monitor for heart rate variability measurement on three occasions: third to fourth day postpartum, first month, and third month were included in the study. No significant differences in subjective symptoms during the three periods were noted; however, statistically significant differences of heart rate between each period were observed ( =369.7, p<0.001). Although significant changes cannot be detected based on subjective symptoms, identifying the state of autonomic nervous activity by analyzing heart rate variability could objectively indicate the fatigue state after childbirth.