Step 4. Core Resources

Use this resource as a starting point for your investigations...

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Introduction

The postpartum period starts about an hour after the delivery of the placenta to six weeks post delivery. During this period, which is also called puerperium, the mother’s body returns to a pre-pregnant state, the neonate adjusts to the extra-uterine environment while the family adjusts to accommodate the new member of the family.

Immediately following childbirth, the mother experiences profound physical and emotional changes that necessitate her needing to have adequate rest before she is discharged to the postpartum ward and later home. Normally, she would stay at a district and tertiary hospital for 24 hours. Sometimes she will spend less time at a health centre due to a shortage of space. During the postpartum period the mother is prone to problems such as infection, hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension, blood clot formation, the opening up of incisions, breast problems, and postpartum depression.

Postpartum care, therefore, should respond to the special needs of the mother and baby during this special phase and should include: the prevention and early detection and treatment of complications and disease; the provision of advice and services on breastfeeding, birth spacing, immunization and maternal nutrition amongst others.