Importance of postnatal care
Your body has experienced a lot over the nine months of pregnancy and childbirth. It has been pushed to its limit and created a new human being! It does take some time for the body to get used to being “not pregnant.” During your pregnancy, you have probably already attended numerous prenatal visits, bloodwork appointments, and ultrasounds; however, postnatal care is just as critical, if not more.
The frequency of postpartum visits varies by country. In the US, postpartum visits were supposed to be limited to one at about 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. However, one 30-minute visit is not enough to cover all the questions/concerns a new mom may have besides the doctor’s examination. Hence, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends that new moms meet with their ObGyn several times during the 12 weeks post-birth, starting from a visit at 2-3 weeks postpartum culminating in a final visit at 12 weeks postpartum. There may be variability in what insurance covers, but typically, one visit 4-6 weeks postpartum is covered.
The purpose of the postpartum visit is for your healthcare provider to conduct a full assessment of your physical, mental, and emotional health. This includes everything ranging from a physical examination—including a breast and pelvic exam, to an evaluation of your mental and emotional health—including mood and sleep, and sexual health—including options for birth control. Additionally, this is a great time to ask your healthcare provider for recommendations on other support that you may need to help with your transition into motherhood and recovery—this includes lactation consultants for support with breastfeeding, pelvic floor physical therapist, mental health experts/therapist, etc.
Three critical things to keep in mind:
Check the number of postpartum visits covered by your insurance BEFORE you deliver—this proactive planning will be beneficial!
Do not miss your postpartum visit—it is essential to seek care to ensure a smooth recovery.
Make sure to transition to well-women visits after your final postpartum visit to ensure continued routine care.
A recent study conducted in the US suggested that several women do not attend even one postpartum visit. This is eye-opening–postnatal care is as critical, if not more, as prenatal care to ensure a smooth recovery. Going to the doctor with a new baby and other life responsibilities may be overwhelming–to make the process slightly more manageable for you, we have created a list of common concerns to help you prepare for your postpartum visit. This is by no means an exhaustive list as individual concerns may vary significantly–this, however, will serve as a good starting point to encourage you to think about where you may need additional support/guidance from your healthcare provider.
Questions to demystify and guide your postpartum visit:
What is the status of my _______ (any pregnancy complications you may have experienced, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes), and how do I manage it on an ongoing basis? Do I need to be referred to a specialist for ongoing care?
Is the amount/color/odor of my bleeding normal? When will the bleeding stop?
Has my c-section incision healed appropriately? Can I use anything to minimize the itching/pain? Is there anything I can do to minimize scarring?
Have the vaginal tears/episiotomy incision health appropriately?
I am feeling/have been ______(anxious, scared, moody, panicky, unhappy, crying uncontrollably, having intrusive thoughts)—what can I do about it?
Can you refer me to a mental health therapist?
Can you prescribe any medication to help me feel better?
I am not getting enough sleep/do not have sufficient support at home—what can I do?
I have urinary or bowel incontinence or excessive flatulence—what can I do about it? Can you refer me to a pelvic floor therapist?
I want to learn more about healthy eating and exercise to help with postpartum recovery. Could you recommend a dietician?
I am experiencing pain during sex or a lack of interest in sex—please, can you help?
What are my options for birth control and family planning?
I need some more support in breastfeeding. Could you refer me to a lactation consultant?
I have pain while breastfeeding—what can I do?
How do I manage my milk supply as a resume work?
What is the impact of pregnancy/childbirth complications I experienced on day-to-day life post-birth and future pregnancies?
Could you check me for diastasis recti?
How do I manage _____ ?(other common postpartum issues such as constipation, hemorrhoids, etc.)
What supplements should I now be taking?
Sources Attanasio LB, Ranchoff BL, Cooper MI, Geissler KH. Postpartum Visit Attendance in the United States: A Systematic Review. Womens Health Issues. 2022 Jul-Aug;32(4):369-375. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.02.002. Epub 2022 Mar 15. PMID: 35304034; PMCID: PMC9283204.