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Switzerland's midwifery model of postpartum care is described and compared to postpartum care in the United States., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Standardization of health systems often hinders client-centered care. This study investigates whether allowing more flexibility in the planning range of the Dutch home-based postpartum care service improves its quality of care, as innovative approach to client-centered care., Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted (2017-2019), in which pregnant women who intended to breastfeed were assigned into two groups (1:1). The intervention group was allowed to receive care up to the 14th-day postpartum, instead of the first 8-10 consecutive days ("usual care"). Primary outcome measure was the proportion of newborns still receiving exclusively breastmilk on final caring day of the service. This so-called successful breastfeeding rate is currently used by the Dutch health sector to measure the quality of care. Secondary outcome measures were self-care experience, overall care experience, and exclusive breastfeeding duration rate., Results: Based on data from 1275 participants, there was no difference in exclusive breastfeeding on final caring day (86,7% intervention group vs. 88,9% control group, RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.98-1.07). Both groups showed similar self-care experiences. Women in the intervention group had slightly poorer overall care experience and lower exclusive breastfeeding duration rates., Conclusions: This study found no effect on the quality of care when allowing more flexibility in the planning range of home-based postpartum care. Women can, therefore, be offered more flexibility to suit them. Given the confusion in interpreting the sector's current main quality indicator, we call for an inclusive dialogue on how to best measure the quality of home-based postpartum care., (© 2024 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The postpartum period is critical and challenging for women, implying emotional, physical, social and spiritual changes. For a positive postpartum experience, it is important to receive consistent information and support from health professionals. However, this is not always the case, as care is more focused on the newborn, forgetting the needs of the puerperal woman., Aim: The review aimed to map the published scientific knowledge about women's needs in the postpartum period., Methods: A Scoping Review was carried out, according to the method proposed by The Joanna Briggs Institute, in the MEDLINE Complete, MedicLatina and CINAHL Complete databases, and were selected articles since 2017 that answered the research question "What is the available evidence on women's needs in the postpartum period?". For the selection of articles, the eligibility criteria were defined., Results: A total of 6,647 articles were identified. After the exclusion of duplicate articles and the application of the eligibility criteria, at the end of the process, 27 articles were included in the review. The extracted data were grouped into four categories, which summarize the needs of women in the postpartum period: support, sharing, care and preparation for the postpartum period., Conclusion: In the articles analysed, women reveal that they do not feel prepared for the postpartum period and identify several unmet needs, so health education and parenting skills training during pregnancy are essential to improve the postpartum experience and the transition to parenthood., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month early postnatal lifestyle intervention program in women with gestational diabetes in a recent pregnancy., Methods: This study was a prospective randomized intervention study conducted at a diabetes center in Hong Kong. Chinese women aged 18-45 years, who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in their most recent pregnancy, were invited. Eligible women were randomized in 1:1 ratio at baseline (6-12 weeks postpartum), to standard care or lifestyle intervention (diet and physical activity) groups for 12 months. A standardized biochemistry assessment including oral glucose tolerance test, blood lipids, complete blood count, renal and liver functions, were measured at baseline and at 12-month. Anthropometry assessment and lifestyle questionnaire were performed at various timepoints., Results: A total of 103 women were randomized at baseline and a total of 79 women (standard care, n = 39, intervention, n = 40) completed the assessment. After the 12-month study period, women in the intervention group had significantly lower energy intake (intervention, -497.6 ± 488.3 kcal; standard, -222.0 ± 390.0 kcal, P < 0.01) compared to the standard care group, and a trend towards greater weight reduction (intervention, -0.93 ± 4.68 kg; standard, -0.01 ± 3.12 kg, P = 0.36)., Conclusion: The lifestyle intervention implemented within 3 months postpartum appeared to promote postpartum weight loss. The early postnatal lifestyle intervention program may provide an opportunity to reduce the long-term risk of diabetes in this high-risk population., (© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Objective: To identify characteristics associated with a higher likelihood of patient-initiated encounters with a health care professional before the scheduled 6-week postpartum visit., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of postpartum persons who received prenatal care and delivered at a single academic level IV maternity care center in 2019. We determined associations between maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and the likelihood of patient-initiated early postpartum encounters with χ 2 tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum tests for continuous and ordinal variables., Results: A total of 796 patients were included in our analysis, and 324 (40.7%) initiated an early postpartum encounter. Significantly more postpartum persons who initiated early postpartum encounters were primiparous persons (54.3%) than multiparous (33.8%) persons (P < .001). Postpartum persons who desired breastfeeding or who had prolonged maternal hospitalization, episiotomy, or cesarean or operative vaginal delivery were also significantly more likely to initiate early postpartum encounters (all P≤.002). Of postpartum persons who initiated early encounters, 44 (13.6%) initiated in-person visits, 138 (42.6%) initiated telephone or patient portal communication, and 142 (43.8%) initiated encounters of both types. Specifically, 39.2% of postpartum persons initiated at least one early postpartum encounter for lactation support, and nearly half of early postpartum encounters occurred during the first week after hospital discharge., Conclusion: Early postpartum encounters were more common among primiparas and postpartum persons who were breastfeeding or had prolonged hospitalization, episiotomy, cesarean delivery, or operative vaginal delivery. Future studies should focus on the development of evidence-based guidelines for recommending early postpartum visits., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: The aim of this research was to examine the association between perceived quality of care during the COVID-19 pandemic and the modality of maternity care visits, virtual or in-person., Methods: This study utilized an online nationwide survey about experiences in prenatal and postpartum care between 18 April and 6 August 2020. Perceived quality of care was categorized into worse care, better, or the same care as compared to before the pandemic. Barriers were categorized into five groups: (1) concern for the privacy of health information, (2) not having a private or quiet place, (3) lack of physical exam or measurements, (4) quality of care, and (5) technology issues. Data analyses included bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression., Results: The majority (75.3%) of modified visits utilized telemedicine. Over half of the women took at-home measurements and the majority were successful. Barriers to care included a lack of a quiet or private space to conduct their visit. Women expressed concerns about a lack of measurements and a lower quality of care. Women who received telemedicine visits perceived worse care as compared to women who received in-person care visits (OR = 5.62; 95% CI 5.01-6.31)., Discussion: Previous studies have shown that pregnant patients are generally satisfied with virtual care during the pandemic. This study provides insight from a large nationwide sample of women and geographic variation in satisfaction and perceived quality. These findings highlight barriers and potential solutions to improving patients' perceived quality of virtual maternity care, and thus future uptake of high-quality, virtual care., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To explore the experiences of women in the postpartum period who received the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses' "POST-BIRTH Warning Signs Save Your Life" (PBWS-SYL) educational handout at discharge., Design: Qualitative content analysis., Setting: Virtual or in-person interviews in Connecticut, New York, and Florida., Participants: Women (N = 41) who gave birth in the previous 12 months., Methods: In individual audio-recorded interviews, we asked participants to describe their experiences of receiving the PBWS-SYL educational handout. We used Krippendorff's method for qualitative content analysis to cluster units within the data to identify emergent themes., Results: Participants who received the handout emphasized that they recognized potential warning signs during the postpartum period. Conversely, participants who reported that the PBWS-SYL educational handout was not adequately reviewed with them during discharge expressed heightened levels of distress and doubt when they encountered concerns. Analysis of transcripts revealed six overarching themes: TheInvisible Pain of the Postpartum Period, Stronger Together, The Art of Active Listening, Lost in the Pile, Postbirth Revelations, and Optimal Discharge Education., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the consistent and thorough application of the PBWS-SYL handout education process is a pivotal factor in safeguarding women's health after childbirth. This education is essential to equip women with the knowledge and confidence needed to detect and address any warning signs that may emerge after birth. Nurses and health care providers can empower women to recognize and address warning signs during the postpartum period, which can lead to improved health outcomes for women., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships. During the conduct of this study, Catherine Hill was the Senior Director of Nursing Education, Research, and Practice, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Washington, DC., (Copyright © 2024 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: To prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, hospitals around the world adopted protocols that, in varying ways, resulted in the exclusion of partners from hospital postnatal care wards. The objective of this study was to examine the effect this exclusion had on partners' satisfaction with postnatal care., Methods: An online survey (the Swedish Pregnancy Panel) including free-text comments was conducted before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic; partners of pregnant women were recruited at an early ultrasound appointment and followed until 2 months after childbirth. Data were linked to the Swedish Pregnancy Register., Results: The survey was completed by 524 partners of women who gave birth during the pandemic and 203 partners of women who gave birth before. Partners' satisfaction with hospital postnatal care dropped 29.8 percent (-0.94 OLS, 95% CI = -1.17 to -0.72). The drop was largest for partners of first-time mothers (-1.40 OLS, 95% CI = -1.69 to -1.11), but unrelated to clinical outcomes such as mode of birth and most social backgrounds, except higher income. The qualitative analysis showed that partners (1) felt excluded as partners and parents, (2) thought the strain on staff led to deficiencies in the care provided, and (3) perceived the decision about partner restrictions as illogical., Conclusions: The exclusion of partners from the hospital postnatal wards clearly impaired satisfaction with care, and partners of first-time mothers were particularly affected. Planning for future restrictions on partners from hospital wards should factor in these consequences., (© 2024 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: More women are experiencing pregnancy with two or more long-term health conditions such as hypertension, depression or HIV (MLTC). Care can be complex and include multiple teams, health professionals and services. The type and range of maternity care models for these women and the role of the midwife within such models is unknown., Aim: To provide an overview of the literature on models of care for pregnant, birthing, and postnatal women with MLTC and the role of the midwife., Methods: We conducted a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. Five databases MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, EMBASE and The Maternity and Infant Care database were searched from inception until August 2022. A total of 3458 titles and abstracts and 56 full text papers were screened independently by two researchers. Data was extracted from five papers and synthesised narratively., Findings: Multidisciplinary care models are described or recommended in all five papers. Midwives have a varied and core role in the multidisciplinary care of women with MLTC., Discussion: Models of care for those with MLTC covered part or all the maternity journey, primarily antenatal and postnatal care. A focus on delivering high-quality holistic care throughout the maternity journey, including postnatally is needed. There is a lack of evidence on how midwifery continuity of care models may impact experiences of care and outcomes for this group., Conclusion: There is a lack of empirical evidence on how best to provide midwifery and multi-disciplinary care for those with MLTC and a need for research to understand this., Inclusivity Statement: Our aims refer to 'pregnant, birthing, and postnatal women and birthing people with MLTC'. We acknowledge that not all those accessing maternity services will identify as a woman. We continually strive to ensure that our research and public involvement is inclusive and sensitive to the needs of everyone. Our search terms did not narrow to either women or birthing people specifically and used broad terms of pregnancy, antenatal, prenatal, childbirth and postnatal care. All included papers use the term woman or women throughout therefore, we have used this terminology when describing their findings. Where the term 'woman' is used this should be taken to include women and people who do not identify as women but are pregnant or have given birth. This builds on our Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement work which has highlighted the need to use inclusive language., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Postpartum health is in crisis in the United States, with rising pregnancy-related mortality and worsening racial inequities. The World Health Organization recommends four postpartum visits during the 6 weeks after childbirth, yet standard postpartum care in the United States is generally one visit 6 weeks after birth. We present community midwifery postpartum care in the United States as a model concordant with World Health Organization guidelines, describing this model of care and its potential to improve postpartum health for birthing people and babies., Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 34 community midwives providing care in birth centers and home settings in Oregon and California. A multidisciplinary team analyzed data using reflexive thematic analysis., Results: A total of 24 participants were Certified Professional Midwives; 10 were certified nurse-midwives. A total of 14 midwives identified as people of color. Most spoke multiple languages. We describe six key elements of the community midwifery model of postpartum care: (1) multiple visits, including home visits; typically five to eight over six weeks postpartum; (2) care for the parent-infant dyad; (3) continuity of personalized care; (4) relationship-centered care; (5) planning and preparation for postpartum; and (6) focus on postpartum rest., Conclusion: The community midwifery model of postpartum care is a guideline-concordant approach to caring for the parent-infant dyad and may address rising pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality in the United States., (© 2024 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: In Oman, there is a lack of data on utilisation, needs and women's satisfaction with care and information provided during postnatal follow-up period., Aim: To investigate postnatal follow-up care utilisation and women's needs; level of postnatal information received and satisfaction with services., Methods: A purposive sample of women (n = 500), recruited in the immediate postnatal period at one metropolitan and one regional birthing hospital in Oman. An electronic survey link was sent to participants at 6-8 weeks postnatally. Quantitative variables were analysed as frequencies and chi-squared test., Results: A total of 328 completed surveys were received; a response rate of 66 %. Most respondents were located in the metropolitan area (n = 250) and between 20 and 39 years (n = 308). Utilisation was low as women reported no need or no benefit in attending. Women's information needs were not sufficiently met by HCPs, requiring women to seek information from family and the internet to meet their needs. Satisfaction with services was mostly neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (30 %) or satisfied (30 %)., Conclusion: Postnatal follow-up care utilisation in both metropolitan and regional areas is less than optimal and not utilised as there was no advice to attend or no appointment date/time given, no benefit experienced previously, no need and information needed sourced from family or the internet. The information provided by postnatal follow-up care consumers can be used to enhance service delivery, inform future updates to the national maternity care guidelines, and provides a baseline for future evaluation and research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite recommendations for ongoing care after pregnancy, many individuals do not see a primary care clinician within the first postpartum year, missing a critical window to engage reproductive-age individuals in primary care. We administered an anonymous, cross-sectional, trilingual survey at a large urban safety-net hospital to assess postpartum individuals' preferences, health concerns, and anticipated barriers to primary care during the year after pregnancy. While 90% of respondents preferred a visit within one year, most individuals - including those with complicated pregnancies - did not recall a primary care recommendation from their pregnancy care team. Respondents reported a variety of primary care-amenable health concerns, and many social and logistical barriers to care. Preference for virtual care increased if self-monitoring tools were hypothetically available, indicating virtual visits may improve primary care access., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Black and brown birthing people experience persistent disparities in adverse maternal health outcomes, partially due to inadequate perinatal care. The goal of this study is to design and evaluate a patient-centered intervention for obstetric patients with one or more cardiometabolic risk factors for severe maternal morbidity [gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, or gestational hypertension), or preconception obesity (BMI > 30)] to promote postpartum visit attendance., Methods: To address identified unmet needs for postpartum support and barriers to postpartum care, we developed 20 thematic postpartum planning modules, each with corresponding patient educational materials, community resources, care coordination protocols, and clinician support tools (decision aids, electronic medical record prompts and fields). During prenatal care encounters, a research coordinator delivers the educational content (in English or Spanish), facilitates the participant's planning and shared decision-making, provides the participant with resources, and documents decisions in the electronic medical record. We will randomize 320 eligible patients with a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or standard prenatal care and evaluate the impact on postpartum visit attendance at 4-12 weeks and secondary outcomes (postpartum mental health, perceived future maternal and cardiometabolic risk, contraceptive use, primary care use, readmission, and patient satisfaction with care)., Discussion: Through engagement with patients and community stakeholders, we developed a guideline-based, locally tailored intervention to address drivers of engagement with postpartum care for high-risk obstetric patients. If demonstrated to be effective, the educational materials and electronic medical record based-tool can be adapted to other settings., Trial Registration: This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05430815) on June 23, 2022., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This study is funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD016031) and registered under clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05430815). It received ethical approval from the Emory University Institutional Review Board (00001427). All participating individuals completed informed consent prior to participation in the study. The NIMHD has no role in the conduct, analysis, or interpretation of results. We have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent breastfeeding support intervention on breastfeeding prevalence at 3 months among women with a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m 2 ., Design: Multicentre multicomponent randomised controlled trial., Setting: Four maternity centres in Ireland., Population: A total of 225 primiparous women and their nominated support partners. Participants were aged 18 years and over, with BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 , carrying a singleton pregnancy and without contraindication for breastfeeding., Methods: The intervention included an antenatal group breastfeeding education session for participants and their support partners, followed by a planned postnatal breastfeeding assessment and telephone support for up to 6 weeks by a lactation consultant., Main Outcome Measures: Any breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum., Results: Any breastfeeding prevalence was 68.7% (n = 68) in the intervention group and 62.1% (n = 59) in the control group at 3 months postpartum (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 0.72-2.46, p = 0.36). Any and exclusive breastfeeding rates did not significantly differ at any other time point. More women in the control group accessed support from private lactation consultants (intervention 23.5% [n = 12], control 45.3% [n = 24], p = 0.02)., Conclusions: The control group had higher than expected breastfeeding rates, and the study found no evidence of effect on the primary outcome. Providing comprehensive education and support for women intending to breastfeed remains of paramount importance., (© 2024 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: This qualitative study explored experiences of 15 women in New York City who suffered physical, emotional, and socioeconomic consequences of severe maternal morbidity (SMM). This study aimed to increase our understanding of additional burdens these mothers faced during the postpartum period., Methods: Qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews (n = 15) with women who had given birth in NYC hospitals and experienced SMM. We focused on how experiences of SMM impacted postpartum recoveries. Grounded theory methodology informed analysis of participants' one-on-one interviews. To understand the comprehensive experience of postpartum recovery after SMM, we drew on theories about social stigma, reproductive equity, and quality of care to shape constant-comparative analysis and data interpretation., Findings: Three themes were generated from data analysis: 'Caring for my body' defined by challenges during physical recuperation, 'caring for my emotions' which highlighted navigation of mental health recovery, and 'caring for others' defined by care work of infants and other children. Most participants identified as Black, Latinx and/or people of color, and reported the immense impacts of SMM across aspects of their lives while receiving limited access to resources and insufficient support from family and/or healthcare providers in addressing postpartum challenges., Conclusions for Practice: Findings confirm the importance of developing a comprehensive trauma-informed approaches to postpartum care as a means of addressing SMM consequences., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pregnancy acts as a cardiovascular stress test. Although many complications resolve following birth, women with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) long-term. Monitoring postnatal health can reduce this risk but requires better methods to identity high-risk women for timely interventions., Methods: Employing a qualitative descriptive study design, focus groups and/or interviews were conducted, separately engaging public contributors and clinical professionals. Diverse participants were recruited through social media convenience sampling. Semi-structured, facilitator-led discussions explored perspectives of current postnatal assessment and attitudes towards linking patient electronic healthcare data to develop digital tools for identifying postpartum women at risk of CVD. Participant perspectives were gathered using post-it notes or a facilitator scribe and analysed thematically., Results: From 27 public and seven clinical contributors, five themes regarding postnatal check expectations versus reality were developed, including 'limited resources', 'low maternal health priority', 'lack of knowledge', 'ineffective systems' and 'new mum syndrome'. Despite some concerns, all supported data linkage to identify women postnatally, targeting intervention to those at greater risk of CVD. Participants outlined potential benefits of digitalisation and risk prediction, highlighting design and communication needs for diverse communities., Conclusions: Current health system constraints in England contribute to suboptimal postnatal care. Integrating data linkage and improving education on data and digital tools for maternal healthcare shows promise for enhanced monitoring and improved future health. Recognised for streamlining processes and risk prediction, digital tools may enable more person-centred care plans, addressing the gaps in current postnatal care practice., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate new mothers' self-rated and perceived health problems and complications; their reasons for, and the frequency of, emergency department visits; how emergency department visits were associated with sociodemographic and obstetric factors; and new mothers' experiences of received support from the midwifery clinic., Design: A cross-sectional survey., Setting and Participants: The study was conducted at 35 of 64 midwifery clinics in Stockholm, Sweden. The study population consisted of 580 new mothers., Measurement and Findings: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used. New mothers experience a range of different health problems and complications during the first four weeks after giving birth. Sixteen percent sought emergency care. The odds of seeking emergency care increased for women with higher age and poorer self-rated health. Sixty-three percent of the new mothers received support from a midwife in primary care within the first four weeks after childbirth. Mothers who did not receive the support they wanted, expressed a wish for earlier contact and better accessibility., Conclusion and Implication for Practice: It is notable that 16 % of new mothers seek emergency care in the first weeks after childbirth. This study has practical implications for midwifery practice and policy. There is a need for tailored postnatal support strategies so that midwives potentially are able to mitigate emergency department visits. Further studies should look at whether the high number of emergency visits among new mothers varies throughout Sweden, and whether this may be a result of reduced time of hospital stay after childbirth or other factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Importance: More than 30% of pregnant people have at least 1 chronic medical condition, and nearly 20% develop gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related hypertension, increasing the risk of future chronic disease. While these individuals are often monitored closely during pregnancy, they face major barriers when transitioning to primary care following delivery, due in part to a lack of health care support for this transition., Objective: To evaluate the impact of an intervention designed to improve postpartum primary care engagement by reducing patient administrative burden and information gaps., Design, Setting, and Participants: An individual-level randomized clinical trial was conducted from November 3, 2022, to October 11, 2023, at 1 hospital-based and 5 community-based outpatient obstetric clinics affiliated with a large academic medical center. Participants included English- and Spanish-speaking pregnant or recently postpartum adults with obesity, anxiety, depression, diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, or pregnancy-related hypertension and a primary care practitioner (PCP) listed in their electronic health record., Intervention: A behavioral economics-informed intervention bundle, including default scheduling of postpartum PCP appointments and tailored messages., Main Outcome and Measures: Completion of a PCP visit for routine or chronic condition care within 4 months of delivery was the primary outcome, ascertained directly by reviewing the patient's electronic health record approximately 5 months after their estimated due date. Intention-to-treat analysis was conducted., Results: A total of 360 patients were randomized (control, 176; intervention, 184). Individuals had a mean (SD) age of 34.1 (4.9) years and median gestational age of 36.3 (IQR, 34.0-38.6) weeks at enrollment. The distribution of self-reported race and ethnicity was 6.8% Asian, 7.4% Black, 68.6% White, and 15.0% multiple races or other. Most participants (75.4%) had anxiety or depression, 16.1% had a chronic or pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder, 19.5% had preexisting or gestational diabetes, and 40.8% had a prepregnancy body mass index of 30 or greater. Medicaid was the primary payer for 21.2% of patients. Primary care practitioner visit completion within 4 months occurred in 22.0% (95% CI, 6.4%-28.8%) of individuals in the control group and 40.0% (95% CI, 33.1%-47.4%) in the intervention group. In regression models accounting for randomization strata, the intervention increased PCP visit completion by 18.7 percentage points (95% CI, 9.1-28.2 percentage points). Intervention participants also had fewer postpartum readmissions (1.7% vs 5.8%) and increased receipt of the following services by a PCP: blood pressure screening (42.8% vs 28.3%), weight assessment (42.8% vs 27.7%), and depression screening (32.8% vs 16.8%)., Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this randomized clinical trial suggest that the current lack of support for postpartum transitions to primary care is a missed opportunity to improve recently pregnant individual's short- and long-term health. Reducing patient administrative burdens may represent relatively low-resource, high-impact approaches to improving postpartum health and well-being., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05543265.

Advancements in prenatal detection have improved postnatal outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Detailed diagnosis during pregnancy allows for preparation for the delivery and immediate postnatal care for the newborns with CHD. Most CHDs do not result in hemodynamic instability at the time of birth and can be stabilized following the guidelines of the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP). Critical CHD that requires intervention immediately after birth is recommended to be delivered in facilities where immediate neonatal and cardiology care can be provided. Postnatal stabilization and resuscitation for these defects warrant deviation from the standardized NRP. For neonatal providers, knowing the diagnosis of fetal CHD allows for preparation for the anticipated instability in the delivery room. Prenatal detection fosters collaboration between fetal cardiology, cardiology specialists, obstetrics, and neonatology, improving outcomes for neonates with critical CHD., (© 2024 The Author(s). Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Optimal postpartum care promotes healthcare utilization and outcomes. This qualitative study investigated the experiences and perceived needs for postpartum care among women in rural communities in Arizona, United States., Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with thirty childbearing women and analyzed the transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis to gauge their experiences, needs, and factors affecting postpartum healthcare utilization., Results: Experiences during childbirth and multiple structural factors, including transportation, childcare services, financial constraints, and social support, played crucial roles in postpartum care utilization for childbearing people in rural communities. Access to comprehensive health information and community-level support systems were perceived as critical for optimizing postpartum care and utilization., Conclusions for Practice: This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders in enhancing postpartum care services for individuals in rural communities in the United States., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose of Review: Differences of sex development (DSD) are a group of chromosomal, gonadal, and anatomic conditions that are not often diagnosed during pregnancy. Families and clinicians need diagnostic guidance that supports all aspects of the care from the prenatal to postnatal period., Recent Findings: Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) is obtained by sampling cell-free fetal DNA in the mother's bloodstream in the first trimester. While its primary purpose is to screen for genetic aneuploidies, it is also used to determine the sex of the fetus. When screening ultrasound shows genital anatomy that is discordant with the sex determination by NIPS, a DSD workup is warranted. The use of this relatively new screening tool may result in a higher number of prenatal referrals than in the past., Summary: This review summarizes suggested prenatal counseling, neonatal management, and postnatal workup of the most common DSD diagnoses. All of these diagnoses are rare, but the common features that families face are addressed with particular emphasis on psychosocial support and a measured shared decision-making approach., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pregnancies conceived within 18 months of a prior delivery (termed short inter-pregnancy interval [IPI]) place mothers and infants at high risk for poor health outcomes. Despite this, nearly one third of U.S. women experience a short IPI., Objective: To address the gap in the current model of postpartum (PP) contraception care by developing and implementing a novel approach to link (co-schedule) PP contraception care with newborn well-baby care to improve access to timely PP contraception., Methods: The LINCC Trial will take place in seven clinical locations across five community health centers within the U.S. PP patients (planned n = 3150) who are attending a Well-Baby Visit between 0 and 6 months will be enrolled. The LINCC Trial aims to leverage the Electronic Health Record to prompt providers to ask PP patients attending a Well-Baby Visit about their PP contraception needs and facilitate co-scheduling of PP contraception care with routine newborn care visits. The study includes a cluster randomized, cross-sectional stepped wedge design to roll out the intervention across the seven sites. The outcomes of the study include receipt of most or moderately effective methods of contraception by two and six months PP; and rate of short IPI pregnancies. Implementation outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 6 months after site enters intervention period., Conclusions: The LINCC Trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a linked care model in comparison to usual care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Postpartum sleep disruption is a risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD) as well as a potential treatment target. In the first 6 months after delivery, when the risk of PPD is greatest, fragmented maternal sleep is most often related to necessary infant night feedings. Clinicians' conversations about planning for and navigating postpartum sleep should include questions about patient expectations, cultural traditions, and available support. For women at high risk of PPD, or with moderate to severe PPD or other symptoms of mental illness, protecting one 4-5 hour period of consolidated nighttime sleep may be necessary and effective. This can be achieved by having another adult step in for 1-2 infant night feedings or by employing other strategies. OBs can encourage high-risk patients to develop a postpartum plan for sleep protection by initiating this conversation during pregnancy., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a sustained educational intervention to affect diverse outcomes across the pregnancy and infancy timeline., Setting: A multi-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial in 99 villages in Honduras' Copán region, involving 16 301 people in 5633 households from October 2015 to December 2019., Participants: Residents aged 12 and older were eligible. A photographic census involved 93% of the population, with 13 881 and 10 263 individuals completing baseline and endline surveys, respectively., Intervention: 22-month household-based counselling intervention aiming to improve practices, knowledge and attitudes related to maternal, neonatal and child health., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes were prenatal/postnatal care behaviours, facility births, exclusive breast feeding, parental involvement, treatment of diarrhoea and respiratory illness, reproductive health, and gender/reproductive norms. Secondary outcomes were knowledge and attitudes related to the primary outcomes., Results: Parents targeted for the intervention were 16.4% (95% CI 3.1%-29.8%, p=0.016) more likely to have their newborn's health checked in a health facility within 3 days of birth; 19.6% (95% CI 4.2%-35.1%, p=0.013) more likely to not wrap a fajero around the umbilical cord in the first week after birth; and 8.9% (95% CI 0.3%-17.5%, p=0.043) more likely to report that the mother breast fed immediately after birth. Changes in knowledge and attitudes related to these primary outcomes were also observed. We found no significant effect on various other practices., Conclusion: A sustained counselling intervention delivered in the home setting by community health workers can meaningfully change practices, knowledge and attitudes related to proper newborn care following birth, including professional care-seeking, umbilical cord care and breast feeding., Trial Registration Number: NCT02694679., Competing Interests: Competing interests: NAC reports grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Tata-Yale Alliance. EMA reports grants from the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research. LF reports a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the intervention through a grant to IDB supervised by JN and EI. All other authors declare no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Postpartum Family Planning is a critical strategy in the first 12 months post-childbirth. It aims to prevent unintended, closely spaced pregnancies and thereby help reducing maternal, neonatal as well as child morbidity and mortality. Despite its significance, many women remain without contraception despite a desire to avoid pregnancy. The World Health Organization suggests a 24-month inter-pregnancy interval after delivery, emphasizing the importance of contraceptive counselling from the antenatal to the immediate postpartum period. In South Asia, utilization of PPFP is minimal, even though the inclination towards birth spacing is high. Addressing these needs requires strengthening the capacity of service providers and promoting evidence-based practices. Novel training approaches in South Asia are Competency-Based On-the-Job Training, Group Based Training, Simulation Training, E-Learning, Mentorship Programs, and Continuing Professional Development. Among these, On-the-Job Training and Group Based Training were notably implemented. Emphasizing PPFP and ensuring proper training in this domain is essential for women's health and well-being post-delivery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To design a care protocol in Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis during the pre-conceptional period, pregnancy, postpartum and lactation. This protocol aims to be practical and applicable in consultations where patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatological diseases are treated, thus helping to better control these patients. Likewise, recommendations are offered on when patients could be consulted/referred to a specialized center by the physician., Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of expert physicians from different specialties identified the key points, analyzed the scientific evidence, and met to develop the care protocol., Results: The recommendations prepared have been divided into three blocks: rheumatology, gynecology and pediatrics. The first block has been divided into pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postpartum visits., Conclusions: This protocol tries to homogenize the follow-up of the patients from the moment of the gestational desire until the year of life of the infants. It is important to perform tests in patients of childbearing age and use drugs compatible with pregnancy. If appropriate, the patient should be referred to specialized units. Multidisciplinarity (rheumatology, gynecology and pediatrics) is essential to improve the control and monitoring of these patients and their offspring., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Quantify and compare reported breastfeeding support practices in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and non-BFHI facilities., Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: Regions across the US., Participants: Two hundred and eighty-six facilities (110 BFHI and 176 non-BFHI) selected by a stratified (by hospital size) random sample of 50% BFHI and 50% non-BFHI facilities., Intervention: Emailed survey Fall 2019 through Spring 2020., Main Outcome Measure: Reported adherence to the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding., Analysis: Wilcoxon rank sum test with continuity correction, Pearson chi-square test of independence, and Fisher's exact test., Results: Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative facilities were more likely to report adherence to the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Only 2 of the reported steps were not significantly different: immediate postnatal care and responsive feeding., Conclusions and Implications: This research supports breastfeeding support interventions within hospitals as both BFHI and non-BFHI facilities have room for improvement. Interventions targeting non-BFHI facilities are an opportunity to close the disparity in breastfeeding care., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Postpartum physical activity is a public health issue. Reporting on the quality of exercise interventions designs must be ensured in view of the reproducibility and successful implementation of such studies. The objective was to develop and preliminary validate a physical exercise program for postpartum recovery, aiming to promote physical fitness and health of the new mothers. The study was carried out through the three stages of development, piloting, and evaluation. The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) was used to describe the postpartum exercise program. The Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in Healthcare (CReDECI2) was followed to develop and preliminary validate the program. A tailored postpartum exercise program was developed based on evidence-based international recommendations to be implemented by qualified exercise professionals. A pilot intervention of 16 weeks was carried out, engaging a group of postpartum women. The viability of the program was subsequently evaluated by all participants. The present work provided guidance to develop a study protocol with a larger sample in order to prove the effectiveness of a supervised postpartum exercise program on selected parameters of health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: informal settlements exhibit disproportionately worse maternal and newborn outcomes. Postnatal care (PNC) is a high-impact intervention for populations contributing to higher mortalities. Postnatal education is crucial to adopting evidence-based postnatal practices (PNPs) thus its post-discharge reinforcement is vital for low-income primiparas. This study aimed to determine the effect of post-discharge follow-up postnatal education intervention (PNE) on the adoption of recommended PNPs among low-income primiparas., Methods: quasi-experimental study in Nairobi informal settlements with 118 primiparas discharged early after normal delivery on each arm. Facility and demographic data collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Study arm received the intervention for 6 weeks in addition to routine PNC while control received routine PNC only. An interviewer-administered exit questionnaire was applied after 6 weeks. Focus group discussions were conducted for qualitative data then analyzed thematically. SPSS used to analyze quantitative data then descriptive statistics, t-tests, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and multiple linear or logistic regressions derived. PNPs composed of health-seeking for maternal and newborn danger signs, self and baby care practices, and utilization of PNC contacts., Results: the intervention was a positive predictor of adoption of composite PNPs (β=0.26, p=0.00), self-care practices (β=0.39, p=0.00) and mothers' two weeks PNC contact (OR=4.64, p=0.00, 95% CI=1.9-11.2). Neither a significant predictor of health-seeking for maternal (β=-0.11, p=0.31) nor newborns danger signs (β=-0.04, p=0.73) though inversely related. No influence on baby care practices, two weeks of newborn contact and six weeks contact for the dyad. Multi-pronged approaches are appreciated., Conclusion: follow-up post-discharge PNE intervention enhances adoption of PNPs among low-income primiparas thus a worthwhile supplement to routine PNC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Immaculate Wambui Kamau et al.)

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the most common cause of postpartum readmission. Prior research led to clinical guidelines for postpartum management; however, the patient experience is often missing from this work. The objective of this study is to understand the perspective of patients readmitted for postpartum hypertension., Methods: This was a qualitative study with data generated through semi-structured interviews. Patients readmitted with postpartum HDP at an urban academic medical center from February to December 2022 were approached and consented for an interview. The same researcher conducted all interviews and patient recruitment continued until thematic saturation was reached (n = 9). Two coders coded all interviews using Nvivo software with both deductive and inductive coding processes. Discrepancies were discussed and resolved with consensus among the two coders. Themes were identified through an initial a priori template of codes which were expanded upon using grounded theory, and researchers were reflexive in their thematic generation., Results: Six themes were generated: every pregnancy is different, symptoms of preeclampsia are easily dismissed or minimized by both patient and providers, miscommunication regarding medical changes can increase the risk of readmissions, postpartum care coordination and readmission logistics at our hospital could be improved to facilitate caring for a newborn, postpartum care is often considered separately from the rest of pregnancy, and patient well-being improved when conversations acknowledged the struggles of readmission., Conclusions: This qualitative research study revealed patient-identified gaps in care that may have led to readmission for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The specific recommendations that emerge from these themes include addressing barriers to blood pressure management prior to discharge, improving postpartum discharge follow-up, providing newborn care coordination, and improving counseling on the risk of postpartum preeclampsia during discharge. Incorporating these patient perspectives in hospital discharge policy can be helpful in creating patient-centered systems of care and may help reduce rates of readmission., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In 1976, the Supreme Court mandated that incarcerated individuals have a constitutional right to receive medical care; however, there are no mandatory standards so access to and quality of reproductive health care for incarcerated pregnant women varies widely across facilities. Without federal or state standards, there is variability in the type of prenatal care pregnant women receive, their birthing experience, how long they are able to stay with their infant after birth, and whether they are permitted to breastfeed or express milk. In this column, I review policies related to reproductive health care in carceral settings, the gaps in data collection and research, programs to support the needs of incarcerated pregnant women, and recommendations from professional organizations on reproductive health care for incarcerated women in the prenatal and postpartum periods., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The standard care model in the postpartum period is ripe for disruption and attention. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) can continue to be a challenge for the postpartum person in the immediate postpartum period and is a harbinger of future health risks. The current care approach is inadequate to address the needs of these women. We propose a model for a multidisciplinary clinic and collaboration between internal medicine specialists and obstetric specialists to shepherd patients through this high-risk time and provide a bridge for lifelong care to mitigate the risks of a HDP. KEY POINTS: · HDPs are increasing in prevalence.. · The postpartum period can be more complex for women with HDPs.. · A multidisciplinary clinic could fill the postpartum care gap for women with HDP.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Emergency Medicaid is a restricted benefits program for individuals who have low-income status and who are immigrants., Objective: This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of 2 strategies of pregnancy coverage for Emergency Medicaid recipients: the federal minimum of covering the delivery only vs extended coverage to 60 days after delivery., Study Design: A decision analytical Markov model was developed to evaluate the outcomes and costs of these policies, and the results in a theoretical cohort of 100,000 postpartum Emergency Medicaid recipients were considered. The payor perspective was adopted. Health outcomes and cost-effectiveness over a 1- and 3-year time horizon were investigated. All probabilities, utilities, and costs were obtained from the literature. Our primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the competing strategies., Results: Extending Emergency Medicaid to 60 days after delivery was determined to be a cost-saving strategy. Providing postpartum and contraceptive care resulted in 33,900 additional people receiving effective contraception in the first year and prevented 7290 additional unintended pregnancies. Over 1 year, it resulted in a gain of 1566 quality-adjusted life year at a cost of $10,903 per quality-adjusted life year. By 3 years of policy change, greater improvements were observed in all outcomes, and the expansion of Emergency Medicaid became cost saving and the dominant strategy., Conclusion: The inclusion of postpartum care and contraception for immigrant women who have low-income status resulted in lower costs and improved health outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the significant disruption and health implications of preterm preeclampsia with severe features for birthing people, little is known about how the system of postpartum care might be strengthened for affected families. Multidisciplinary cardio-obstetric clinics are emerging; however, there is limited research on patient and healthcare provider perspectives., Objective: To describe patient and healthcare provider perspectives of services in a cardio-obstetric clinic following preterm preeclampsia with severe features., Study Design: Individuals who experienced preterm preeclampsia with severe features and presented to a cardio-obstetric clinic were approached for study participation. Providers were approached if they provided postpartum care to patients with preterm preeclampsia with severe features and considered a referral to the cardio-obstetric clinic. Participants completed a remotely conducted, semistructured interview between March 2022 and April 2023. The interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and checked for accuracy. Responses were inductively coded for content analysis around the study questions of clinical referrals, patient education, visit expectations, and care coordination in relation to ambulatory clinical services., Results: Twenty participants (n=10 patients and n=10 providers) completed interviews. Healthcare system navigation was difficult, particularly in the context of postpartum needs. When patients are informed about their diagnosis, the information could both increase anxiety and be useful for long-term healthcare planning. Language concordant care did not always occur, and both patients and providers described gaps in quality services. Within the theme of responsibility, patients described needing to be vigilant, and providers recognized the gaps in referral and care coordination systems. Comprehensible patient education provided with birthing parents' companions and enhanced systems for care coordination were areas for further improvement in providing postpartum cardio-obstetric care following preterm preeclampsia., Conclusion: This qualitative study identified patients' struggles with a confusing postpartum healthcare system and captured providers' concerns about maintaining consistent care and improving access to long-term healthcare services to improve outcomes for patients at risk of cardiovascular disease., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the benefits of breastfeeding (BF), rates remain lower than public health targets, particularly among low-income Black populations. Community-based breastfeeding peer counselor (BPC) programs have been shown to increase BF. We sought to examine whether implementation of a BPC program in an obstetric clinical setting serving low-income patients was associated with improved BF initiation and exclusivity., Methods: This is a quasi-experimental time series study of pregnant and postpartum patients receiving care before and after implementation of a BPC program in a teaching hospital affiliated prenatal clinic. The role of the BPC staff included BF classes, prenatal counseling and postnatal support, including in-hospital assistance and phone triage after discharge. Records were reviewed at each of 3 time points: immediately before the hire of the BPC staff (2008), 1-year post-implementation (2009), and 5 years post-implementation (2014). The primary outcomes were rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity prior to hospital discharge, secondary outcomes included whether infants received all or mostly breastmilk during inpatient admission and by 6 weeks post-delivery. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were utilized as appropriate., Results: Of 302 patients included, 52.3% identified as non-Hispanic Black and 99% had Medicaid-funded prenatal care. While there was no improvement in rates of BF initiation, exclusive BF during the postpartum hospitalization improved during the 3 distinct time points examined, increasing from 13.7% in 2008 to 32% in 2014 (2009 aOR 2.48, 95%CI 1.13-5.43; 2014 aOR 1.82, 95%CI 1.24-2.65). This finding was driven by improved exclusive BF for patients who identified as Black (9.4% in 2008, 22.9% in 2009, and 37.9% in 2014, p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Inpatient BF exclusivity significantly increased with the tenure of a BPC program in a low-income clinical setting. These findings demonstrate that a BPC program can be a particularly effective method to address BF disparities among low-income Black populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background:  Early postnatal discharge is perceived as a factor that contributes to the possibilities of the maternal, neonatal complications and deaths. The implementation of the community-based postnatal care model is crucial to mitigate the morbidity and mortality of postnatal women and neonates during the first weeks of delivery. A community-based postnatal care model was developed for the management of neonates during the postnatal care period in the community., Objectives:  The study aims to share the developed community-based postnatal care model that could assist postnatal women in the management of neonates., Method:  Empirical findings from the main study formed the basis for model development. The model development in this study was informed by the work of Walker and Avant; Chinn and Kramer Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach; and Chinn and Jacobs., Results:  The results indicated that there was no community-based postnatal care model developed to manage neonates. The model is described using the practice theory of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach elements of agents, recipients, context, process, dynamics and outcomes within the community context of the postnatal care period. The model was further described by Chinn and Krammer following the assumptions of the model, concept definition, relation statement and nature of structure., Conclusion:  The utilisation of the model is critical and facilitates the provision of an enabling and supportive community-based context by primary caregivers for the effective management of neonates.Contribution: This study provides a reference guide in the provision of community-based postnatal care by postnatal women after discharge from healthcare facilities.

Importance: Postnatal care refers to the ongoing health care provision of both the mother and her offspring and contributes to the timely identification and effective management of complications in the postpartum period, to secure maternal and infant short- and long-term well-being., Objective: The aim of this study was to review and compare the most recently published influential guidelines on postnatal care practices., Evidence Acquisition: A comparative review of guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the World Health Organization, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Public Health Agency of Canada regarding postnatal care was conducted., Results: There is a consensus among the reviewed guidelines regarding the importance of health care provision in the postpartum period, including home visits and midwifery services, the use of telemedicine for the facilitation of communication with the patient, and the appropriate preparation for discharge, as well as the discharge criteria. All medical societies also agree on the clinical aspects that should be evaluated at each postnatal visit, although discrepancies exist with regard to the contact schedule. In addition, there is consistency regarding the management of postpartum infections, perineal pain, fecal and urinary incontinence, and physical activity guidance. Mental health issues should be addressed at each postnatal visit, according to all guidelines, but there is disagreement regarding routine screening for depression. As for the optimal interpregnancy interval, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends avoiding pregnancy for at least 6 months postpartum, whereas the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends a 12-month interval. There is no common pathway regarding the recommended contraceptive methods, the nutrition guidance, and the postpartum management of pregnancy complications. Of note, the World Health Organization alone provides recommendations concerning the prevention of specific infections during the postnatal period., Conclusions: Postnatal care remains a relatively underserved aspect of maternity care, although the puerperium is a critical period for the establishment of motherhood and the transition to primary care. Thus, the development of consistent international protocols for the optimal care and support of women during the postnatal period seems of insurmountable importance to safely guide clinical practice and subsequently reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity.

Background: The average postnatal stay for most Australian mothers is two days. Postnatal length of stay is dependent on various factors, such as maternal preferences, mode of birth or complications following birth. However, little is known about the relationship between these elements., Aim: To prospectively explore maternal and neonatal postnatal outcomes within the context of length of stay, model of care and personal expectations and experiences within the first 3-5 weeks following birth., Methods: A cross-sectional study within an urban quaternary Australian hospital was conducted between January 2021 to April 2021. A mixed methods convergent approach was taken., Findings: Of the 1066 questionnaires distributed, 216(20.2%) responses were usable for analysis. Most mothers (82%) were satisfied with their postnatal stay length (range 6-78 h). Models of care (such as GP shared care, midwifery group practice) were not associated with mothers' satisfaction with their postnatal stay length. Mothers following cesarean section felt less supported, had lower breastfeeding rates and more difficulty accessing postnatal services. Neonatal readmissions (n = 11, 5%) in the first week of life were most often for jaundice, poor feeding or both (n = 7, 64%). Three key themes were generated from the qualitative data and categorised into themes labeled 'Environmental and healthcare delivery constraints', 'Ready or not for discharge' and 'Home now, but support missing'., Conclusion: Participants identified that improvements in postnatal care require more than extending in-hospital length of stay. Rather a more individualised woman-centred focus, in-home supported options, with flexibility in timing needed, especially for those following a complicated birth., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest No competing interest to declare., (Crown Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the universal nature of postpartum vaginal bleeding after childbirth and the importance of managing vaginal bleeding in the postpartum period to monitor health status, little is known about the information or products that birthing individuals are provided. Investigating current practices may offer insights to enacting more supportive and equitable postpartum care., Objective: To evaluate the patterns and content of vaginal bleeding counseling provided to birthing parents while on a postnatal inpatient unit., Design: Observational study of inpatient postpartum care. Birthing parents and their companions consented to video and audio recording of themselves, their infants, and healthcare team members during their postnatal unit stay., Methods: Following IRB approval and in coordination with clinicians at a tertiary hospital in the southeastern United States, data were collected with 15 families from August to December 2020. A multidisciplinary team coded video and audio data from each family from 12 h before hospital discharge. This analysis evaluates patterns of vaginal bleeding counseling timing, content, and language concordance and thematic content of this communication., Results: Birthing parent participants were self-identified Hispanic White ( n  = 6), non-Hispanic Black ( n  = 5), non-Hispanic White ( n  = 3), and non-Hispanic multi-race ( n  = 1). Six were Spanish-speaking and eight had cesarean section births. The timing, content, and language concordance of vaginal bleeding communication varied, with these topics mainly addressed in the hour preceding discharge. Twelve of the 15 birthing parents had communication on these topics between 2 and 5 times, 2 had one exchange, and 1 had no counseling on postpartum bleeding observed. Four of the six Spanish-speaking birthing parents had counseling on these topics that was not language concordant. Postpartum vaginal bleeding management involved the themes of access to products, patient safety, and meaningful counseling. There was a lack of adequate access, variation in accurate and respectful care, and a busy clinical environment with differences in information provided., Conclusion: Findings suggest that there are opportunities to strengthen clinical practices for more consistent, proactive, and language concordant vaginal bleeding and subsequent menstrual care postpartum. Menstrual equity is an important part of dignified and safe care.

Background: Racial disparities are evident in maternal morbidity and mortality rates globally. Black women are more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth than any other race or ethnicity. This leaves one of the largest gaps in women's health to date., Objectives: mHealth interventions that connect with women soon after discharge may assist in individualizing and formalizing support for mothers in the early postpartum period. To aid in developing an mHealth application, Black postpartum mothers' perspectives were examined., Design: Utilizing the Sojourner Syndrome Framework and Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Measurement Framework, group interview discussion guides were developed to examine the facilitators and barriers of postpartum transitional care for rural Black women living in the United States to inform the development of a mobile health application., Methods: In this study, seven group interviews were held with Black mothers, their support persons, and healthcare providers in rural Georgia to aid in the development of the Prevent Maternal Mortality Using Mobile Technology (PM 3 ) mobile health (mHealth) application. Group interviews included questions about (1) post-birth experiences; (2) specific needs (e.g. clinical, social support, social services, etc.) in the postpartum period; (3) perspectives on current hospital discharge processes and information; (4) lived experiences with racism, classism, and/or gender discrimination; and (5) desired features and characteristics for the mobile app development., Results: Fourteen out of the 78 screened participants were eligible and completed the group interview. Major discussion themes included: accessibility to healthcare and resources due to rurality, issues surrounding race and perceived racism, mental and emotional well-being in the postpartum period, and perspectives on the PM 3 mobile application., Conclusion: Participants emphasized the challenges that postpartum Black women face in relation to accessibility, racism and discrimination, and mental health. The women favored a culturally relevant mHealth tool and highlighted the need to tailor the application to address disparities.

Importance: Pregnancy hypertension results in adverse cardiac remodeling and higher incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in later life., Objective: To evaluate whether an intervention designed to achieve better blood pressure control in the postnatal period is associated with lower blood pressure than usual outpatient care during the first 9 months postpartum., Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized, open-label, blinded, end point trial set in a single hospital in the UK. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older, following pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, requiring antihypertensive medication postnatally when discharged. The first enrollment occurred on February 21, 2020, and the last follow-up, November 2, 2021. The follow-up period was approximately 9 months., Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to self-monitoring along with physician-optimized antihypertensive titration or usual postnatal care., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure at 9 months postpartum, adjusted for baseline postnatal blood pressure., Results: Two hundred twenty participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 112) or the control group (n = 108). The mean (SD) age of participants was 32.6 (5.0) years, 40% had gestational hypertension, and 60% had preeclampsia. Two hundred participants (91%) were included in the primary analysis. The 24-hour mean (SD) diastolic blood pressure, measured at 249 (16) days postpartum, was 5.8 mm Hg lower in the intervention group (71.2 [5.6] mm Hg) than in the control group (76.6 [5.7] mm Hg). The between-group difference was -5.80 mm Hg (95% CI, -7.40 to -4.20; P < .001). Similarly, the 24-hour mean (SD) systolic blood pressure was 6.5 mm Hg lower in the intervention group (114.0 [7.7] mm Hg) than in the control group (120.3 [9.1] mm Hg). The between-group difference was -6.51 mm Hg (95% CI, -8.80 to -4.22; P < .001)., Conclusions and Relevance: In this single-center trial, self-monitoring and physician-guided titration of antihypertensive medications was associated with lower blood pressure during the first 9 months postpartum than usual postnatal outpatient care in the UK., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04273854.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognizes the benefit of home visiting programs in promoting positive birth outcomes. Despite this recommendation, previous studies have found mixed results with respect to the impact of home visits on birth outcomes. We evaluated the impact of the Comprehensive Health Investment Project (CHIP) home visiting services on improving birth outcomes among low-income families. The present study used a sample of 1,110 children and families to examine how a team-based home visiting program influenced 2 significant birth outcomes, namely, birth weight and preterm birth. Using propensity score matching, the current study found that the home visited group had significantly lower rates of low birth weight compared with a propensity-matched comparison group ( P < .01). Home visiting programs may play an important role in promoting positive birth outcomes, particularly when they are provided during pregnancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered especially effective in helping mothers recover during the postpartum period. However, research has not provided evidence to confirm its benefits. Postpartum depression is a common postpartum disease that seriously threatens maternal health. The systematic review aims to explore the association between "doing-the-month" and postpartum depression in the Chinese female population and to provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based postpartum maternal care., Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched according to the protocol (INPALSY202320102). The JBI assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies., Results: Sixteen quantitative studies from China and Chinese female immigrants in other countries, including 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 randomized controlled study, were identified. Four studies indicated that "doing-the-month" rituals reduced postpartum depression risk while 2 studies showed opposite results; 10 studies did not show a significant association between "doing-the-month" practices and postpartum depression., Conclusion: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between "doing-the-month" and the likelihood of developing postpartum depression. Some studies have explored the impact of family ties, particular rituals, and specific stressors during the postpartum period on the occurrence of postpartum depression in Chinese women. According to current research, "doing-the-month" practice failed to show a significant protective effect on postpartum depression in the Chinese maternal population. Evidence-based medical health education for the Chinese postpartum female community is urgently needed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

This study was conducted to explore the influencing factors of gastrointestinal function recovery after cesarean section (CS), which could provide a reference for the enhanced recovery after surgery in obstetrics. This is a cross-sectional survey on Chinese mothers receiving CS. The participants's socio-demographic characteristics, perioperative diet, medical condition and gastrointestinal function after surgery were collected by a self-designed questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the influencing factors of gastrointestinal function recovery after CS. A total of 1501 (94.76%) valid questionnaires were collected. The first borborygmus was 2.21 ± 0.63 hours, and the first anal exhaust was 35.73 ± 14.85 hours after the CS. The incidence of abdominal distension and intestinal obstruction were 15.1% and 0.7%, respectively. The parity, type of CS, 2-hours bleeding after surgery, time of first meal after surgery, whether taking peppermint water after surgery were the independent influencing factors for gastrointestinal function recovery after CS. We should pay more attention to the mothers with scarred uterus, manage the labor process strictly, and reduce 2-hours bleeding after surgery. The mothers with CS should also be encouraged to eat early and take peppermint water to promote intestinal peristalsis actively., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and that breastfeeding should continue for 2 years and beyond. Most women initiate breastfeeding, but many do not continue for the recommended duration. While midwife-led continuity of antenatal care is linked to improved mother and infant outcomes, the influence on breastfeeding duration has not been previously reviewed., Research Aim: To critically analyze the literature that compared midwife-led continuity of antenatal care with other models of care where researchers have measured breastfeeding duration beyond postpartum hospital discharge., Methods: A systematic literature review with critical analysis was used to answer the research aim. We systematically searched and screened five databases for quantitative studies where researchers had reported breastfeeding duration beyond postpartum hospital discharge after midwife-led continuity of antenatal care, compared with another model of antenatal care. Methodological quality was assessed using tools from the Cochrane Collaboration (RoB2 and ROBINS-I). In total, nine studies met the inclusion criteria., Results: Clear conclusions about the association between midwife-led continuity of antenatal care and breastfeeding duration were not found. The risk of bias within non-randomized studies ranged from serious to critical, and a judgement of "some concerns" of risk of bias in the one randomized study., Conclusion: To date, the question of whether midwife-led continuity of antenatal care improves breastfeeding duration has not been established. There has been a lack of consistency in definitions of breastfeeding and descriptions of models of care, which has weakened the evidence-based of literature reviewed.Our review protocol was registered with PROSPERO; although due to COVID-19, this registration was not checked for eligibility by the PROSPERO team (CRD42020151276). https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display&#95;record.php?ID=CRD42020151276.

Background: Postpartum care is crucial for addressing conditions associated with severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Examination of programs that affect these outcomes for women at high risk, including disparate populations, is needed., Objective: This study aimed to examine whether a postpartum navigation program decreases all-cause 30-day postpartum hospitalizations and hospitalizations because of severe maternal morbidity identified using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The effect of this program was explored across patient demographics, including race and ethnicity., Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study that used health records of women who delivered at 3 large hospitals in the New York metropolitan area (Queens and Long Island) between April 2020 and November 2021 and who were at high risk of severe maternal morbidity. The incidence rates of 30-day postpartum all-cause hospitalization and hospitalization because of severe maternal morbidity were compared between women who were and were not enrolled in a novel postpartum transitional care management program. Navigation included standardized assessments, development of care plans, clinical management, and connection to clinical and social services that would extend beyond the postpartum period. Because the program prioritized enrolling women of the greatest risk, the risk-adjusted incidence was estimated using multivariate Poisson regression and stratified across patient demographics., Results: Patient health records of 5819 women were included for analysis. Of note, 5819 of 19,258 deliveries (30.2%) during the study period were identified as having a higher risk of severe maternal morbidity. This was consistent with the incidence of high-risk pregnancies for tertiary hospitals in the New York metropolitan area. The condition most identified for risk of severe maternal morbidity at the time of delivery was hypertension (3171/5819 [54.5%]). The adjusted incidence of all-cause rehospitalization was 20% lower in enrollees than in nonenrollees (incident rate ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.95). Rehospitalization was decreased the most among Black women (incident rate ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.80). The adjusted incidence of rehospitalization because of indicators of severe maternal morbidity was 56% lower in enrollees than in nonenrollees (incident rate ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.77). Furthermore, it decreased most among Black women (incident rate ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.73)., Conclusion: High-risk medical conditions at the time of delivery increased the risk of postpartum hospitalization, including hospitalizations because of severe maternal morbidity. A postpartum navigation program designed to identify and resolve clinical and social needs reduced postpartum hospitalizations and racial disparities with hospitalizations. Hospitals and healthcare systems should adopt this type of care model for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity. Cost analyses are needed to evaluate the financial effect of postpartum navigation programs for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity or mortality, which could influence reimbursement for these types of services. Further evidence and details of novel postpartum interventional models are needed for future studies., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A growing number of veterans are having children, and pregnancy is an opportunity to engage with health care. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VA), the VA maternity care coordination program supports veterans before, during, and after pregnancy, which are periods that inherently involve transitions between clinicians and risk care fragmentation. Postpartum transitions in care are known to be especially tenuous, with low rates of primary care reengagement. The objective of this study is to better understand this transition from the perspectives of the VA care teams., Materials and Methods: Eight semi-structured qualitative interviews with VA team members who work in maternity care were conducted at a single VA center's regional network. Interviews explored the transition from maternity care to primary care to understand the care team's perspective at three levels: patient, clinician, and systems. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to identify emergent themes., Results: Participants identified facilitators and opportunities for improvement in the postpartum transition of care. Patient-clinician trust is a key facilitator in the transition from maternity to primary care for veterans, and the breadth of VA services emerged as a key system-level facilitator to success. Interviewees also highlighted opportunities for improvement, including more trauma-informed practices for nonbinary veterans, increased care coordination between VA and community staff, and the need for training in postpartum health with an emphasis on health equity for primary care clinicians., Conclusions: The Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System care team perspectives may inform practice changes to support the transition from maternity to primary care for veterans. To move toward health equity, a system-level approach to policy and programming is necessary to reduce barriers to primary care reengagement. This study was limited in terms of sample size, and future research should explore veteran perspectives on VA postpartum care transitions., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In the setting of postpartum care after vaginal delivery, rooming-in is associated with a higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding rate at hospital discharge, but there is insufficient evidence to support or refute rooming-in to increase breastfeeding at 6 months. Education and support for breastfeeding are valuable interventions to promote initiation of breastfeeding whether it is offered by a healthcare professional, nonhealthcare professional, or peer. A combined intervention, a professional provider-led intervention, having a protocol available for the provider training program, and implementation during both the prenatal and postnatal periods increased the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. There is no single effective treatment for breast engorgement. Breast massage, continuing breastfeeding, and pain relief are recommended by national guidelines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen are better than placebo for relief of pain caused by uterine cramping and perineal trauma; acetaminophen is effective in breastfeeding individuals who underwent episiotomy; and local cooling pain relievers have been shown to reduce perineal pain for 24 to 72 hours, compared with no treatment. There is insufficient evidence to assess the safety and efficacy of postpartum routine universal thromboprophylaxis after vaginal delivery. Anti-D immune globulin administration is recommended in Rhesus-negative individuals who have given birth to a Rhesus-positive infant. There is very low-quality evidence that a universal complete blood count is useful in reducing the risk of receiving blood products. In the absence of any postpartum complication, there is insufficient evidence to recommend a routine postpartum ultrasound. Measles, mumps, and rubella combination; varicella; human papillomavirus; and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines should be administered in nonimmune individuals in the postpartum period. Smallpox and yellow fever vaccines should be avoided. Individuals undergoing postplacental placement are more likely to use an intrauterine device at 6 months than those advised to follow-up for placement during outpatient postpartum care. An implant is safe and effective for immediate postpartum contraception. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the routine administration of micronutrient supplements in breastfeeding women. Placentophagia does not provide any benefits and exposes mothers and offspring to infectious risks. Therefore, it should be discouraged. Because of the low level of evidence, there is insufficient data to assess the efficacy of home visits in the postpartum period. There is insufficient evidence to recommend when to resume daily activities, and individuals should be counseled to return to prepregnancy level of activity or exercise when comfortable. Sexual activity, housework exercise, driving, climbing stairs, and lifting weights should be resumed as soon as postpartum individuals want. A behavioral educational intervention reduces depression symptoms and increases breastfeeding duration. Physical activity after delivery is protective against postpartum mood disorders. There is no strong evidence that supports early discharge after vaginal delivery compared with standard discharge (ie, ≥48 hours)., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The postnatal period remains unstandardized in terms of care and postnatal visits with a dearth of information on the experience from Canadian women., Purpose: To explore (1) with whom and how often women receive postnatal follow-up visits and (2) the postnatal care experiences of Canadian mothers., Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, women who had given birth within the past 6 months were recruited to complete an online survey. Frequencies were computed for quantitative outcomes and thematic analysis was used for qualitative responses., Results: A total of 561 mothers completed the survey. Women saw on average 1.9 different postnatal healthcare providers, primarily family doctors (72.4%). 3.2% had no postnatal visits and 37.6% had 4  or more within 6 weeks. 76.1% women were satisfied with their postnatal care. Women's satisfactory care in the postnatal period was associated with in-person and at home follow-ups, receiving support, and receiving timely, appropriate care for self and newborn. Unsatisfactory care was associated with challenges accessing care, experiencing gaps in follow-up visits, and having unsatisfactory assessment for their own recovery., Conclusion: There is considerable variation in the timing and frequency of postnatal visits. While many women are experiencing satisfactory care, women are still reporting dissatisfaction and are facing challenges.