Postpartum period

The postpartum (or postnatal) period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to last for six weeks.^[1] There are three distinct phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the subacute phase, lasting six weeks; and the delayed phase, lasting up to six months. During the delayed phase, some changes to the genitourinary system take much longer to resolve and may result in conditions such as urinary incontinence. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the postnatal period as the most critical and yet the most neglected phase in the lives of mothers and babies; most maternal and newborn deaths occur during this period.^[2]

In scientific literature, the term is commonly abbreviated to Px, where x is a number; for example, "day P5" should be read as "the fifth day after birth". This is not to be confused with the medical nomenclature that uses G P to stand for number and outcomes of pregnancy (gravidity and parity).

A woman giving birth may leave as soon as she is medically stable, which can be as early as a few hours postpartum, though the average for a vaginal birth is one to two days. The average caesarean section postnatal stay is three to four days.^[3] During this time, the mother is monitored for bleeding, bowel and bladder function, and baby care. The infant's health is also monitored.^[4] Early postnatal hospital discharge is typically defined as discharge of the mother and newborn from the hospital within 48 hours of birth.

The postpartum period can be divided into three distinct stages; the initial or acute phase, 8–19 hours after childbirth; subacute postpartum period, which lasts two to six weeks, and the delayed postpartum period, which can last up to six months.^[5] In the subacute postpartum period, 87% to 94% of women report at least one health problem.^[6][7] Long-term health problems (persisting after the delayed postpartum period) are reported by 31% of women.^[8]

Various organizations recommend routine postpartum evaluation at certain time intervals in the postpartum period.^[9]