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Postpartum Care: Postpartum Contraception

The selection of contraceptives is a personal choice, but the physician should provide information to the patient regarding the optimal contraception. The postpartum period is an ideal time to initiate contraception as women are continuing to follow up with their healthcare providers and are likely to be more motivated to avoid the next pregnancy soon. Postpartum contraception should consider factors like a resumption of ovulation, its effects on lactation, and the woman’s health. Ideally, all women requesting postpartum contraception should be advised not to wait until the resumption of their menstrual cycle but instead start their contraceptive use before resuming sexual activity. Physicians should also provide emergency contraception, if requested, to all women.

Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders

The postpartum (PP) period is a common time for the emergence or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders. Postpartum blues, PP depression, and PP psychosis are 3 of the most common psychiatric disorders experienced in the PP period. Although both genders are affected, PP is more common in women. Postpartum blues and PP depression affect up to 80% and 25% of women, respectively. Postpartum psychosis is less common but can be more serious. Unfortunately, perinatal mental illness is largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Diagnosis is clinical, and management typically involves psychotherapy and antidepressants. Antipsychotics are used in the management of PP psychosis.

Postpartum Contraception — Resumption of Ovulation and Methods of Birth Control

The selection of contraceptives is a personal choice, but the physician should provide information to the patient regarding the optimal contraception. The postpartum period is an ideal time to initiate contraception as women are continuing to follow up with their healthcare providers, and are likely to be more motivated to avoid the next pregnancy soon.

Developmental Milestones in Newborns: Apgar Score and Low Birth Weight

APGAR score is a standard tool for the assessment of newborn babies. APGAR is an acronym for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. It is a short test performed at 1 and 5 minutes after the baby’s birth that is done to determine the need for breathing aid and any heart trouble the newborn might be experiencing.

Lactation and Breastfeeding

Human breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for the newborn, which can solely fulfill the nutrient requirements up to six months of age. When a woman conceives, several physiological changes occur in her body under the influence of hormones. One of them is the development of breasts and the production of milk. Several hormones play a role in this process. The hypothalamus secretes stimulatory or inhibitory factor, the pituitary gland secretes prolactin and oxytocin, while the placenta keeps a regulated level of estrogen and progesterone in the blood by producing these hormones. Other hormones, as mentioned in the text, are also essential for the production of milk as they are required for the provision of the basic nutrient components of the milk.

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Postpartum Care

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Your Educators of course Postpartum Care

Veronica Gillispie, MD, FACOG

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