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Postpartum care is just as important as prenatal care; it represents a significant part of mother and baby’s health and well-being. The postpartum period, which occurs in the months following childbirth, is a crucial phase that requires careful attention and support.
These initial weeks after your baby arrives involve balancing many new routines and responsibilities. At the same time, you’ll be healing from childbirth and navigating the physical and psychological changes or concerns that arise during the postpartum period.
Regular follow-up appointments with your OB/GYN play an important role in your postpartum care, recovery, and overall health and safety. These checkups are scheduled in the weeks after childbirth and monitor your physical recovery and emotional well-being.
Timeline for Postpartum Care Checkups
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends scheduling several appointments with your OB/GYN provider within the first 12 weeks after childbirth:
The postpartum period can involve potential health complications, and it’s important to have regular medical assessments to ensure you are on track for a healthy recovery after giving birth.
Potential postpartum complications may include:
Postpartum hemorrhage occurs in about 3% of U.S. pregnancies and increased from 2000 to 2019, according to a 2023 study. Excessive bleeding is typically caused by delayed contraction of the uterus or placenta that remains in the uterus.
You may be at risk of postpartum hemorrhage if you carried more than one baby, had an especially long labor, delivered by cesarean section, have a blood clotting disorder or had postpartum hemorrhage previously.
Signs and symptoms of a postpartum hemorrhage:
You should remain in contact with your provider, schedule regular and timely postpartum follow-up appointments and seek immediate medical attention when necessary.
Prioritizing ongoing health management is crucial, especially for preexisting conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. A primary care provider can play a vital role in improving overall health and continuity of care. Ideally, individuals should establish a relationship with a primary care provider before pregnancy and continue seeing them postpartum. If you don’t have a primary care provider or is considering a new one, your OB/GYN can connect you.
The postpartum period can be a transformative, challenging and rewarding time. Although it is necessary care for your infant, it is also important to remember to take care of yourself and prioritize your own physical recovery and mental well-being.
Postpartum care requires a balance of many responsibilities, including regular checkups with your baby’s pediatrician as well as your own health care provider to help ensure a healthy recovery. Seek support from your personal support network and health care provider during this time.
Regular postpartum care checkups at Norton Women’s Care will provide you with plenty of time to ask questions, monitor your physical and emotional recovery, address any concerns and receive the support you need — and deserve.
More mothers in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose to deliver their babies at Norton Hospital or Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital than with any other hospital system in the area.
We deliver more than 8,000 babies a year. We’re close to you with more than 90 providers at more than 25 locations around Louisville and Southern Indiana. Choosing Norton Women’s Care gives you many options for how delivery day could go — all with the confidence of knowing that our obstetrics and pediatric specialists are there to help. With Norton Women’s Care, you’ll find: