Trajectories of Postpartum Recovery: What is Known and Not Known

Abstract

Women's postpartum health is a public health issue that has lifelong consequences. Timely recognition and treatment of physical and mental health issues can have positive health consequences while lack of access to effective treatments or health care services can lead to long-term health problems. To advance knowledge of priority health symptoms and trajectories of postpartum recovery from women's health perspectives, we share findings from the Maternal health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland (MAMMI) study. Data from 3047 first-time mothers recruited to a longitudinal maternal health study in Ireland from 2012 to 2017 reveal the trajectories of maternal health and health problems experienced up to 12 months postpartum. Morbidities explored include urinary incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, and sexual and mental health issues. Viewed together, and over time, the scale and persistent nature of many physical and mental health problems become apparent, yet considerable proportions of women were not asked directly about health problems by health care professionals. When women do not know what is and is not normal postpartum, they may suffer in silence and the consequence is that health problems/issues that are preventable, and treatable, are likely to become chronic. To make positive contributions to women's health, maternity care systems must be truly woman-centered and structured in ways that place emphasis on women's own health needs. In systems where women's voices and concerns are acknowledged and central, women are likely to thrive and flourish in motherhood.

Development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of a digital questionnaire for the self-management of health and well-being in the postpartum period

“…These comprised: (1) functional status/quality of life related to health: possible complications (e.g. haemorrhages, diarrhoea or fever) pain and ability to perform daily activities, all of which are aspects linked to physical recovery in the puerperium [ 3 , 40 , 41 ]. (2) Incontinence as a sequela in the late postpartum period [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Postpartum care has been described as the most neglected aspect of maternity services and generally, fewer resources are devoted to it than to prenatal care or delivery [ 1 – 3 ]. In our health system, if there is no particular condition that requires special attention, visits to the midwife are usually limited to two, one in the first 10 days after the birth and the other a month after that [ 4 ].…”

“…Consequently, attention to health from a comprehensive perspective and centered on the needs of women, which includes the promotion of health and its follow-up, is impeded. This happens despite the fact that it is a crucial stage, since the health of the baby and even the rest of the family will depend on the current and future health of the mother, in the short and long term [ 3 ].…”