Postnatal
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
|
WikiDoc Resources for Postnatal | |
|
Articles | |
|---|---|
|
Most recent articles on Postnatal | |
|
Media | |
|
Evidence Based Medicine | |
|
Clinical Trials | |
|
Ongoing Trials on Postnatal at Clinical Trials.gov Clinical Trials on Postnatal at Google
| |
|
Guidelines / Policies / Govt | |
|
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Postnatal
| |
|
Books | |
|
News | |
|
Commentary | |
|
Definitions | |
|
Patient Resources / Community | |
|
Patient resources on Postnatal Discussion groups on Postnatal Directions to Hospitals Treating Postnatal Risk calculators and risk factors for Postnatal
| |
|
Healthcare Provider Resources | |
|
Causes & Risk Factors for Postnatal | |
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME) | |
|
International | |
|
| |
|
Businness | |
|
Experimental / Informatics | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Postnatal (Latin for 'after birth') is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child and extending for about six weeks. The period is also known as postpartum period and, less commonly, puerperium.
Biologically, it is the time after birth, a time in which the mother's body, including hormone levels and uterus size, return to prepregnancy conditions. Lochia is post-partum vaginal discharge, containing blood, mucus, and placental tissue.
During the first stages of this period, the newborn also starts his or her adaptation to extrauterine life, the most significant physiological transition until death.
In scientific literature the term is commonly abbreviated to PX. So that 'day P5' should be read as 'the fifth day after birth'.
Woman care
A woman in the Western world who is delivering in a hospital may leave the hospital as early as 6 hours postpartum, though the average for spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) is 1-2 days, and the average caesarean section postnatal stay is 3-4 days. During this time bleeding, bowel and bladder function, and baby care are monitored.
Physical
The mother is assessed for tears, and is sutured if necessary. Also, she may suffer from constipation or hemorrhoids, both of which would be managed. The bladder is also assessed for infection, retention and any problems in the muscles.
The major focus of postpartum care is ensuring that the woman is healthy and capable of taking care of her newborn, equipped with all the information she needs about breastfeeding, reproductive health and contraception, and the imminent life adjustment.
Some medical conditions may occur postnatally, such as Sheehan Syndrome.
Psychological
Postnatal depression ("Baby blues") is very common, with approximately 50% of women suffering from it, potentially as early as 24 hours postpartum. It is usually limited in duration, lasting 36 to 48 hours. Apart from empathy and support from caregivers and family, treatment is not required. Approximately 10-20% of women will suffer the symptoms of major depression, and should be treated accordingly. Postpartum depression may be the response to the hormonal changes and life adjustment the woman goes through immediately after childbirth.
Postnatal Psychosis (also known as puerperal psychosis), is a more severe form of mental illness than postpartum depression.
Care provided by a Postpartum Doula will support the mother, assist with breastfeeding and baby care which enhances her confidence, helping to lessen her chances of developing postpartum depression or other postpartum mood disorders.
See also
- Breastfeeding
- Childbirth
- Doula
- Hypopresive
- Infant care: the newborn.
- Obstetrics
- Pre- and perinatal psychology
- Puerperal fever
- Pelvic girdle pain Continuing pain and instability of pelvic joints.
External links
Human physiology and endocrinology of reproduction | |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and physiology | Reproductive system (male, female) |
| Menstrual/Estrous cycle | Menstruation - Follicular phase - Ovulation - Luteal phase |
| Gametogenesis | Spermatogenesis (spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatid, sperm) - Oogenesis (oogonium, oocyte, ootid, ovum) - Germ cell (gonocyte, gamete) |
| Sexuality | Human sexual behavior - Sexual intercourse - Erection - Ejaculation - Orgasm - Insemination - Fertilisation/Fertility - Masturbation - Pregnancy - Postpartum period |
| Lifespan | Prenatal development - Sexual dimorphism - Sexual differentiation - Puberty (Menarche, Adrenarche) - Maternal age/Paternal age - Climacteric (Menopause, Andropause) |
| Eggs | Ovum - Oviposition - Oviparity - Ovoviviparity - Viviparity |
| Reproductive endocrinology | Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis - Andrology - Hormone |
hr:Babinje it:Puerperio sv:Barnsäng
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
