The postpartum period
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The first 8 weeks following birth – a very special time:
A time to get to know each other.
A time to rest and recover.
A time to remember and come to terms with experiences.
A time to nourish and be nourished.
A time to grow and develop.
Getting to know each other
The postpartum period is a time, in which parents, siblings and the newborn get to know each other. Mother and child have experienced and accomplished a lot during pregnancy and birth. Now is the time for healing, resting and getting back to full strength. These weeks are a precious period for spending time together without being disturbed, for finding a new rhythm that works for everyone in the family and for tuning in on the other family members and the new family constellation.
Midwives support families during this special period by visiting them at home regularly: midwifery care in the postpartum period is a service of the health insurance.
Involution
The female body undergoes tremendous changes – again. A lot of physical changes initiated and made necessary by the pregnancy are now no longer needed. Hormones are changing rapidly and are finding a new balance. Wounds need to heal, the impressions of childbirth have to be assimilated. All of this needs time, rest and empathetic care.
Midwives monitor the physical and mental steps of healing and support where necessary. If indicated, midwives will also tell you to see a doctor or another professional.
Mental health
Changes of hormones, lack of sleep and the challenges of a completely new and unfamiliar situation can have their toll on a mother’s psyche. Midwives help to distinguish between a normal “baby blues” and a problematic mental state called “postpartum depression”, which is experienced by 15-20 per cent of young mothers. As midwives collaborate with other health professionals on a regular basis, they can point towards potential therapists or advisory centres.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a natural process but it does not necessarily come natural to everyone. In contrast, many women and babies need quite some practice and patience to become experts. Especially during the first few days, having questions and needing support is completely normal. Your midwife helps you with breastfeeding in hospital and at home, so you can eventually enjoy a successful breastfeeding experience.
The development of the baby
The newborn’s body keeps adapting better and better to the requirements of a life outside of mommy’s womb. Every day means learning new things – how exciting!
During home visits a midwife’s task embraces monitoring how well the newborn adapts to postpartum life and how birth-related changes normalize again. Midwives have an eye on the baby’s development and support the parents in all questions around baby care. They examine the newborn meticulously, monitoring its weight and temperature, digestion, healing of the navel and much more. In addition, midwives administer means of prevention, e.g. Vitamin K drops, and do screening tests, like the PKU test (a test for a variety of metabolic diseases, which requires taking a blood sample).
Midwives – the perfect caregivers throughout the postpartum period
After birth everything is upside-down – practically every aspect of life changes and nothing runs smoothly like before. No wonder that new questions emerge on a daily basis: that’s when it comes in handy to have an expert visiting regularly.
…for mother and child:
Visiting young families at home is the model most suitable for the needs of the healing mother and her newborn. Receiving expert care while lying cosily in your own bed, without having to get dressed and go somewhere else, is perfect for young families in need of rest and recovery.
…clarify what is normal:
A central goal of each home visit of a midwife is the examination of mother and child to ensure that all changes occur the way they are supposed to. Midwives know about the normal changes as well as about possible complications. This enables them to detect developments that require further care and consultation early on. If prevention and monitoring is not enough, a midwife will refer the woman/newborn to the relevant experts of other professions if necessary.
… help to keep everything on track:
A lot of complications can be prevented by detection of early symptoms and implementing countermeasures on time. Preventive actions are an essential part of midwifery care – in general and especially in the postpartum period.
…for partners:
Midwives are valuable advisors not only for the mother but also for the father or partner. Life with a newborn and baby care often give rise to questions: How should I take/carry the baby? Why do newborns not sleep through the night? Why is my partner suddenly so emotional? And many, many more… A home visit is a perfect, time- and-energy-saving opportunity to get professional answers.
What does a midwife do during a home visit postpartum?
- Breastfeeding and dietary consultation
- Monitoring the growth and weight development of the newborn
- Taking care of the navel and monitoring its healing
- Monitoring of the baby’s skin (and skin colour: to detect early signs of newborn
jaundice) - Taking preventative measures (e.g. vitamin K prophylaxis)
- Taking a blood sample for the metabolic screening test (PKU test)
- Instructions on baby care
- Monitoring of digestion
- Monitoring of involution
- Monitoring of wounds from the birth, removal of stitches (if necessary)
- Instructions to further involution and to go easy on and strengthen the pelvic
floor - etc.
Quiz: postpartum vocab
Are you already an expert on postpartum vocab or do you still need a translator?
1) Lochia
2) The milk is coming in
3) Meconium
4) Brick dust urine / pink diaper syndrome
5) Rectus abdominis diastasis
a) first stool of the baby, very dark and sticky
b) broader gap between the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscle (“the abs muscle”)
c) harmless red-orange urate crystals in your baby’s urine
d) Swelling of the breast related to a rapid increase of milk production during the first days after birth
e) vaginal bleeding, later discharge, as a symptom of the healing process at the former place of the placenta in the uterus
Correct answers:
1e, 2d, 3a, 4c, 5b
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