Covers the six-week puerperium and how the body returns to its non-pregnant state, with lactation starting in the breasts. Includes a table of normal changes in the uterus, lochia, cervix, cardiovascular system, blood and ovaries, then a list of postnatal care checks and treatments. Also presents a table comparing baby blues, postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis, and notes a warning sign of endometritis or retained products.
Topic 13 of 61 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Dental Medicine, Year 4). The free AceMed note covers it in 3 sections, about 132 words (2 min of reading), with 15 flashcards.
In this note
Introduction
Normal changes
Care of the woman after birth
Introduction
The puerperium is the 6 weeks after delivery of the placenta, during which the body returns to its non-pregnant state, except the breasts, which start lactation.
Care of the woman after birth
First 1–2 hours: pulse, BP, uterine tone, bleeding, bladder (urinary retention is common).
