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 Gynecology (Medicine, Year 5). 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).
