The postpartum period
Provided by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
About the course
This course is part of the RCOG Core Knowledge series.
The vast majority of pregnancies and deliveries are normal and result in a healthy mother and a healthy baby. This simple observation fails to acknowledge the huge adjustments that the woman and her family have to make in the period after birth and the profound psychological, social and domestic changes that occur.
This course reviews the course of the normal puerperium and the changes that occur to maternal physiology, anatomy and psychology. It describes the onset and maintenance of lactation as well as some of the common problems encountered during breastfeeding. It also describes the normal care of the postpartum woman, including the postnatal check, some common postpartum problems and how to manage them, as well as advice on contraception.
When you have completed this course, you will be able to:
- describe the normal physiological, anatomical and psychological changes in the puerperium
- recognise the role of other health professionals in the care of the postpartum woman
- describe the onset and maintenance of lactation and how to manage some common problems
- perform a 6-week postnatal check and discuss suitable contraceptive options with the mother
- give advice about common problems in the puerperium.
Dr Kirsten Allen MRCOG (2018)
At the time of writing, an ST7 trainee in the East Midlands.
Ms Sara Webb RM (2013, 2016)
Ms Webb is a Registered Midwife and Specialist Perineal Midwife for the past 10 years. She is currently undertaking an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship focusing on birth after OASI.
Professor Khaled Ismail FRCOG (2009, 2016)
Professor Ismail is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Birmingham and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. He is the Honorary Director of eLearning (2014 to date) at the RCOG.
The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:
CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
Relevant to all key skills
CiP 12: Non-emergency obstetrics
Manages pre-existing medical conditions in the pregnant woman
Manages conditions arising in pregnancy
Supports antenatal decision making
Manages a postnatal consultation
Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here .
Knight M, Bunch K, Tuffnell D, Jayakody H, Shakespeare J, Kotnis R et al (Eds) on behalf of MBRRACE-UK. Saving Lives, Improving Mother's Care. Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2014-16. MBBRACE-UK: Oxford; 2018.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Postnatal Care. NG194. London: NICE; 2021.
Care of the woman after Caesarean birth. In: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Caesarean Birth. [NG192]. NICE: London; 2021.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health. [CG192]. London: NICE; 2014 (updated 2020).
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. FRSH Clinical Guideline. Contraception After Pregnancy. London: FRSH; 2017 (updated 2020).
Product Details: Product Name Price The postpartum period - 12 Month Access £50.40 Login to purchase
| Product Name | Price | |
| The postpartum period - 12 Month Access | £50.40 | Login to purchase |
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