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ACOG revises postpartum office visit recommendations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Seeking to address the 60% of maternal deaths that occur during following delivery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently updated its postpartum office visit recommendations, a speaker at the annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting said.

Haywood L. Brown, MD, former ACOG president and now a vice president at the University of South Florida, told attendees these revised recommendations encourage most women who have given birth to see their obstetric provider within 3 weeks of delivery and again no later than 12 weeks after birth.

This latter visit includes discussions on birth spacing, contraception, chronic disease management, emotional and mood-well-being, fatigue, health maintenance, infant care and feeding, physical recovery from birth and sleep patterns that are typical in healthy new mothers, according to Brown.

Brown addressed the importance of follow-up care for new mothers.

“If she misses these postpartum visits, her risk for hemorrhage and death increases. ... She is also often lonely, she often needs help [with her child],” he said.

Women who are at risk for postpartum depression, who had a cesarean delivery, have a substance abuse problem or addiction or a chronic condition such as seizures, heart disease, rheumatoid disorders, should have postpartum visits within 10 days of delivery. – by Janel Miller

Reference:

Brown H. “Fourth trimester care: When to initiate care postpartum.” Presented at: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting; May 3-6, 2019; Nashville.

Disclosures: Brown reports contributing to Up to Date, Maternal Mortality and Merck manuals.