Health Care Activity
postnatal care
[ pohst-neyt-l kair ]
Subclass of:
Perinatal Care
Also called:
Post-pregnancy health
Definitions related to postnatal care:
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The care provided to women and their NEWBORNS for the first few months following CHILDBIRTH.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(postpartal care) Providing care to a woman during the 6-week time period beginning immediately after childbirthNursing Interventions ClassificationUniversity of Iowa, 2007
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(postpartum care) Taking home a new baby is one of the happiest times in a woman's life. But it also presents both physical and emotional challenges. Get as much rest as possible. You may find that all you can do is eat, sleep, and care for your baby. And that is perfectly okay. You will have spotting or bleeding, like a menstrual period, off and on for up to six weeks.; You might also have swelling in your legs and feet, feel constipated, have menstrual-like cramping. Even if you are not breastfeeding, you can have milk leaking from your nipples, and your breasts might feel full, tender, or uncomfortable.; Follow your doctor's instructions on how much activity, like climbing stairs or walking, you can do for the next few weeks.; Doctors usually recommend that you abstain from sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after birth. . In addition to physical changes, you may feel sad or have the "baby blues." If you are extremely sad or are unable to care for yourself or your baby, you might have a serious condition called postpartum depression. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's HealthMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Clinical manifestations during the puerperium (6-week period after delivery) generally reflect reversal of the physiologic changes that occurred during pregnancy. These changes are mild and temporary and should not be confused with pathologic conditions.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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