“The weeks following birth are a critical period for a woman and her infant, setting the stage for long-term health and well-being. To optimize the health of women and infants, postpartum care should become an ongoing process, rather than a single encounter, with services and support tailored to each woman’s individual needs. ”

“Current guidance recommends that each woman should have a postnatal care plan that considers their individual needs and preferences. Ideally, it should be drawn up in pregnancy and regularly reviewed.”

“Women’s health after delivery is the most important factor affecting the health of their children.”

“The promotion of maternal health cannot end at the birth of the newborn, nor at the 6-week postpartum visit. Women have physical and emotional needs directly related to pregnancy and childbirth that take longer than 6 weeks to resolve. Furthermore, the long-term health of infants and children is extensively and intricately tied to the health of their mothers. ”

“Mothers often receive more extensive care, assessments, and education about their own health during pregnancy than postpartum, and alternatively, little about newborn care and breastfeeding prior to giving birth compared to the postpartum period. This imbalance, coupled with the challenge of meeting new lifestyle demands, can compromise the health and well-being of mothers and their infants.”

“Evidence shows that women and their families want and need a positive postnatal experience that helps them navigate the immense physical and emotional challenges that occur after their babies are born, while building their confidence as parents.”

“The traditional model of postpartum care is inadequate for addressing the needs of women during the fourth trimester. ”

“Critical postnatal care occurs during the first 6 weeks after giving birth and the content of postpartum health care have been too limited to meet the needs of women.”

“Optimizing the health of women in the year following childbirth requires a shift from a disease screening and treatment approach to a health promotion approach that focuses on strengthening 4 life skills that have been demonstrated to promote health: mobilization of social support, positive coping skills, self-efficacy, and realistic expectations.”

“The intense focus on women’s health prenatally is unbalanced by infrequent and late postpartum care.”