The postpartum period

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.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

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).