Operationalizing Whole-Person Postpartum Care: Health Care Provider-Level Strategies

Abstract

Postpartum mothers report feeling unsupported and unprepared by their health care providers to meet the challenges of the postpartum period. This gap perpetuates a cycle of disappointment with and disengagement from postpartum care services. The need to revamp postpartum care has been recognized at the population level but implementing changes at the health care provider level is challenging without practical guidance. The needs of new mothers are broad in scope and variable between individuals, requiring a whole-person care approach that is comprehensive yet nimble. Presented here are providerlevel strategies to promote care that both elicits and is responsive to the unique care goals of this population.

Moms in the NICU: developing a pilot to engage and empower women who have delivered a prematurely born infant

“…Making women aware of these interventions and motivating them to overcome the barriers that may exist to obtain them is not an easy task. The importance of promoting optimal health during the postpartum and interconception periods has been recognized as an important strategy to improve the outcomes of subsequent pregnancies, reduce the risk of preterm birth, and improve long term women’s health [ 4 , 6 – 9 ].…”

“…Although improving health before and between pregnancies is considered an important strategy, it has been difficult to achieve [ 7 , 9 ]. For example, although postpartum visits offer the opportunity to treat ongoing or chronic conditions, promote optimal birth spacing, and promote optimal health behaviors, nationally less than 60% of women enrolled in Medicare or state children’s health insurance programs attend a scheduled postpartum medical visit [ 10 , 11 ].…”