The postpartum period

Question 1

When is post partum period?

Answer 1

the period from delivery of the placenta to 6 weeks after this

• the changes that occurred during pregnancy reverse to pre-pregnancy
• potential for problems to occur

Question 2

How is a new mum looked after?

Answer 2

post natal care provided by the community midwife - contraception, breastfeeding, checking episiotomy healing, advice on immunisations

Question 3

What do you need to look out for?

Answer 3

mother-infant interaction, women mental and physical health, feeding and behaviour of baby

• need to ask about urinary, bowel and sexual function
• dyspareunia or anxiety and sex
• blood pressure, urinalysis and general exams required
• cervical smear

Question 4

Why do you get poor lubrication of the vagina?

Answer 4

due to low oestrogen after pregnancy

Question 5

What hormones are important in lactation?

Answer 5

prolactin (for preparation) and oxytocin (release of milk)

Question 6

What hormones affect the breast and what are their roles?

Answer 6

• mammogenic (promotes proliferation of alveolar and duct cells)
• lactogenic (promote initiation of milk production)
• galactokinetic (promote contraction of my-epithelial cells
• gelactopoietic (maintain milk production)

Question 7

What does prolactin do?

Answer 7

-aids in milk production

Question 8

What does suckling do and how does it do it?

Answer 8

it is a powerful stimulus for prolactin release and maintains milk production
- normally PRL release is inhibited by dopamine secreting neurones from the hypothalamus but suckling stimulates neurones from the spinal cord to inhibit dopamine realise so PRL can increase