The postpartum period is a significant milestone in every new mother’s life, marked by a set of events and different feelings that are part of the delivery experience. While expecting a new baby is the biggest joy any mother could ever experience, she is also led by a range of changing emotions that can impact raising the newborn baby.

That’s where nursing care during the postpartum period comes in. Postpartum nurses play a pivotal role in supporting new moms from the moment they deliver their baby to when they are discharged from the hospital. If you would like to understand the role that nurses play during the postpartum period and what to expect, please continue reading this article to find out.

What is the Postpartum Period?

The postpartum period, also referred to as the postnatal phase of expectancy, begins right after childbirth and typically lasts between six to twelve weeks. This time of recovery is known to be intense and requires a lot of care for both baby and mom. In fact, many mothers find it the most difficult phase of childbirth. 

From fluctuating hormones and a lack of sleep to breastfeeding concerns, if these challenges are not managed with care, mothers may find themselves battling a constant low. In extreme cases, they may spiral into a state of depression and anxiety, which can cause a ripple effect on the newborn. Approximately 1 in 7 women meet the criteria for postpartum depression, but as many as half of those women go undiagnosed due to skipped or sporadic screening.

Given the number, it’s clear that there is a heightened need for improved care and support for postpartum mothers during this fourth trimester to ensure they don’t slip through the cracks of the healthcare system.

What Postpartum Symptoms Do New Mothers Experience?

During the postpartum period, most mothers experience a set of emotional, physical, and psychological changes to their bodies. Here are some symptoms that new mothers face;

Constipation

The inability to have regular bowel movements is a symptom that many new mothers face, especially if they have had epidural shots at the time of delivery. In extreme cases, they may develop hemorrhoids and require urgent medical attention. Dedicated nursing care, however, can come in handy for new mothers as nurses are trained to deliver comprehensive healthcare services.

Loss of Hair

Due to fluctuating estrogen levels, a hormone that is responsible for the uterine lining during the postpartum period, the thinning or loss of hair is common among postpartum mothers. Not just hormones, but the physical and emotional stress of motherhood, coupled with nutritional deficiencies and genetics, can also be a contributing factor to hair loss.

Loss of Appetite

Having a new baby is a joyous occasion, however, the effort that it takes to ensure that your newborn is well taken care of can be extremely tiring and demanding. This can cause newly delivered mothers to feel overwhelmed and lose their mood and appetite, which can result in a weight decrease.

How Can a Postpartum Nurse Support New Mothers?

Nurses, such as those who have completed the requisite BSN or direct entry MSN, play a key role in providing postpartum care immediately after birth through to discharge from the hospital. 

Within the first 24 hours of delivery, nurses do everything from assessing the length of labor and the medications used to looking at laboratory data to ensure the new mom is recovering normally. They also play a part in offering emotional support. With fluctuating hormones, feelings of exhaustion, and changes in physical appearance, nurses are there to provide assurance during this time of change.

Before new mothers are discharged, they’re led through how to properly care for their newborn and themselves. That’s where postpartum nurses come in to help educate new mothers on breastfeeding, eating properly, getting adequate rest, and diaper changing. They also help make sure families understand the discharge instructions.

Providing Postpartum Support to New Mothers

Adapting to the lifestyle changes and new responsibilities that come with parenthood is no easy feat. On top of bringing new life into the world and caring for it, mothers must also care for themselves amidst unprecedented physical and emotional changes. The key to looking after mothers and newborns? Support. From your partner and parents to friends, neighbors, and healthcare staff like postpartum nurses, it takes a village.