Search Results
Displaying 100 records.
Author: Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
Publisher/Producer: Watertown, MA: Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Secondary URL:
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Annotation: These perinatal clinical care guidelines for the general population include guidelines for the first prenatal visit (6–12 weeks) and each subsequent prenatal visit (13–42 weeks). Topics include initial and interval history; psychosocial assessment; physical examinations; immunizations; laboratory evaluation and additional testing; oral health; genetic counseling, screening, and testing; general counseling, education, and discussion; and the postpartum visit.
Keywords: Perinatal health; Perinatal services; Preventive health services; Pregnant women; Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Guidelines;
Author: Chazotte C, Koch A
Publisher/Producer: New York, NY: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: This guide provides a framework for integrating severe maternal morbidity (SMM) case review into hospital quality improvement committees. It describes essential components of implementing SMM reviews, including selecting partner facilities, identifying case abstractors, establishing data collection tools, and conducting committee reviews. The document outlines the step-by-step process from case identification through committee decisions and includes information on preventability determinations and addressing social determinants of health. Based on a pilot project conducted with three New York City hospitals between 2017-2020, the guide presents key findings that hemorrhage was the most common cause of SMM and that one-third of reviewed cases had some chance of severity reduction. The guide offers valuable lessons learned, cost considerations, and practical recommendations for hospitals and health departments implementing SMM review programs to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce racial disparities.
Keywords: Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Case assessment; Data collection;
Author: Bey A, Brill A, Porchia-Albert C, Gradilla M, Strauss N
Publisher/Producer: [Brooklyn, NY]: Ancient Song Doula Services; Village Birth International; Every Mother Counts
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Community outreach and engagement
- Health equity and access to care
- Nonclinical postpartum care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This document outlines the ways in which community-based doula programs in New
York state have been strategically implemented to serve families most at risk for poor
maternal and infant health outcomes. It describes the state's Medicaid Doula Pilot program, including the potential cost savings; presents evidence on the effectiveness of doula care in improving childbirth outcomes; and offers recommendations for states that either provide or are planning to provide Medicaid coverage of doula care.
Keywords: Childbirth; Social support; Midwifery, Doulas; Community health services; Ethnic factors; Racial factors; Cultural barriers; State Initiatives; Model programs; Medicaid
Author: American Heart Association
Publisher/Producer: Dallas, TX: American Heart Association
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This website describes the Advancing Maternal Health Through Quality Improvement and Professional Education Initiative and its efforts to improve postpartum systems of care related to cardiovascular health. It addresses management strategies for heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes in birthing persons to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Available resources include scientific statements, professional guidelines, webinars, and a podcast series that explores community-led solutions and clinical-community linkages. The site also presents clinical recommendations developed by a multi-disciplinary writing group supported by Merck for Mothers.
Keywords: Maternal health; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Cardiovascular diseases; Quality improvement; Health care systems;
Author: Scrimshaw SC, Emily P. Backes EP, eds; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; Health and Medicine Division;
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: The National Academies Press
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This consensus study report reviews and evaluates maternal and newborn care in the United States; the epidemiology of social and clinical risks in pregnancy and childbirth; research on birth settings; and access to and choice of birth settings in America. Maternal and neonatal interventions and health outcomes are compared across birth settings, including hospitals, birthing centers, and home birth environments.
Keywords: Childbirth; Cesarean section; Pregnancy; Pregnancy outcome; Health facilities; Birthing centers; Hospitals; Maternity hospitals; Home childbirth; Midwifery; Maternal health; Maternal morbidity; Infant care; Risk factors; Statistics; Trends; Measures; Social factors; Access to care; Policy
Author: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Palto Alto, CA: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This collection of toolkits and related resources guides hospitals and healthcare systems in adopting quality improvement strategies to enhance maternal safety and outcomes. The major topics covered by the toolkits address critical areas of maternal health: (1) Cardiovascular Disease, including improving health care response in pregnancy and postpartum; (2) Early Elective Deliveries, focusing on eliminating non-medically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks gestational age; (3) Hemorrhage, specifically improving health care response to obstetric hemorrhage; (4) Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, focusing on improving health care response; (5) Sepsis, detailing improvement for diagnosis and treatment of obstetric sepsis; (6) Substance Exposure (Mother & Baby), providing resources for substance exposure; (7) Supporting Vaginal Birth, including strategies to reduce primary cesareans; and (8) Venous Thromboembolism, focusing on improving health care response to maternal venous thromboembolism.
Keywords: Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Obstetrical complications; Patient safety; Risk management; Guidelines; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; California;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: This patient safety bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients with cardiac conditions (disorders of the cardiovascular system). It provides guidance for health care teams to develop coordinated, multidisciplinary care for pregnant and postpartum patients with cardiovascular conditions and to respond to cardio-obstetric emeregencies. The bundle is organized into five domains: 1) Readiness , 2) Recognition and Prevention , 3) Response , 4) Reporting and Systems Learning , and 5) Respectful Care . Components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Obstetrical complications; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing evidence-based practices to improve care for pregnant and postpartum individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). It summarizes the evidence on the significant risks of CVD in pregnancy, which can exacerbate pre-existing conditions or lead to new disorders due to the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. The workbook presents data from Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review, finding that CVD accounted for 30% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2017-2021, with most deemed preventable and Black women disproportionately impacted. To address this crisis, the AIM Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care patient safety bundle components are provided, with detailed strategies for implementing universal cardiac risk screening, rapid response protocols, cardio-obstetric teams, care coordination, patient education, and equity-focused data monitoring. Emphasis is placed on early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment to prevent complications and death. Resources and references are included for further training and implementation.
Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Obstetrical complications; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Guidelines; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: This patient safety bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of health care facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use conditions. The bundle was revised in 2021 to incorporate respectful care concepts, revise existing elements, include new elements related to evidence-informed practices, and update the data collection tools. Components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: The bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients with substance use conditions. It includes: Implementation tools and resources, a data collection plan (with outcome measures), a change package, and learning modules.
Keywords: Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Substance use disorders; Therapeutics; Guidelines;
Author: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Publisher/Producer: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This web-based tool helps states and other jurisdictions create standardized assessments of levels of maternal and neonatal care. CDC LOCATeSM is based on the most recent guidelines and policy statements issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Reproductive health; Statistical data; High risk pregnancy; Gestational age; Risk appropriate care
Author: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Workforce training and development
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This web page from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides clinical case scenarios and training materials for the AHRQ Safety Program for Perinatal Care, Phase 2. The scenarios illustrate 10 teamwork tools and strategies for improving care in obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension in pregnancy. The page includes two sets of education materials: (1) Tier 1 consists of eight short video-based emodules for each condition that introduce frontline clinicians to the teamwork tools and demonstrate their use; (2) Tier 2 provides PowerPoint slide sets with speaker notes to help Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Team Leads disseminate the teamwork toolkit to frontline staff in their labor and delivery units, ideally through live workshops by a TeamSTEPPS master trainer.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Pregnancy complcations; Patient safety; Hemorrhage; Hypertension; Emergency medical services; Professional training;
Author: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Publisher/Producer: Rockville, MD: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
Annotation: This guide provides guidance for the optimal management of pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their infants, based on recommendations of experts as of 2017. The guide is designed to help health professionals and women determine the most clinically appropriate action for a particular circumstance. In addition to offering background information, the guide includes fact sheets divided into the following sections: prenatal care, infant care, and maternal postnatal care. Each fact sheet includes a clinical scenario, clinical action steps, supporting evidence and clinical considerations, and links to and descriptions of online resources on the topic.
Keywords: Pregnant women; Parents; Guidelines; Substance dependence; Prenatal addiction; Perinatal addiction; Substance use disorders; Narcotics; Treatment;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Community outreach and engagement
Annotation: This resource kit provides comprehensive guidance for optimizing transfers from community birth settings (planned home births or freestanding birth centers) to hospitals when higher levels of care are needed. The document outlines best practices, tools, and resources for developing collaborative systems of care between community birth providers, emergency medical services, and hospital teams. Key sections cover readiness planning, recognition and prevention strategies, response protocols, reporting/systems learning approaches, and respectful care practices. The kit emphasizes health equity, trauma-informed care, and the importance of standardized communication protocols during transfers. It includes numerous practical examples, templates, and educational resources to support quality improvement initiatives. It aims to facilitate safe and respectful transfers by promoting integration and coordination between community and hospital-based maternity care providers.
Keywords: Childbirth; Home childbirth; Birthing Centers; Maternity hospitals; Perinatal health; Risk factors; Obstetrical care; Access to care; Service coordination; Health care systems; Guidelines;
Author: Stuebe AM, Kendig S, Suplee PD, D'Oria, R
Publisher/Producer: Obstet Gynecol 2021 Jan 1;137(1):33-40
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: Abstract: In the weeks after childbirth, a woman navigates multiple challenges. She must recover from birth, learn to care for herself and her newborn, and cope with fatigue and postpartum mood changes as well as chronic health conditions. Alongside these common morbidities, the number of maternal deaths in the United States continues to increase, and unacceptable racial inequities persist. One third of pregnancy-related deaths occur between 1 week and 1 year after delivery, with a growing proportion of these deaths due to cardiovascular disease; one fifth occur between 7 and 42 days postpartum. In addition, pregnancy-associated deaths due to self-harm or substance misuse are increasing at an alarming rate. Rising maternal mortality and morbidity rates, coupled with significant disparities in outcomes, highlight the need for tailored interventions to improve safety and well-being of families during the fourth trimester of pregnancy, which includes the period from birth to the comprehensive postpartum visit. Targeted support for growing families during this transition can improve health and well-being across generations.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Maternal morbidity; Maternal mortality; Prevention; Interventions; Guidelines;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: These patient safety bundles are the core building blocks of the AIM program’s efforts to address the leading known causes of preventable severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Supported by quality metrics and measures through the AIM Data Center, each bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients. Individual safety bundles cover the following: obstetric hemorrhage, severe hypertension in pregnancy, safe reduction of primary cesarean birth, cardiac conditions in obstetric care, care for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder, perinatal mental health conditions, postpartum discharge transition, and sepsis in obstetric care. Some materials are available in English, Spanish, and French.
Keywords: Maternal health; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Maternal morbidity; Maternal mortality; prevention programs; Safety; Quality improvement; Evidence based medicine; Protocols; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals
Author: Illinois Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Chicago, IL: Illinois Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This document provides guidance from the Indiana Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (IPQIC) on standardizing discharge planning and referrals to ongoing services and support for postpartum patients with substance use disorders. It outlines recommended hospital procedures, including urine drug screening, monitoring for withdrawal symptoms, offering medication-assisted treatment, and providing referrals to treatment programs and resources. The document emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive discharge plan that includes outpatient follow-up with pediatric, substance use, and primary care providers, as well as newborn safe sleep education and contraception planning. Additional resources are provided for further information and referrals.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Quality improvement; State initiatives; Standards; Guidelines; Indiana;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This resource workbook for healthcare providers addresses evidence-based care practices for maternal-infant dyads affected by substance use disorder. The workbook presents key evidence-based practices including universal screening with validated tools following the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment process, medications for opioid use disorder such as buprenorphine and methadone for pregnant and postpartum people, and the Eat, Sleep, Console model of care for infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome. It emphasizes that substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition requiring evidence-based treatment and highlights the importance of trauma-informed, anti-racist care to address stigma and discrimination. The workbook includes the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People with Substance Use Disorder patient safety bundle components organized into readiness, recognition and prevention, response, reporting and systems learning, and respectful care categories. It presents outcomes from the Missouri Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Collaborative showing a 23.9% reduction in transfer rates for infants diagnosed with or at risk for withdrawal, and discusses Missouri's maternal mortality data indicating that mental health conditions including substance use disorder were the primary cause of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 to 2020. Resources include screening tools, educational materials, guidance documents for urine drug testing and plans of safe care, and training opportunities specific to Missouri providers.
Keywords: Maternal health; Infant health; Substance use disorders; Guidelines; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance on addressing fatal injuries, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV), homicide, suicide, and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), as significant contributors to maternal mortality. It summarizes the evidence on the heightened risks of homicide and suicide for pregnant and postpartum women, with disparities among adolescents, Black women, and those with mental health conditions or IPV history. Environmental factors like poverty, lack of support, and firearm access also play a role. The workbook presents concerning data from Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review on injury-related deaths, finding that homicides and suicides, often involving firearms and IPV, accounted for a significant portion of pregnancy-related mortality. Younger women, Black women, Medicaid participants, and those in metropolitan areas were disproportionately impacted. MVCs were a leading cause of deaths not directly related to pregnancy. Key recommendations are provided for healthcare providers and community organizations to improve screening, intervention, support, and prevention efforts around mental health, IPV, and vehicle safety to reduce maternal injury deaths. Resources and references are included for further training and implementation.
Keywords: Maternal mortality; Risk factors; Injury prevention; Guidelines; State initiatives; Missouri; Data;
Author: The Chiles Center at University of South Florida College of Public Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This toolkit provides guidance to hospitals and obstetric providers in developing individualized policies, protocols, practices, and materials related to hospital-facilitated postpartum care and education for pregnant and postpartum women with emphasis on high-risk women. The document presents evidence-based strategies to improve maternal health outcomes through hospital-facilitated continuum of postpartum care by coordinating and providing respectful, timely, and risk-appropriate coordinated care and services. It addresses the development of standardized approaches to promote recommended screening, prevention, treatment, and education services through a multidisciplinary team approach that includes administration, nursing, obstetric providers, neonatology, social work/case managers, community providers, and emergency department staff. The toolkit is organized by three key drivers: screening and arranging early postpartum visits, comprehensive patient education, and clinician engagement and education, with each section providing links to resources that hospitals can adapt for local use.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Quality Improvement: Policy development; Protocols; Standards; State initiatives; Florida; Resources for professionals;
Author: Center for WorkLife Law, University of California College of the Law
Publisher/Producer: San Francisco, CA: Center for Work Life Law
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Legislation and policy development
Annotation: This document provides guidelines for healthcare providers on drafting work accommodation notes for pregnant and postpartum patients to help them receive necessary adjustments and keep their jobs. It explains the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. The guidelines detail five key components of an effective work note: (1) stating that the patient has a limitation due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition requiring accommodation; (2) identifying the specific limitation; (3) affirming the patient can continue working with an accommodation, if true; (4) describing the recommended adjustment; and (5) providing an expected duration. The document includes a sample work note and an extensive appendix listing common pregnancy-related conditions and responsive accommodations. It also provides contact information for WorkLife Law's free legal helpline for guidance on work accommodation
Keywords: Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Working mothers; Workplace safety; Guidelines; Legislation
Guidelines for perinatal care (8th ed.)
Author: Kilpatrick SJ, Papile LA, Macones GA eds.
Publisher/Producer: Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This guide for personnel involved in the care of pregnant women, their fetuses, and their neonates in community programs, hospitals, and medical centers provides information on obstetric and neonatal care. Topics include the organization of perinatal health care, inpatient perinatal care services, quality improvement and patient safety, maternal and neonatal interhospital transfer, preconception and antepartum care, intrapartum and postpartum care, obstetric and medical complications, care of the newborn, neonatal complications and management of high-risk infants, perinatal infections, and infection control. The guide is a companion document to Guidelines for Women's Health Care.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Newborn infants; Infant health; Maternal health; Patient care management; Program improvement; Quality assurance; Safety; Infection control; Guidelines; Resources for professionals; Guidelines;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This manual for obstetricians, gynecologists, and others provides a digest of clinical information on the delivery of women's health care. Topics include governance and administration, organization of services, well-woman care, and gynecologic care. A topic-specific resource list is included at the end of each section. The manual is a companion volume to Guidelines for Perinatal Care.
Keywords: Women's health; Maternal health; Gynecology; Life course; Patient care management; Standards; Guidelines; Resources for professionals;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on interventions to prevent primary headache in individuals who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding; evaluation for symptomatic patients presenting with primary and secondary headaches during pregnancy; and treatment options for primary and secondary headaches during pregnancy and lactation.
Keywords: Perinatal care; prenatal care; Postpartum care; Headaches; Therapeutics; Guidelines;
Author: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Publisher/Producer: Washington, D.C.: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Resources for consumers/new mothers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This patient educational content from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) is designed to help pregnant women and their babies get the best care possible when a pregnancy is deemed high-risk. The resource addresses a wide variety of high-risk pregnancy and postpartum topics, defining a high-risk pregnancy as one that requires special care due to a maternal health problem, a problem with the pregnancy, or a fetal birth defect or complication. The content reflects current, published SMFM practice guidelines and is based on the Society’s official guidelines. Major topics include a Vaccine Guide for Pregnancy (covering vaccines like COVID-19, Tdap, Flu, and RSV), birth control options, and support groups. Specific educational topics, available as downloadable fact sheets, cover conditions such as Preeclampsia, Lupus and Pregnancy, Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR), Heart Failure and Pregnancy, Preterm Birth, and warning signs of postpartum complications. The resource also includes videos and is available in Spanish
Keywords: High risk pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Postpartum care; Guidelines; Patient education
Author: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
- Promising models of care and best practices
- Legislation and policy development
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This report highlights findings from the Improving Postpartum Care Affinity Group, a quality improvement initiative convened by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from April 2021 to April 2023. Nine states participated in the affinity group to develop and test interventions addressing the high rates of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, with nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths occurring during the postpartum period. The report describes how state teams used data-driven approaches to identify disparities and quality improvement opportunities, select measures to monitor their projects, and evaluate intervention impacts. It presents four main categories of interventions tested by participating states: targeted case management services for high-risk beneficiaries, postpartum cardiac care including blood pressure monitoring and cardiomyopathy protocols, support from doulas and community health workers with home visiting programs, and beneficiary and provider education and support tools. The document includes specific examples from states such as South Carolina's pilot addressing gaps in behavioral health screening, Georgia's work to improve provider use of postpartum visit codes, and Texas's blood pressure cuff distribution program for hypertensive beneficiaries.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Data analysis; Quality improvement; State initiatives; Models; South Carolina; Georgia; Texas; Oklahoma; Missouri; Wyoming; Kansas; Kentucky;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Promising models of care and best practices
Annotation: This multiyear initiative and collection of tools and resources from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks to enhance the identification and management of pregnancy-related emergencies in nonobstetric settings, addressing missed opportunities identified by maternal mortality review committees among practitioners in emergency departments, EMS/911, and urgent care facilities. The resources help enhance readiness to identify and respond to life-threatening complications that can occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum, including (1) cardiovascular conditions such as cardiomyopathy, (2) hypertensive emergencies like preeclampsia, eclampsia, and stroke, and (3) conditions related to mental health such as suicide and overdose. ACOG provides tailored resources for each setting, offering algorithms and pregnancy status signs (in English and Spanish) for Emergency Departments, model guidelines for EMS covering conditions like postpartum hemorrhage and elevated blood pressure, and algorithms and guidelines for Urgent Care focusing on acute hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the initiative compiles supporting resources from other organizations covering maternal mortality education, mental health (including the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), and substance use disorders.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Obstetric emergencies; Emergency medical services; Therapeutics; Models; Guidelines; Resources for professionals;
Author: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the Louisiana Department of Health; Florida Department of Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: In this webinar, subject matter experts present on 1) the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health’s (AIM) patient safety bundle for perinatal people with substance use disorders, and 2) the role of public health agencies, perinatal quality collaboratives, and community organizations in supporting the implementation of the AIM bundle in their state. Speakers include representatives from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Louisiana Department of Health, and the Florida Department of Health.
Keywords: Pregnant women; Postpartum women; Substance abusing pregnant women; Substance use disorders; Perinatal care; Preventive health services; Safety; Quality assurance; Guidelines; State initiatives; Public health
Author: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Stanford, CA: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This is a 2022 update to this toolkit idesigned to assist maternity care providers, clinical staff, hospitals, and health care organizations in facilitating timely recognition and an organized, swift response to postpartum hemorrhage. Contents include care guidelines and accompanying professional education tools.
Keywords: Maternal health; Safety; Postpartum care; Uterine hemorrhage; Guidelines; Professional education; Preventive health services;
Author: Appleby C, Betts K, Costello K, Langella-Anderson E, Lyles K, Rhodes A, Spratt S, Ying M
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Nonclinical postpartum care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
Annotation: This guidance resource provides health care organizations and clinicians with strategies for integrating doula care into clinical care settings to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The resource addresses Missouri's rising maternal morbidity and mortality rates by outlining how doulas can bridge workforce gaps and provide continuous labor support that research shows reduces cesarean births, improves birth experiences, and decreases perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The guidance covers doula role definitions, training and certification pathways, reimbursement models including Missouri's new Medicaid coverage, and specific recommendations for creating collaborative birth team environments. The document includes sections on supporting specific populations such as young mothers and those from diverse cultural backgrounds, practical implementation strategies including orientation plans and communication pathways, and evidence-based benefits of doula care including reduced medical interventions and improved patient satisfaction.
Keywords: Maternal health; Doulas; Service integration; Resources for professionals; State MCH programs; Missouri
Author: Gresh A, Van Damme A, Billings DL, Rising SS, Ibrahim S, Ajibola A, Chirwa E, Don-Aki J, Donoho N, Hindori M, Jiddawi N, Kanebi E, Kapito E, Kay C, Kinra T, Molliqaj V, Oyeledun B, Rijnders MEB, Wiseman O, Yaqubi GS, Patil CL
Publisher/Producer: Arch Public Health. 2025 Feb 13;83(1):34
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Promising models of care and best practices
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: Abstract
Background: Globally, alarmingly high rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity persist. A constellation of health system and social factors contribute to this, including poor quality and barriers to accessing health care, including preventive services. As such, there have been calls for a redesign of maternal and child health (MCH) services. Although group care has primarily been tested in antenatal settings, it offers a promising redesign that optimizes maternal and child health care, survival, and well-being. The purpose of this study was to produce a blueprint of an adapted group care model that integrates postnatal maternal care, well-child care, and family engagement to be adapted to realities of different settings.
Methods: Using a human-centered design approach and the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based interventions (FRAME), we employed qualitative methods to adapt CenteringParenting® (retaining its three core pillars of health assessment, interactive learning, and community building), and co-create the blueprint for group care beyond birth that can be used across settings. We initiated the process through face-to-face workshops during a global meeting on group care, followed by six online incubator sessions with key stakeholders from 13 countries during which we used qualitative methods of free listing, pile sorting, and ranking. We conducted a rapid qualitative analysis to produce a blueprint.
Results: Participants collaboratively modified the content, format, and evaluation of CenteringParenting® with the goal of creating a blueprint that integrates postnatal and pediatric care into group care that can be further adapted and implemented across diverse settings and contexts. The blueprint consists of suggested timing of visits over two years after birth, suggested visit content, and evaluation metrics for research and practice.
Conclusions: The resulting group care beyond birth blueprint offers a strategy to redesign maternal and infant/child health services that can positively transform postnatal care and provide essential services to postpartum people. Adaptation of the blueprint to local realities is expected. Future research is recommended to test the model's acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness across settings. Using this blueprint, we can build the evidence base to support this model aiming to improve maternal and infant/child health outcomes.
Keywords: Maternal and child health; Postnatal care;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This consensus document presents guidelines on interpregnancy care—the healthcare provided to women between pregnancies. It explains that interpregnancy care aims to maximize women's wellness not just between pregnancies but across their life course, serving as a continuum beyond postpartum care. Key recommendations include reproductive life planning, depression screening, vaccination, chronic disease management, and education about future health. The document details specific clinical components such as breastfeeding support, optimal interpregnancy intervals (advising against intervals shorter than 6 months), and management of medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and mental health disorders. Included are detailed tables presenting specific health condition recommendations together with their corresponding evidence grades using the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's grading system.
Keywords: Maternal health; Women's health services; Postpartum care; Perinatal care; Prevention; Screening; Health promotion;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This committee opinion states that IPV screening and counseling should be a core part of women’s preventive health visits. Physicians should screen all women for IPV at periodic intervals, including during obstetric care (at the first prenatal visit, at least once per trimester, and at the postpartum checkup), offer ongoing support, and review available prevention and referral options.
Keywords: Intimate partner violence; Screening; Prevention; Counseling; Referrals; Guidelines;
Author: Council on Medical Service and Council on Science and Public Health, American Medical Association
Publisher/Producer: Chicago, IL: American Medical Association
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Legislation and policy development
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Nonclinical postpartum care
- Workforce training and development
- Dyadic, culturally congruent, family-centered care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This joint report from the Council on Medical Service and the Council on Science and Public Health presents a comprehensive examination of inequities and access barriers in maternal health care in the United States. The report analyzes root causes of the U.S. maternal mortality crisis, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in care and outcomes, and challenges in insurance coverage, especially through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The report outlines 16 detailed policy recommendations for the American Medical Association focused on 1) acknowledging and addressing the impact of structural racism in maternal care, 2) expanding insurance coverage (particularly postpartum Medicaid/CHIP coverage to 12 months), 3) improving data collection and research on disparities, 4) strengthening cultural humility in care delivery, 5) promoting collaboration with community organizations, and 6)ensuring adequate payment for evidence-based maternal care services. The report emphasizes the need for systemwide changes to improve maternal health outcomes and eliminate inequities through coordinated policy, payment, workforce development, and quality improvement initiatives.
Keywords: Maternal health; Maternal mortality; Health insurance; Medicaid; Social Determinants of Health; Health equity; Access to care; Barriers; Policy development;
Author: Holman C, Glover A, Fertaly K, Nelson M
Publisher/Producer: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, University of Montana
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
Annotation: This report presents the results of the Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe) implemented in Montana in 2021 to assess maternal and neonatal care capabilities in birthing facilities and support strategies to improve risk-appropriate care. LOCATe aligns with guidelines from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatricsto match hospital capabilities with patient risk. The report summarizes Montana's LOCATe results, with 96% of birthing facilities participating. Key findings include: 80% of facilities assessed at Level I or II for neonatal care; 68% assessed at Level I or lower for maternal care; facilities had discrepancies between self-reported and assessed levels; 44% lacked maternal transport plans; and protocols existed for maternal emergencies but drills were lacking. The report provides five recommendations to improve risk-appropriate care: 1) Develop perinatal regionalization through stakeholder coordination; 2) Cultivate relationships between facilities through education and learning collaboratives; 3) Establish maternal transport plans and agreements; 4) Enhance care through evidence-based practices and statewide safety bundles; 5) Measure impact through data and review committees.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Reproductive health; Statistical data; High risk pregnancy; Gestational age; Risk appropriate care; Rural health; State initiatives; Montana
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This obstetric care consensus for health professionals underscores the need to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, including existing disparities, by encouraging the growth and maturation of systems for the provision of risk appropriate care specific to maternal health needs. Co-written by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the consensus provides standard definitions and outlines the required capabilities and type of health care providers needed for base care (Level I), specialty care (Level II), subspecialty care (Level III) and regional perinatal health centers (Level IV).
Keywords: Maternal health; Perinatal care; Health care systems; Regional planning; Guidelines; Professional education;
Author: Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Publisher/Producer: Los Angeles, CA: Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This toolkit provides actionable information, algorithms, and clinical resources to help obstetric providers address perinatal mental health conditions. The toolkit includes guidance on implementing perinatal mental health screening, discussing mental health with patients, and responding to positive screens. It contains patient screening tools for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as provider scoring guides. The toolkit outlines treatment options for mild, moderate, and severe illness, including medication and therapy referrals. It also includes algorithms for assessing risk of suicide and harm to baby, managing bipolar disorder and psychosis, and follow-up treatment. Patient handouts cover an action plan for mood changes, a self-care plan, and educational resources. The appendix provides a summary of perinatal mental health conditions, the PCL-C screening tool for PTSD, follow-up screening forms, and a patient safety screener.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Mental health; Screening; Service integration; Obstetrical care; Guidelines;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Workforce training and development
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This resource kit is a collection of best practices to aid in the early recognition of changes in pregnant and postpartum patient’s vital signs and clinical conditions. Developed by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM), it addresses the rising maternal mortality rates in the United States, particularly noting racial and ethnic disparities, and presents MEWS (Maternal Early Warning System) as a critical tool for early recognition of potential complications. The resource kit includes sections on readiness assessment, recognition and prevention, response protocols, reporting and systems learning, and respectful care practices. It features practical implementation tools such as trigger criteria examples, protocol templates, assessment tools, and patient education resources. The kit emphasizes multidisciplinary teamwork, healthcare professional training, EHR integration, and post-event reviews to support standardized protocols for recognizing and responding to maternal health conditions, with the goal of reducing preventable adverse outcomes and maternal mortality.
Keywords: Maternal health; Postpartum care; Perinatal care; Maternal mortality; Risk factors; Prevention; Protocols; Standards; Professional training; Patient education;
Maternal levels of care
Author: Joint Commission;
Publisher/Producer: Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Workforce training and development
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
Annotation: The Joint Commission offers the Maternal Levels of Care Verification program in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to help facilities providing obstetric and maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) care standardize and improve regionalized systems of care, with the ultimate goal of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Developed using ACOG’s Levels of Maternal Care Obstetric Care Consensus document, this program provides an objective assessment of a facility's capabilities to verify it has the appropriate resources, equipment, and staff to care for the complexity of its patients, requiring hospitals to submit a detailed process improvement plan. The verification assesses facilities against four standardized levels of care: (1) Level I: Basic Care for low to moderate-risk pregnancies; (2) Level II: Specialty Care for moderate- to high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum conditions; (3) Level III: Subspecialty Care for more complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications, and fetal conditions; and (4) Level IV: Regional Perinatal Health Care Centers which provide on-site medical and surgical care for the most complex maternal conditions and critically ill pregnant women. The program promotes collaboration among area health care organizations, ensuring hospitals have a plan for assessing risk and referring patients to a higher level of care facility in the event of obstetric emergencies, and is being utilized by several states, including Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas, to meet state maternal care designation requirements.
Keywords: Obstetrical care; Perinatal care; Patient safety; Risk assessment; Quality improvement; Standards; Hospital Accreditation;
Author: Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Publisher/Producer: Atlanta, GA: Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Community outreach and engagement
Annotation: This report provides actionable recommendations for enhancing equity across MMRC (Maternal Mortality Review Committee) processes.
Keywords: Maternal health; Maternal mortality; Prevention; Blacks; Health equity; Data collection; Outreach; Quality improvement;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This workbook serves as a resource for health care providers addressing maternal sepsis recognition and treatment in pregnant and postpartum patients. The workbook presents evidence on maternal sepsis as the body's life-threatening response to infection, noting that between 2017 and 2019, infection was the fourth leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the United States, with Black women having more than twice the risk of maternal sepsis compared to white women. Included are key challenges in maternal sepsis recognition and recommended procedural approaches. The workbook details the complete Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Sepsis in Obstetric Care Patient Safety Bundle components, covering readiness requirements including multidisciplinary team protocols and rapid response procedures, recognition and prevention measures such as evidence-based sepsis screening tools and infection prevention protocols, response protocols emphasizing early antibiotic administration within one hour and source control measures, and reporting and systems learning processes including multidisciplinary case reviews and bias consideration. The workbook addresses Missouri-specific data showing infections as the fifth leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018-2020, with sepsis as the fourth leading indicator for severe maternal morbidity and significant racial disparities noted, and includes extensive resources for sepsis evaluation flow charts, screening tools, simulation training scenarios, order sets, and patient education materials.
Keywords: Infectious complications complications; Sepsis; Emergency health services; Guidelines; Protocols; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Maternity Care Clinical Recommendations and Guidelines
Publisher/Producer: Shawnee Mission, KS: American Academy of Family Physicians
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: These clinical preventive service recommendations provide guidance on topics ranging from preeclampsia to neural tube defects that can help support evidence-based decisions.
Keywords: Maternity and infant care; Perinatal care; Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Newborns; Guidelines;
Author: New York State Department of Health
Publisher/Producer: Albany, NY: New York Department of Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Legislation and policy development
Annotation: This policy outlines the New York State Medicaid Perinatal Care Standards for New York State (NYS) Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) and for Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) Plans, as well as Health and Recovery Plans (HARPs)]. This policy is applicable to all Medicaid perinatal care providers who provide prenatal/antepartum care, intrapartum care, and/or postpartum care. Included are statewide standards for the following: provider practice guiding principles, principal maternal care provider training and credentials, access to care, presumptive eligibility/Medicaid coverage, comprehensive prenatal care risk assessment, care plan, coordination of care, home visits, initial and comprehensive postpartum vists, and breafeeding/chestfeeding.
Keywords: Policy; Standards; Policy; State initiatives; New York
Author: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Palo Alto: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
Annotation: This toolkit is designed to support the preparation of maternity and pediatric caregivers to
overcome barriers and deliver safe, effective, and coordinated care for mothers and
newborns affected by Opioid Use Disorder (OID.
Keywords: Maternal health; Infant health; Substance use disorders; Addiction; Therapeutics; Guidelines; Resources for professionals;
Author: Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network
Publisher/Producer: Lebanon, NH: Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This guideline is intended as a general educational resource for hospitals and clinicians. It addresses the management of hypertension in pregnancy, including definitions and protocols for Gestational hypertension, Preeclampsia (with and without severe features), Chronic hypertension, Superimposed preeclampsia, Eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. The resource outlines standardized policy and procedure recommendations for delivery units, including training for staff to recognize signs of patient deterioration. Major topics covered include the recommended prevention of preeclampsia using low-dose aspirin for women with high-risk factors, the initial assessment and surveillance of hypertension in pregnant women, and the inpatient management of severe hypertension using medications like IV labetalol, IV hydralazine, and oral short-acting nifedipine, as well as the use of Magnesium Sulfate for seizure prophylaxis. The guideline also details delivery timing and the postpartum management of hypertensive disorders, including required blood pressure monitoring for 72 hours after delivery and at 7-10 days postpartum, and when to initiate antihypertensive therapy. It includes discharge instructions for patients regarding their medications, follow-up, blood pressure monitoring, and symptoms requiring a
Keywords: Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Hypertension; Guidelines; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Workforce training and development
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This workbook addresses obstetric emergency triage and care for health care providers, particularly those in nonobstetric settings and maternity care deserts. The workbook presents evidence on the critical access challenges facing pregnant and postpartum patients, noting that one in 12 women live in areas with low or no access to maternal health care and that 41.7% of Missouri counties are defined as maternity care deserts compared to 32.6% nationally. It outlines comprehensive strategies for hospitals without obstetric services, including implementation of education and simulation drills for emergency deliveries and maternal emergencies such as hypertension, sepsis, and hemorrhage, creation of emergency medication kits, use of algorithms and early warning systems, and establishment of partnerships with tertiary medical centers for consultation and transfer agreements. The workbook details the complete Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Emergency Triage and Care Patient Safety Bundle components, covering readiness requirements such as rapid response team identification, recognition and prevention measures including pregnancy screening protocols, response protocols for routine births in nonobstetric settings and obstetric emergencies, and reporting and systems learning processes including huddles and debriefs. It emphasizes trauma-informed care principles and respectful, equitable care for all patients, and includes extensive resources for obstetric triage tools, emergency protocols, simulation training materials, transport guidelines, telehealth consultation resources, and patient education materials. The workbook specifically addresses Missouri's challenges with rural hospital closures and provides evidence-based practices to ensure continual readiness for obstetric patients in all hospital settings.
Keywords: Obstetrical care; Triage; Emergency health services; Rural health; Access to care; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: The Obstetric Hemorrhage Patient Safety Bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients experiencing an obstetric hemorrhage. Included are evidence-based protocols on risk assessment, quantitative blood loss measurement, standardized emergency management plans, hemorrhage carts with necessary supplies, and multidisciplinary team drills. The bundle was revised in 2022 to incorporate respectful care considerations, revise existing elements, related to evidence-informed practices, and update data collection plans. It emphasizes the importance of addressing racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric hemorrhage outcomes through policy review and disaggregated data monitoring. Components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Postpartum hemorrhage; Obstetrical complications; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: The workbook outlines evidence-based practices for improving recognition of and response to obstetric hemorrhage, including hemorrhage risk assessments categorized as low, medium, and high risk that should be completed on admission, during labor, and post-delivery. It emphasizes the critical importance of quantification of blood loss using volumetric containers, weighing scales, or computerized image recognition rather than estimation, as postpartum hemorrhage occurs in about 40% of low-risk birthing people. The workbook presents the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Patient Safety Bundle components, which include stage-based management plans, hemorrhage supply carts, immediate access to hemorrhage medications, standardized education for obstetric teams, multidisciplinary drills, and case review processes. It addresses Missouri-specific data showing obstetric hemorrhage as the fourth leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018-2020, with significant racial disparities in transfusion rates, and notes that between 54% to 90% of hemorrhage-related deaths are preventable. The workbook includes extensive resources for implementation including assessment tools, quantification worksheets, stage-based guidelines, simulation training materials, and patient debriefing forms, and provides trauma-informed guidance for supporting patients and families after hemorrhage events.
Keywords: Hemorrhage; Postpartum hemorrhage; Obstetric complications; Emergency medical services; Obstetric care; Quality improvement; State MCH Programs; Missouri
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Presidential Task Force on Redefining the Postpartum Visit and the Committee on Obstetric Practice
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Promising models of care and best practices
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This Committee Opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provides comprehensive clinical guidance on optimizing postpartum care delivery. It outlines a new paradigm that reimagines postpartum care as an ongoing process rather than a single encounter, recommending initial contact within 3 weeks after birth followed by a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks postpartum. The document details essential components of postpartum care including physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, infant care, contraception, and chronic disease management, while emphasizing the importance of tailoring care to each woman's needs and circumstances to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Guidelines; Resources for professionals;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: This patient safety bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of health care facilities and resource levels to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients with perinatal mental health conditions. It provides broad direction for incorporating perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, intervention, referral, and follow-up into maternity care practice across health care settings. Components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Mental health; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This resource workbook for healthcare providers addresses integrating mental health care into obstetric settings to improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum people. It presents evidence-based guidance including universal screening recommendations for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder at multiple points during the perinatal period, with particular emphasis on screening for bipolar disorder prior to initiating antidepressant treatment due to risks of mania, psychosis, and suicide. The workbook advocates for behavioral health therapy as the priority treatment for mild to moderate conditions and stresses the importance of trauma-informed care, anti-racism training, and addressing social drivers of health to create safe environments for disclosure and treatment. It includes the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Perinatal Mental Health Conditions patient safety bundle components organized into readiness, recognition and prevention, response, reporting and systems learning, and respectful care categories. The publication highlights Missouri data showing mental health conditions as the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 to 2020, with suicide deaths doubling and all mental health-related deaths found to be preventable. Resources include screening tools, provider toolkits, educational materials, and information about the Missouri Maternal Health Access Project, a statewide perinatal psychiatry access program.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Mental health; Service integration; Obstetrical care; State Initiatives; Missouri
Author: Ohio Perinatal Mental Health Task Force
Publisher/Producer: Columbus, OH: Ohio Perinatal Mental Health Task Force
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Health equity and access to care
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This perinatal mental health screening protocol and briefing guide is designed to provide a culturally responsive framework for screening Black birthing persons. The protocol aims to address the urgent need for improved screening and quality care for this population, which is at higher risk for perinatal depression and anxiety. Informed by focus groups with Black birthing people, Black birth workers, perinatal service providers, and a literature review, the guide outlines five key steps for conducting screenings: fostering an atmosphere of trust and safety, starting a conversation, providing choice and transparency, discussing results with patients, and making referrals with follow-through. The briefing includes considerations for providers before screening, such as assessing biases, serving with cultural humility, understanding community fears and stigma, and recognizing common phrases used to indicate anxiety or depression. The protocol also provides guidance on establishing an organizational screening process and building culturally responsive referral partnerships.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Child birth; Blacks; Mental health; Screening; Culutral sensitivity; Protocol; Quality improvement; State initiatives; Ohio
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This toolkit provides actionable information, algorithms, and clinical guidance to support detection, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Included is a summary of perinatal mental health conditions; patient screening and treatment guidance; a how-to guide on integrating mental health care into obstetric practice; and educational resources for providers, patients, and families. The toolkit was developed by the UMass Chan Medical School and reviewed by members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Maternal Mental Health Expert Work Group.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Mental health; Obstetrical care; Service integration;
Perinatal mental health: A guide to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). (2nd ed.)
Author: Cox J, Holden J, Henshaw C
Publisher/Producer: London, United Kingdom: Gaskell
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
Annotation: This book is intended to provide readers in different countries with updated and accessible information on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a 10-item self-report scale devised as a screening questionnaire to improve the detection of postnatal depression in the community. The EPDS has been translated into a number of languages, and 20 of the translated versions appear in the book. The book also offers readers information on the use of the EPDS in primary and secondary care. It provides an overview of postnatal depression, discusses the origins and development of the EPDS, addresses international and cultural issues, addresses use of the EPDS in research, discusses counseling and other interventions, talks about EPDS screening and intervention services, and explains how to use the EPDS. Two appendices include the original EPDS and 20 translations, in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Japanese, Maltese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Keywords: Maternal health; Women's health; Postpartum depression; Mental health; Screening; Translations; Primary care; Secondary care; Cultural factors; Intervention; Counseling; International health; Research; Questionnaires; I; Spanish language materials; Asian language materials; Non English language materials;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This clinical recommendation shares evidence regarding the benefits and risks of physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Keywords: Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Physical activity; Exercise; Guidelines;
Author: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This online education course for health providers provides a standard approach to postpartum pre- and post-discharge education for all patients, regardless of risk factors. Course participants are educated about the United States maternal morbidity and mortality crisis, definitions, causes, and contributing factors. The course provides participants with strategies to educate patients and their families to recognize post-birth warning signs.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Maternal mortality; Prevention programs; Professional training;
Author: The University of North Carolina, Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health, 4th Trimester Project
Publisher/Producer: Chapel Hill, NC: Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health, 4th Trimester Project
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Workforce training and development
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This clinical checklist, presented in both video and text formats by a nurse practitioner, provides tips and guidance for healthcare teams and maternal and child health (MCH) professionals speaking with new parents about sex and intimacy after delivery. The resource explains how providers can improve the traditional six-week postpartum visit by addressing their own biases and using the recommended "B" assessment (covering Brain, Breasts, Belly, and Bottom) to gather necessary historical and mental health information. The checklist advocates for redefining the statement "you can resume sex" to be more inclusive and person-centered, discussing non-penetrative intimacy, and referring patients to experts like pelvic floor physical therapists. This Clinical Tool addresses important postpartum recovery topics including Mental Health/Hormones and Family Planning/Contraception, and also lists external resources for sexual wellness.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Guidelines; Sexuality; Sexual behavior; Family planning; Contraception; Resources for professionals;
Author: Moldenhauer, JS; Merck & Co. Inc.
Publisher/Producer: Rahway, NJ: Merck Manuals
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Secondary URL:
Consumer version
Annotation: This medical reference chapter describes postpartum care and associated disorders during the 6-week period after childbirth (puerperium). It details normal physiologic changes that occur postpartum, including vital signs, vaginal discharge patterns, uterine changes, and laboratory parameters. The chapter outlines routine postpartum care protocols, preventive measures like vaccinations and Rh immunization, and major complications such as hemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders, and psychiatric conditions. Written for healthcare professionals, it provides evidence-based guidelines for monitoring, early detection of problems, and management of common postpartum complications, with specific recommendations for both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. A link to related patient education is included.
Keywords: Postpartum women; Puerperium; Postpartum care; Postpartum depression; Guidelines; Standards; Evidence based medicine; Resources for professionals; Patient education;
Author: Lopez-Gonzalez, DM, Anil K. Kopparapu AK
Publisher/Producer: Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This online reference presents an overview of the postpartum period, including important health considerations and common concerns such as incontinence, hemorrhoids, postpartum depression, and intimate partner violence. The reference outlines the recommended components of postpartum care, including the timing of postnatal visits, and discusses factors that influence the likelihood that new mothers will attend preventive checkups. Health issues that arise during pregnancy and the leading causes of maternal mortality are also addressed. The reference includes postpartum care recommendations released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the importance of nursing, allied health, and interprofessional team strategies to improve postpartum health care and reduce rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. A list of references is included.
Keywords: Postpartum period; Postpartum care; Guidelines; Maternal mortality; Prevention;
Author: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This online resource for nurses and obstetric healthcare providers provides evidence-based education and clinical tools for managing health during the postpartum period. It features online courses on post-birth warning signs and includes guidance for identifying and treating complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, severe hypertension, and diabetes. The resource includes risk assessment tools, clinical practice guidelines, and practice briefs covering the care of late preterm infants and safe sleep initiatives. Discussion also addresses supporting lactation during parent-newborn separation and providing perioperative care for individuals having cesarean births. Resources for post-birth warning signs are also available in Arabic, Haitian Creole, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish
Keywords: Postpartum care; Professional training; Resources for professionals; Guidelines;
Author: Saldanha IJ, Adam GP, Kanaan G, Zahradnik ML, Steele DW, Danilack VA, Peahl AF, Chen KK, Stuebe AM, Balk EM.
Publisher/Producer: Rockville, MD: U.S. Agency for Healthccare Research and Quality
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Health equity and access to care
Secondary URL:
executive summary
Annotation: This systematic review addresses healthcare for postpartum individuals within 1 year
after pregnancy. It addresses the comparative benefits and harms of (1) alternative strategies for postpartum healthcare delivery, and (2) extension of postpartum health insurance coverage or improvements in access to care. The target audience includes policymakers, Ob/Gyn's, Midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, family medicine clinicians, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other providers of care or support for postpartum individuals.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Healthcare delivery; Prevention services; Health insurance; Evidence based medicine
Author: Paladine HL, Blenning, CE, Strangas Y
Publisher/Producer: Leawood, KS: American Academy of Family Physicians
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Health equity and access to care
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Secondary URL:
https://georgetown.box.com/s/g711fyjlipkvg1xf2mijvv0m1qq8stdd
Annotation: This article for family physicians provides a clinical approach to managing the postpartum period, or fourth trimester, for women and their families. It describes the diagnosis and treatment of medical complications such as secondary postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, and thromboembolic disease. The document also addresses screenings for postpartum depression and intimate partner violence, along with guidance for common concerns including breastfeeding, urinary incontinence, and contraception. Substantial recommendations are included for the timing of clinical evaluations, emphasizing the initiation of care within three weeks of delivery and the completion of a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment within 12 weeks
Keywords: Postpartum care; Protocols; Resource for professionals;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: The Postpartum Discharge Patient Safety Bundle was revised in 2021 to incorporate respectful concepts and data collection tools. The bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes during a critical period in which patients are at risk for maternal morbidity and mortality. It emphasizes the importance of establishing systems for scheduling timely postpartum visits, screening for risk factors, providing standardized discharge education about warning signs including mental health concerns, and ensuring patients receive a comprehensive discharge summary. It also highlights the importance of coordinated clinical pathways between inpatient and outpatient settings, trauma-informed care, and addressing biases that affect quality of care. Bundle components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Standards; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing evidence-based practices to improve postpartum care during the transition from hospital discharge to outpatient follow-up. It summarizes trends in U.S. maternal mortality, with more than 50% of pregnancy-related deaths occurring in the postpartum period. The workbook outlines ACOG's updated recommendations for postpartum care as an ongoing process through 12 weeks after birth, including an initial visit within 3 weeks and a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks. It presents Missouri-specific data on the timing and causes of pregnancy-related deaths, low postpartum visit attendance rates, and shortages of obstetric and mental health providers. Key objectives and strategies are provided for improving postpartum transitions, such as implementing discharge templates and processes, increasing postpartum visit attendance, screening for medical and mental health conditions, providing linkages to specialist and community-based care, and leveraging Medicaid coverage extensions. The AIM Postpartum Discharge Transition Bundle components and resources for implementation are included.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Patient discharge; Quality improvement; Health care disparities; Guidelines; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: AWHONN
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: The Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Risk Assessment Table is designed to guide clinicians in assessing a patient's risk for postpartum hemorrhage at three critical time points: admission, pre-birth (approximately 30-60 minutes prior to giving birth), and upon admission to postpartum. Risk factors are categorized as low, medium, or high at each stage, with specific criteria listed for each category. The document provides guidance on adjusting a patient's risk level if they develop additional risk factors and outlines anticipatory interventions and blood bank orders appropriate for each risk category at the different assessment times. The table is intended to guide clinical decision-making in conjunction with clinical judgment and hospital policy.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Hemorrhage; Risk assessment; Resources for professionals
Author: The University of North Carolina, Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health, 4th Trimester Project
Publisher/Producer: Chapel Hill, NC: Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health, 4th Trimester Project
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This Postpartum in Practice tool for clinicians, program directors, and health care teams offers resources and supports to improve the way postpartum care is provided to all women. Specific resources available on the page include the Postpartum in Practice Bulletin and Postpartum Billing and Coding Information. These documents are available in a printable/booklet/flyer format. The site also provides access to Postpartum Toolkit materials that are available for free printing and shipping.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Mental health; Substance use; Screening; Contraception; Clinical coding; Resources for professionals;
Author: American Heart Association
Publisher/Producer: Dallas, TX:
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: These recommendations from the American Heart Association provide a framework for enhancing postpartum systems of care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The document outlines strategies for standardizing clinical education, defining the postpartum period as one year, and evaluating cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. It emphasizes the importance of patient-centered holistic care through collaboration with midwives and doulas and advocates for 12 months of comprehensive health coverage for all postpartum people. Discussion also covers identifying social determinants of health and improving data collection through a national database for quality performance
Keywords: Postpartum care; Maternal morbidity; Maternal mortality; Prevention; Health care systems; Guidelines;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Workforce training and development
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing preconception and interconception care, which focuses on optimizing the health of individuals before and between pregnancies to improve maternal and infant outcomes. It summarizes the evidence on the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors prior to pregnancy, such as chronic disease management, nutritional status, substance exposure, and preventive health services. The workbook highlights concerning trends in maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S., with stark racial disparities, and presents Missouri-specific data on conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity that contribute to adverse outcomes. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for key components of preconception and interconception care across health care settings, including family planning, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, breastfeeding support, and depression screening. The workbook offers clinical tools and resources for providers to implement this care to promote optimal health for birthing people.
Keywords: Preconception care; Primary care; Health care disparities; Risk factors; Prevention; Guidelines; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Legislation and policy development
Annotation: This statement presents the position of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) on the importance of mitigating the causes and outcomes of structural racism and bias in maternity care settings. It includes background information on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health and a call to action for perinatal nurses who play a crucial role during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Policy recommendations are included.
Keywords: Maternal health; Perinatal care; Nurses; Racism; Health care disparities; Social bias; Policy
Author: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Publisher/Producer: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This web page for obstetric healthcare providers presents clinical guidance on the use of antiviral medications to treat and prevent influenza during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It describes the increased risk of severe complications for individuals during these stages and outlines strategies for identifying symptoms such as fever and respiratory issues. The web page recommends early empiric treatment with oseltamivir and provides evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of various antiviral drugs. Additional sections cover protocols for antiviral chemoprophylaxis following exposure and recommendations for counseling patients on rapid access to medical evaluation
Keywords: Pregnancy; Puerperium; Influenza; Prevention; Therapeutics; Medications; Guidelines;
Author: Women's Preventive Services Initiative
Publisher/Producer: Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Secondary URL:
Spanish
Annotation: This educational resource is designed to assist clinicians in providing preventive health services for well women. Included are standards of care and screening recommendations to assess general physical and mental health and to detect infectious disease, cancer, or health issues that may arise during pregnancy and postpartum. The rationale for different types of screenings, specific recommendations on ages and frequency of screening, clinical guidance for practitioners, and references are provided for each of the preventive care services.
Keywords: Women's health; Disease prevention; Preventive health services; Health screening; Standards;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Promising models of care and best practices
Annotation: This online resource outlines the “Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy (PATH)" recommendations developed by an independent panel of maternal care experts convened by the University of Michigan and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Based on a review of existing evidence, the site provides how-to guidance on prenatal care delivery and links to related resources for providers. An embedded 90-minute webinar presents an overview of ACOG's Redesigning Prenatal Care initiative and a roadmap to engage communities in the process.
Keywords: Maternal health; Prenatal care; Pregnancy; Evidence based medicine; Professional education; Guidelines
Author: UMass Chan Medical School
Publisher/Producer: Worcester, MA: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
Annotation: This web page from the Lifeline for Moms program at UMass Chan Medical School provides resources to help obstetric settings integrate perinatal mental health care into their everyday workflow. The main resource is an Overview Guide, available in two versions: a self-guided version and a remote support version that includes additional materials for virtual meetings with Lifeline for Moms consultants. The Guide includes assessment documents, tools for scheduling implementation and creating practice goals, workflow documents, screeners and scorers for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and self-harm, and resources for developing referral directories and patient handouts. The page also offers an Obstetric Care Clinician Packet with reference materials and patient handouts, as well as a 4-part online training module for obstetric care clinicians and staff. Individual files for each component of the Guide are available for download.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Mental health; Service integration; Obstetrical care; Resources for professionals;
Author: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This toolkit provides resources for implementing respectful maternity care (RMC) practices to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes. It features a 10-Step "C.A.R.E. P.A.A.T.T.H." approach emphasizing fundamental rights of women, newborns, and families while promoting equitable access to evidence-based care. Developed by AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses), the toolkit addresses how provider attitudes and implicit biases may affect care quality, particularly during intrapartum and postpartum periods. Resources include clinical practice guidelines, a role-playing video demonstration, patient-facing materials in multiple languages, and implementation tools available at different price points for members and non-members.
Keywords: Maternal health; Implicit bias; Prevention; Health care disparities; Physician patient relations; Quality improvement; Resources for professionals;
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM)
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Secondary URL:
printable patient safety bundle
Annotation: This patient safety bundle was revised in 2023 to incorporate respectful care concepts, revise existing elements, include new elements related to evidence-informed practices, and update data collection plans. The bundle provides actionable steps to support labor and care processes that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and safely reduce cesarean births. Implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules are included on the website. Some materials are available in English, Spanish, and French.
Keywords: Cesarean section; Vaginal birth; Childbirth; Obstetrical care; Safety; Quality improvement; Prevention; Data collection; Protocols; Measures; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Community outreach and engagement
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing strategies to safely reduce primary cesarean births. It summarizes the evidence on the rising cesarean rates in the U.S., which have increased risks for maternal morbidity and mortality, neonatal complications, and disparities, particularly among Black and Indigenous populations. Key strategies are outlined for promoting vaginal births and reducing medically unnecessary cesareans, including improving education and shared decision-making, supporting intended vaginal births through evidence-based practices, managing labor abnormalities, using data to drive practice changes, and integrating midwives and doulas into birth care teams. The workbook highlights concerning data on cesarean rates and disparities in Missouri and provides action steps for implementation of the AIM Safe Reduction of Primary Cesarean Birth Bundle among Missouri maternal health stakeholders. Resources and references are included for further education and training on supporting vaginal birth.
Keywords: Cesarean section; Vaginal birth; Health care disparities; Trends; Obstetrical complications; Risk factors; Safety; Guidelines; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Cincinnati, OH: Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This Naloxone toolkit is designed for nurses, obstetrical providers, and pharmacists to address unintentional overdose, which is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in Ohio, particularly in the postpartum period. Developed with input from patient partners, including those with lived experience with substance use and postpartum patients without such history, the toolkit aims to foster systems and culture change by integrating Naloxone education and access into postpartum discharge processes to prevent overdose-related maternal mortality. The resource provides guidance for clinicians on how to normalize conversations about Naloxone and offers a discussion guide, emphasizing the use of non-stigmatizing and person-first language to reduce stigma and increase patient comfort. Key sections include a toolkit implementation checklist for hospitals, educational points to cover with patients, an overview of the clinical pharmacology of Naloxone, and a detailed navigation guide for accessing free Naloxone kits in Ohio via mail-order, pharmacies, and distribution sites.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Drug abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Pharmacotherapy; Resources for professionals;
Author: Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Chicago, IL: Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This fact sheet from the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) promotes scheduling early maternal health safety checks within two weeks postpartum to improve care for new mothers. It presents data showing that 80% of pregnancy-associated deaths in Illinois between 2014-2016 occurred in the year following birth, with 24% occurring within 42 days postpartum before the traditional six-week visit. The fact sheet outlines key elements of these early postpartum safety checks, describes the aim and strategies of the ILPQC Improving Postpartum Access to Care (IPAC) Initiative launched in May 2019, and shares early successes from participating hospitals.
Keywords: Perinatal care: Postpartum care: Safety; Quality improvement; State initiatives; Standards; Illinois
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on the screening and diagnosis of perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, acute postpartum psychosis, and the symptom of suicidality. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Mental health; Depression; Annxiety; Mood disorders; Screening; Diagnosis; Guidelines;
Author: US Preventive Services Task Force
Publisher/Producer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This recommendation statement from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updates their 1996 guidelines on screening for preeclampsia during pregnancy. The document provides clinical considerations, assessment of benefits and harms, and evidence supporting the recommendation that all pregnant women be screened for preeclampsia with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy (B recommendation). It explains that preeclampsia affects approximately 4% of pregnancies in the United States and is the second leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, with African American women experiencing case fatality rates three times higher than white women. The statement includes details about screening approaches, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors, emphasizing the importance of regular blood pressure measurements during prenatal visits. It also discusses treatment options for diagnosed preeclampsia, including close fetal and maternal monitoring, antihypertension medications, and magnesium sulfate.
Keywords: Screening; Guidelines; Preeclamsia;
Author: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Montana Coalition
Publisher/Producer: Helena, MT: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Montana Coalition
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
Annotation: This screening protocol for primary care providers discusses mental health screening options and available tools, administration of the screening tool and how it is presented, evaluated, and
addressed with the patient; how to respond to a positive screen; and where to refer patients who need additional treatment, support, or services.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Primary care; Mental health; Protocols; Screening; Referrals;
Author: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This issue brief describes the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders and explains how this treatment model can be integrated into care delivery.
Keywords: Pregnant women; Postpartum women; Substance abuse; Screening; Substance abuse prevention; Substance abuse treatment services; Drug abuse programs; Model programs; Service integration.
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: The "Sepsis in Obstetric Care" patient safety bundle provides guidance for health care teams to develop coordinated, multidisciplinary care for pregnant and postpartum people by preventing infection and recognizing and treating infection early to prevent progression to sepsis. Included are actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients experiencing sepsis. The bundle is organized into five domains: Readiness, Recognition and Prevention, Response, Reporting and Systems Learning, and Respectful, Equitable, and Supportive Care. Individual components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules.
Keywords: Mental health; Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Obstetrical complications; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Oregon Perinatal Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Oregon Perinatal Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Nonclinical postpartum care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
Annotation: This toolkit from the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative provides guidance for clinical and non-clinical teams caring for pregnant and postpartum individuals with hypertensive disorders to improve processes, outcomes, and clinical decision-making, and to promote quality and equity in care. Organized around the "5 R's" framework (Readiness, Recognition & Prevention, Response, Reporting & Systems Learning, and Respectful, Equitable, and Supportive Care), the toolkit offers specific recommendations and resources for various settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, prenatal/postpartum clinics, public health home visiting, doulas, and community midwives. Quality improvement tools and operational considerations are included to support implementation. The toolkit was developed with input from a focus group of Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander individuals who experienced pregnancy-related severe hypertension or preeclampsia in Oregon, and their insights and recommendations are summarized in the appendix. Additional resources, such as diagnostic criteria for hypertensive disorders, are also provided.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Prenatal care; Hypertension; Quality improvement; State initiatives; Oregon
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Secondary URL:
Annotation: This patient safety bundle provides actionable steps that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients experiencing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The bundle was revised in 2022 to incorporate respectful care concepts, revise existing elements, include new elements related to evidence-informed practices, and update data collections plans. Components include implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package, " and learning modules.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Postpartum care; Hypertension; Obstetrical complications; Screening; Prevention; Maternal mortality; Maternal morbidity; Prevention; Quality improvement; Evidence-based medicine; Safety; Protocols; Data collection; Measures; Health care quality indicators; Health metrics; Resources for professionals;
Author: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Publisher/Producer: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Chronic health conditions/mortality and morbidity drivers
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) patient safety bundle on severe hypertension in pregnancy. It summarizes the evidence on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including classifications, diagnostic criteria, and treatment recommendations from ACOG, with a focus on timely treatment of severe hypertension (≥160/110 mm Hg) with first-line antihypertensive medications within 30-60 minutes to prevent maternal stroke. The workbook discusses considerations in diagnosing and managing preeclampsia, which can progress rapidly and become life-threatening without prompt intervention. It highlights data on hypertensive disorders from the Missouri Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review and provides action steps for implementation of the AIM bundle among Missouri maternal health stakeholders. Resources and references are included for further education and training.
Keywords: Hypertension; Pregnancy induced hypertension; Maternal health; Prenatal care; Perinatal care; Guidelines; Resources for professionals; State initiatives; Missouri
Author: University of Wisconsin--Madison
Publisher/Producer: Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Workforce training and development
Annotation: This handbook provides guidance for hospitals and health systems interested in implementing STAC, a remote patient monitoring program that helps new mothers with hypertension-related diagnoses safely monitor and treat their blood pressure from home. It describes the program, its benefits, and the research demonstrating its efficacy in reducing postpartum readmissions. The document outlines the core elements of STAC, including daily needs, equipment requirements, enrollment criteria, and the roles of physicians, nurses, and enrollment staff. It also details the processes for patient onboarding, daily nurse assessments, and program completion. The handbook includes treatment algorithms, proper blood pressure measurement techniques, and appendices with program workflows, checklists, consent forms, tip sheets, and documentation templates. Additionally, it provides a sample job description, training plans, and scripts for patient communication.
Keywords: Postpartum; Hypertension; Remoting patient monitoring; Telemedicine
Author: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This report describes strategies for implementing regionalized risk-appropriate maternal care across the United States through a levels of maternal care (LoMC) classification system. It examines key implementation components including facility assessment and verification, establishment of regional care networks, maternal transport systems, quality improvement processes, and data monitoring approaches. The report highlights challenges faced by rural facilities, the role of telemedicine, and the importance of addressing health equity in maternal care systems. Using case studies from various states and health systems, it provides specific recommendations for building sustainable LoMC systems nationally, including establishing a coordinating center, expanding funding mechanisms, and improving payment structures for obstetrical care.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Risk appropriate care; Risk factors; Classification; Reproductive health;
Author: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center
Publisher/Producer: Chapel Hill, NC: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Infrastructure development, financing, and expansion of services
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
- Promising models of care and best practices
Annotation: This evidence-to-action brief focuses on Action 1.4 of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which aims to strengthen risk-appropriate care in rural and urban areas by encouraging states to implement the CDC Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe). The document explains that LOCATe is a web-based, standardized assessment of birthing facilities that allows states to see the distribution of levels of care throughout the state, supporting perinatal regionalization to ensure pregnant people receive care in facilities with appropriate capabilities. It presents maternal mortality data showing significant racial disparities, with non-Hispanic Black women being 2.6 times more likely to experience maternal death compared to non-Hispanic White women in 2021, and highlights that more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts. The document includes examples of state maternal health innovations and evidence-based strategies, emphasizing that risk-appropriate care implementation should occur alongside efforts to address unconscious racial bias in healthcare to effectively reduce severe maternal morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Maternal morbidity; Maternal mortality; Prevention; Regional factors; Rural health; Urban health; Health facilities; Birthing centers; Standards; Data;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Health equity and access to care
Annotation: This Clinical Consensus document offers guidance for maternity care professionals and their teams on implementing a transformative approach to prenatal care delivery for pregnant and birthing individuals. It mandates conducting a comprehensive prenatal needs assessment, including medical, social, and structural drivers of health, ideally before 10 weeks of gestation or when the pregnant individual first presents for care, and utilizing shared decision making to develop individualized care plans. The consensus details recommendations across three core areas for modernizing care: addressing unmet social needs by coordinating assistance and adjusting care delivery to improve accessibility; tailoring the frequency of prenatal visits and monitoring schedules based on the individual's medical and social needs; and incorporating alternative care modalities such as telemedicine and group prenatal care. Developed using a Clinical Consensus methodology informed by systematic reviews, the guidance seeks to improve access, experience, and health outcomes, particularly for individuals marginalized by racism, socioeconomic status, and geography, in an effort to promote health equity
Keywords: Prenatal care; Pregnancy; Access to care; Risk factors; Guidelines;
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee on Obstetric Practicer
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
Secondary URL:
shows reaffirm date
Annotation: This committee opinion provides recommendations to help pregnant women eliminate or reduce the use of tobacco and nicotine products that can be harmful to their unborn child. It describes the various methods of nicotine intake and discusses effective screening methods and evidence-based interventions that obstetricians-gynecologists can apply in their practice. This opinion was reaffirmed in 2023.
Keywords: Smoking cessation; Smoking during pregnancy; Nicotine; Tobacco; Prevention programs; Pregnant women;
Author: Smith H, Peterson N, Lagrew D, Main E
Publisher/Producer: Stanford, CA: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
- Promising models of care and best practices
Secondary URL:
summary
Annotation: This toolkit to support vaginal birth and reduce primary cesarean sections includes evidence-based tools and resources to support pregnant patients who transfer to the hospital from a community birth center and to effectively integrate midwifery care and doula support into the hospital setting. The toolkit serves as a “how to” guide to help educate and motivate maternity clinicians to apply best practices to support vaginal birth. Included are strategies to (1) improve the culture of care, awareness, and education for cesarean reduction; (2) support intended Vaginal Birth; (3) manage labor abnormalities and safely reduce cesarean births; and (4) use data to drive reduction in cesareans. Twenty appendices include checklists, guidelines, partograms, performance measures, and assessment tools for healthcare providers.
Keywords: Pregnant women; Cesarean section; Childbirth; Vaginal birth; Labor; Doulas; Midwives; Prevention; Birthing Centers; Hospitals Quality assurance; Model programs; California
Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Annotation: This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on treatment and management of perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and acute postpartum psychosis, with a focus on psychopharmacotherapy.
Keywords: Perinatal care; Prenatal care; Postpartum care; Mental health; Depression; Annxiety; Mood disorders; Therapeutics; Therapy; Disease management; Psychotropic drugs;
Author: Nguyen AT, Curtis KM, Tepper NK, Kortsmit K, Brittain AW, Snyder EM, cohen MA, Zapata LB, Whiteman MK,
Publisher/Producer: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Health equity and access to care
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Secondary URL:
pdf in English
Annotation: This report provides evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for health care providers regarding the safe use of specific contraceptive methods by persons who have certain characteristics or medical conditions. The recommendations, which were updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following a review of scientific evidence and a meeting with national experts in Atlanta, Georgia, during January 25–27, 2023, replace the 2016 U.S. MEC and are intended to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception while supporting noncoercive, person-centered counseling. The guidance includes four classification categories (U.S. MEC 1 through 4) that health care providers can use to assess eligibility for methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs), combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), and permanent contraception. This report is also available in Spanish
Keywords: Chronic illnesses and disabilities; Contraception; Contraceptive devices; Family planning; Safety; Guidelines;
Author: United States of Care
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Community outreach and engagement
- Nonclinical postpartum care
Secondary URL:
Interactive Map
Annotation: This report outlines United States of Care's comprehensive framework for the postpartum care of all women, regardless of insurance coverage. Grounded in community engagement, literature reviews, and discussions with maternal health thought leaders, the vision integrates diverse insights to establish the essential components of healthcare for new mothers. It specifies that women should receive personalized care tailored to their needs, including ongoing provider visits, interdisciplinary care teams, and data-informed care; comprehensive, whole-person care addressing all aspects of well-being, including social needs, mental health, substance use, and access to services like home visiting and contraception; and understandable, easy-to-navigate care, such as community supports and postpartum care plans. The document provides an overview of the current landscape, evidence-based guidance, and bright spot programs and policies for each postpartum care component, as well as the health benefits and return on investment.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Health planning; Community participation; Outreach; Guidelines; Measures; Medicaid; State initiatives; Models; Policy;
Author: Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Publisher/Producer: Los Angeles, CA: Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Universal screening tools and billing codes
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Behavioral/mental health services and substance use
Annotation: This issue brief provides an overview of universal screening for maternal mental health disorders, which are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth. The brief outlines the importance of screening in identifying at-risk mothers and enabling early treatment. It discusses commonly recommended screening tools for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and psychosis, as well as considerations for screening in racially and ethnically diverse populations. The document reviews recommendations from professional organizations on when and how often screening should occur, highlighting the role of obstetricians as primary screeners. Barriers to screening and follow-up care are addressed, including mental health provider shortages, reimbursement challenges, and the bifurcated mental health system. The brief also covers recent developments such as the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage and the creation of a HEDIS quality measure to track screening rates.
Keywords: Maternal health; Mental health; Mental disorders; Screening; Measures; Resources for professionals
Author: Management of Pregnancy Work Group
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Quality, performance, and outcome indicators
Annotation: This clinical practice guideline provides information about the relationships between various care options and health outcomes in the management of pregnancy. Topics include approaches to care of pregnant women in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense; recommendations, including for oral health care during pregnancy; routine pregnancy care; referral indications; emerging topics; and research priorities.
Keywords: Oral health; Pregnant women; Research; Referral; Health care; Treatment outcomes;
Author: Women's Preventive Services Initiative
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC:
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
Secondary URL:
English
Annotation: This chart provides a framework for clinicians to integrate clinical screenings and interventions into practice based on age, health status, and risk factors. It outlines evidence-based guidance for adolescent and adult women, including specific recommendations for care during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Major topics include screenings for general health conditions such as anxiety and diabetes, infectious disease risk assessments, and cancer detection strategies. The document also addresses clinical practice considerations, such as risk assessment methods and the appropriate frequency for delivering specific services. Available in English and Spanish.
Keywords: Women; Prevention; Screening; Guidelines; Standards;
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher/Producer: Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Promising models of care and best practices
Annotation: This is a consolidated guideline of new and existing recommendations on routine postnatal care for women and newborns receiving facility- or community-based postnatal care in any resource setting. It provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for care during the postnatal period, focusing on the essential package that all women and newborns should receive. This guideline updates and expands upon the 2014 WHO recommendations on postnatal care of the mother and newborn, and complements existing WHO guidelines on the management of postnatal
complications. The recommendations are intended to inform the development of relevant national and subnational health policies, clinical protocols and programmatic guides.
Keywords: Postpartum care; Postnatal care; Maternal health; Infant health; Newborns; Guidelines; World health
Author: Women's Preventive Services Initiative
Publisher/Producer: Washington, DC: Women's Preventive Services Initiative
Postpartum Topic(s):
- Clinical consensus, guidelines, protocols
- Data collection, measurement, analysis
Annotation: This coding guide provides clinical guidance and administrative instructions for clinicians and healthcare staff responsible for documenting preventive services for adolescent and adult women. It offers specific coding strategies using CPT, HCPCS Level II, and ICD-10-CM code sets for various health screenings, including breast and cervical cancer, anxiety, diabetes, and intimate partner violence. The document details implementation considerations for recommendations adopted by the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative, such as contraception, breastfeeding supplies, and obesity prevention in midlife women. Appendices provide specialized billing information for Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as updated protocols for reporting preventive telemedicine services
Keywords: Women; Prevention; Screening; Clinical coding; Standards; Resources for professionals;
