Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Book

Physiology, Postpartum Changes

Gaurav Chauhan  1 , Prasanna Tadi  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
Affiliations
Free Books & Documents
Book

Physiology, Postpartum Changes

Gaurav Chauhan et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The postpartum period is the period after delivery of conceptus when maternal physiological and anatomical changes return to the nonpregnant state. The postpartum period, also known as puerperium, starts following the expulsion of the placenta until complete physiological recovery of various organ systems. The postpartum period is divided into 3 arbitrary phases, ie, the acute phase - the first 24 hours after delivery of the placenta; early – up to 7 days; and late – up to 6 weeks to 6 months. Each phase has its unique clinical considerations and challenges.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Gaurav Chauhan declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Prasanna Tadi declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Romano M, Cacciatore A, Giordano R, La Rosa B. Postpartum period: three distinct but continuous phases. J Prenat Med. 2010 Apr;4(2):22-5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brown JS, Posner SF, Stewart AL. Urge incontinence: new health-related quality of life measures. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1999 Aug;47(8):980-8. - PubMed
    1. Bystrova K, Matthiesen AS, Vorontsov I, Widström AM, Ransjö-Arvidson AB, Uvnäs-Moberg K. Maternal axillar and breast temperature after giving birth: effects of delivery ward practices and relation to infant temperature. Birth. 2007 Dec;34(4):291-300. - PubMed
    1. Nathan HL, El Ayadi A, Hezelgrave NL, Seed P, Butrick E, Miller S, Briley A, Bewley S, Shennan AH. Shock index: an effective predictor of outcome in postpartum haemorrhage? BJOG. 2015 Jan;122(2):268-75. - PubMed
    1. Matthys LA, Coppage KH, Lambers DS, Barton JR, Sibai BM. Delayed postpartum preeclampsia: an experience of 151 cases. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 May;190(5):1464-6. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources