Postnatal Care

The postnatal period is the time from delivery of baby till the first 42 days. Risks of maternal and newborn deaths are greatest during the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. Therefore, Providing Postnatal Care (PNC) to recently delivered mothers is quite essential during this period . The most critical period for both mother and newborn baby in terms of their survival is the time around the childbirth and the immediate postpartum period where more than half of the maternal and newborn deaths occur. Postnatal care is one of the recommended interventions to reduce the maternal and newborn deaths during postpartum period. Women delivering in a health facility should remain for observation for the first-24-hour period, and those who deliver at home need close observation as well, preferably by a Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA). According to the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, a woman should have at least four Antenatal Care (ANC) visits and three PNC visits by heath workers whether delivered at home or at health facility: first PNC visit within 24 hours, second and third PNC visits on the third and seventh day respectively [2,6]. Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal provides maternal and child health (included ANC, delivery and PNC) care from the network of its health system extended up to the community level. District Hospitals, primary health care centers, health/sub-health posts are the key service providing institutions at district and peripheral level in Nepalese health care system. (Paudel M, Khanal V, Acharya B, Adhikari M (2013) Determinants of Postnatal Service utilization in a Western District of Nepal: Community Based Cross Sectional Study)

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Last date updated on June, 2025