Postpartum Health & Safety

New & Expecting Families:

The postpartum period can be both a beautiful and overwhelming time. You have a new baby to love and bond with and also lots of recovering to do. Even if you feel great postpartum, it is so important that you attend your postpartum visits to ensure that you are healing properly after birth. Also, make sure you continue to follow up with your primary care provider to maintain your health even after the postpartum period. You have to take care of yourself in order to care for your new bundle of joy!

There are many health and safety tips to consider before, during, and after pregnancy. The best place to get this information is from your prenatal care provider. The following health and safety tips do not include everything you need to know about postpartum, but the FIMR team felt these specific topics were important to emphasize to the public. We encourage pregnant/postpartum individuals, as well as their support systems, to review this information, know the important warning signs, and talk to their doctor about any health concerns. 

1. Post-birth Warning Signs: The body experiences lots of changes during pregnancy and postpartum. We want to make sure you know the warning signs that indicate when additional care is needed. Review the post-birth warning signs from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) so you will know what to do to keep yourself safe and healthy. It is available in various languages.

2. Postpartum Depression: Not everyone experiences postpartum depression but for those that do, we want you to know that it is a normal, hormonal response and there are trained professionals ready to help you at the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. You can call or text 1-833-852-6262 at any time of day/night for free, confidential support in English or Spanish.

Postpartum Support is available online at Postpartum Support International. You can also find other support groups near you in the appropriate Community Resources tab.

Community Partners:

If you work professionally with new and expecting families, we encourage you to have the handouts in this list available to your clients. Even if you do not provide medical care, knowing important resources and warning signs can assist with getting your clients the help they need.