Below, you can view the new parent health information one-pager, along with an overview for ideas to introduce and use the tool in practice. These are helpful for clinics to distribute at discharge or during postpartum visits.
My Care Team
During pregnancy, most women have a series of clinic visits with their health care provider – the closer to birth, the appointments become more frequent. After childbirth this is often a different story. The focus of check-ups shifts to the baby with many women not even getting a postpartum check up.
New recommendations are for postpartum women to have ongoing clinical support instead of waiting weeks or months for medical attention. Women deserve quality health care services right when they need it. This section includes information about postpartum care, clinical specialists, and has suggestions for how to get what you need.
What is the most important thing to know? If you don’t feel right, ask for help. If your concerns aren’t taken seriously, insist on attention. This can be hard to do. You might be afraid about how you will be perceived and for good reason. But you matter and if your current health care team isn’t helpful, don’t be afraid to call someone else who will listen to you.
Topics in My Care Team
Communicating with Your Health Team
Communicating with Your Health Team
Talking with health care providers can be hard. If you are lucky to have had an opportunity to develop a good relationship with your doctor, midwife or nurse practitioner before and during pregnancy, it will be easier to talk with them during your postpartum visit(s). Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that make it difficult to trust […]
Finding the Care You Deserve
Finding the Care You Deserve
It is very important that new moms feel comfortable talking to their providers when they have questions or concerns. We at the 4th-trimester project promote woman centered care. “Woman-centered” care means that your provider should listen to you, respect you, and respond to you in a timely manner. You should always feel free to contact […]
Maternal Health Warning Signs: When to Call 911 and When to Call Your Provider
Maternal Health Warning Signs: When to Call 911 and When to Call Your Provider
Maternal Health Warning Signs video reel series with Nurse Nikki Video part 1: When to call 911 – maternal health warning signs that are urgent and considered a medical emergency. Video part 2: When to call your provider – maternal health warnings signs where you need to contact and connect with a health care team member and address with […]
Postpartum and Intimacy Checklist
Postpartum and Intimacy Checklist
< Resources Nurse Nikki shares a checklist for health care teams to use while speaking with new moms about sex and intimacy. As health care providers for pregnant and postpartum families, we often stick to what we know. Maybe your job is helping families get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have a healthy birth. Or maybe […]
Postpartum Care Plan
Postpartum Care Plan
Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a Care Plan for care team members and birthing parents to customize and tailor recovery. < Resources
Postpartum Health Care
Postpartum Health Care
Traditionally, the postpartum visit takes place 6-8 weeks after the birth of a baby. Given all that happens to women’s bodies in the early weeks after giving birth, many women find that visit to be too little and too late. There are also many women who never receive a postpartum visit! The American College of […]
Postpartum in Practice: Practice Guidelines and Billing
Postpartum in Practice: Practice Guidelines and Billing
Clinical Tool to cover postpartum care best practices and billing/coding
Postpartum Plan for New Parents
Postpartum Plan for New Parents
Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a checklist and guidance for new mothers to create their own postpartum plans. During labor and delivery, mothers typically have their plans in place to address what they need to feel safe and supported during childbirth. Once the baby is born, however, the mother […]
Postpartum Visit Checklist
Postpartum Visit Checklist
The postpartum visit is an important time to listen and thoughtfully engage with new parents. To support mom-centered care, the 4th Trimester Project team has tested, adapted, and launched the postpartum visit checklist. New mothers often have to work hard to make it to their postpartum visit. For some, this may be the last health […]
Postpartum Visit(s)
Postpartum Visit(s)
To have confirmation that you are recovering and transitioning well in the 4th Trimester and to address any concerns, utilize your health care team. This might mean asking questions through an online form or patient “portal”, calling a nurse line, and also being seen in-person. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that health […]
Taking Care of You
Taking Care of You
Postpartum Recovery Booklet on a variety of health and self-care topics
Telehealth Visits: What to Expect
Telehealth Visits: What to Expect
Telehealth or telemedicine has become a new normal since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health care offices are moving some services to phone or video so patients can connect to their care team using a phone, tablet, or computer. Typically, clinics have different ways you can meet with your provider, such as video chat, phone call, […]
Types of Health Care Providers
Types of Health Care Providers
When women are pregnant, they generally see an OB/GYN, a midwife, or a family medicine provider for their health care. Usually, these providers are responsible for your postpartum care. Some women also receive group prenatal care with (hopefully) a reunion about 6 weeks after everyone has given birth. After your postpartum visit, it may […]
When to Call for Help
When to Call for Help
Did you know some problems during pregnancy and after childbirth can happen up to a year postpartum? Knowing the urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms is important for you and the people you love. Contact your medical care team immediately if you have any signs or symptoms below. Don’t wait for office hours! The CDC […]