Focus on postpartum care transitions: a pathway to improve perinatal health

Maternal morbidity and mortality rates are rising in the United States, with many of those deaths occurring in the postpartum period (defined as up to 1-year after birth), often from preventable causes. Traditional postpartum care includes a single follow-up visit around 6-weeks post-birth, and is often too late to prevent many postpartum complications, is often poorly attended by patients, and leaves critical gaps in care. In this article, the authors describe emerging strategies to improve care transitions in the postpartum period—including dyadic and whole-family care models, virtual care, and home visiting programs—that offer holistic and supportive postpartum care approaches.

Duke Scholars

Author Rebecca Garr Whitaker Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy