1 in 3 have a Postpartum health problem (many are associated with low Vitamin D)

Created December 2023

Neglected medium-term and long-term consequences of labour and childbirth: a systematic analysis of the burden, recommended practices, and a way forward

Lancet Glob Health 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00454-0

Prof Joshua P Vogel, PhD

Jenny Jung, MIPH

Tina Lavin, PhD

Grace Simpson, MD

Dvora Kluwgant, MD

Edgardo Abalos, MD

Neglected medium-term and long-term complications arising from labour and childbirth

Over the past three decades, substantial progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality worldwide. However, the historical focus on mortality reduction has been accompanied by comparative neglect of labour and birth complications that can emerge or persist months or years postnatally. This paper addresses these overlooked conditions, arguing that their absence from the global health agenda and national action plans has led to the misconception that they are uncommon or unimportant. The historical limitation of postnatal care services to the 6 weeks after birth is also a contributing factor. We reviewed epidemiological data on medium-term and long-term complications arising from labour and childbirth beyond 6 weeks, along with high-quality clinical guidelines for their prevention, identification, and treatment. We explore the complex interplay of human evolution, maternal physiology, and inherent predispositions that contribute to these complications. We offer actionable recommendations to change the current trajectories of these neglected conditions and help achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3. This paper is the third in a Series of four papers about maternal health in the perinatal period and beyond.

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Problems include

  • Pain during sexual intercourse (35%),

  • Low back pain (32%),

  • urinary incontinence (8% to 31%),

  • anxiety (9% to 24%),

  • anal incontinence (19%),

  • depression (11% to 17%),

  • fear of childbirth (6% to 15%),

  • perineal pain (11%), and

  • secondary infertility (11%).

Other problems included

  • pelvic organ prolapse,

  • posttraumatic stress disorder,

  • thyroid dysfunction,

  • mastitis,

  • HIV seroconversion (when the body begins to produce detectable levels of HIV antibodies),

  • nerve injury, and

  • psychosis.

8+ VitaminDWiki pages have POSTPARTUM in the title

This list is automatically updated

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VitaminDWiki - Pregnancy category contains

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VitaminDWiki – Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D contains

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Having enough Vitamin D is important for women

VitaminDWiki – Pain - chronic category contains:

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Tags: Pregnancy