Initial Postpartum Assessment Rationale

Importance of Physical Stability

• One-third of all pregnancy-related deaths occur within the first week after delivery, and 1.8% of women are readmitted for severe maternal morbidity, highlighting the need for systematic evaluation of multiple physiologic parameters to detect potentially fatal complications early, as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 1

Clinical Implementation

• The initial postpartum assessment should focus on determining physical stability, which integrates various assessments to identify women at risk for severe morbidity or mortality who require immediate intervention, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 1

Postpartum Monitoring and Assessment

Blood Pressure and Laboratory Monitoring

• The American College of Cardiology recommends monitoring blood pressure every 4-6 hours while awake for at least 3 days postpartum, as preeclampsia may develop de novo or persist 2, 3
• Laboratory monitoring, including hemoglobin, platelets, creatinine, and liver transaminases, should be repeated until stable if abnormal before delivery, according to the American Heart Association 3, 4