Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

SESSION 7: POSTPARTUM CARE
OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:
1. Describe normal changes during the postpartum period
2. Explain the purpose of postpartum visits
3. Name the prescribed schedule for postpartum visits
4. Explain the importance of birth-spacing and post-partum contraception
TRAINING METHODS: Discussion, Role-play
TIME: 60 minutes
MATERIALS:
Trainer documents:
• Normal Changes During the Postpartum Period
• Women’s Needs During the Postpartum Period
Participant document:
• Counseling on Birth Spacing and Family Planning
INSTRUCTIONS
I. NORMAL CHANGES DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD (15 minutes)
Introduce the session by referring to the last session and the fact that how a woman takes
care of herself and the care she receives while pregnant are both extremely important to
the eventual outcome of the pregnancy. Add that the postpartum period, and the care the
mother receives during this time, is also very important to both the mother’s health as
well as the health of her newborn baby. Explain that this session will focus on
postpartum care for the mother and that the following two sessions will focus on newborn
care and breastfeeding.
Describe the post-partum period: the period of six weeks or forty days after delivery.
This is a time:
• In which the woman's body returns to its normal state
• When the woman adjusts to a new way of life with the newborn.
• Of rest and recovery after pregnancy and childbirth.
Ask participants:
‣ What changes take place in the woman’s body after delivery?
Complete the list, if necessary, and explain the changes briefly, using the trainer
document Normal Changes During the Postpartum Period.
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 7: Postpartum Care