The 11-page "committee opinion" on "Optimizing Postpartum Care," released Monday by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, represents a fundamental re-imagining of how providers, insurers and patients can work together to improve care for women after giving birth.
Earlier, more frequent and more individualized care could be a step toward addressing the stark racial disparities in maternal and infant health, said ACOG's outgoing president, Haywood Brown, who has made reforming postpartum care one of the main initiatives of his term. Black mothers are at higher risk for many childbirth complications, including pre-eclampsia, heart failure and blood clots, and they're more likely to suffer long-lasting health consequences. They also have higher rates of postpartum depression but are less likely to receive treatment. Regardless of race, for women whose pregnancies are covered by Medicaid, the postpartum period may be their best opportunity to get help with chronic conditions before they lose insurance coverage.