Guideline
WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience
- Allied health
- Breast milk and breastfeeding
- Family-integrated care
- Medical
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Newborn examination
- Nursing
- Nutrition and gastrointestinal
- Postnatal and transitional care
- Transitional care
Summary
This WHO guideline consolidates 63 recommendations on routine postnatal care for women and newborns during the first six weeks after birth, across facility and community settings in all resource contexts. It covers essential newborn and maternal clinical care, preventive, nutritional and mental health interventions, breastfeeding support and early childhood development. Health system themes include postnatal care schedules, discharge planning, home visits, continuity of care, task sharing and digital health. Recommendations were developed using GRADE and CERQual and emphasise respectful, person-centred care.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
The full text of this openly licensed guideline is available to NICUlearn members, and Neeky can answer questions from it.
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.