In this episode, we talk to Dr Holly Smith, Research Fellow in Perinatal Mental Health based at the Department of Primary Care and Population Health at University College London. 

Title of paper: The first 100 days after childbirth: cross-sectional study of maternal clinical events and health needs from primary care

Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0634

The first 100 days after childbirth are a crucial time for women as they recover mentally and physically from pregnancy and birth. Previous studies have sought to identify common postnatal conditions and symptoms women may experience after birth, but no studies, to the authors’ knowledge, have used electronic health records from primary care to examine women’s actual care use in this time. The current study found that women most commonly use primary care for: a post natal check or visit, monitoring (such as a blood pressure reading), and contraception. The study adds useful knowledge on women’s primary care use following childbirth.