GPAtlas🧭 When to offer the maternal postnatal check
The 6–8 week postnatal check is a universal, scheduled review offered to every woman after birth.
• NICE NG194 specifies, for the first time, that the maternal check should be carried out by a GP.
• In England it is a contractual requirement.
• It is a separate consultation from the baby’s newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) at the same age.
The check is a genuine screening opportunity, not a formality.
• Most maternal deaths in the UK occur after birth, with mental illness a leading cause.
• Postnatal depression and anxiety affect 15–20% of women in the first year.
• Much postnatal morbidity – low mood, incontinence, painful sex, domestic abuse – is under-reported.
• The skill is to ask proactively across every domain and never miss a time-critical complication.
| Domain | What the check should cover |
|---|---|
| Mental health | • Mood, anxiety, sleep and bonding • Case-find with the two depression-identification (Whooley) questions and GAD-2 (the 2-item generalised anxiety scale) • Stay alert for postpartum psychosis |
| Physical recovery | Vaginal bleeding (lochia), perineal or Caesarean wound healing, bladder and bowel function, fatigue and possible anaemia, and blood pressure after any hypertensive disorder. |
| Pelvic health | • Urinary or faecal incontinence, prolapse symptoms and dyspareunia • Reinforce pelvic floor exercises |
| Contraception | Fertility can return from about day 21 – discuss and offer an effective method (see Contraception after birth). |
| Ongoing conditions | Close the loop on pregnancy-related disease: gestational diabetes (GDM), hypertension, venous thromboembolism, thyroid and complex social factors. |
Source: NICE NG194 · NHS England GP contract
🔒 Sign up free to read the full topic
You're viewing a free preview. Create a free account to unlock the rest.
Sign up free →Sample topics are open to everyone in the Free Sample Bundle.