Everything Midwives Need to Know about Postpartum Women's Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Updated Evidence Review and Practical Guide

Abstract

Abstract: Clinical practices vary significantly between countries, so healthcare providers must be aware of the differences in recommendations among guidelines to give the best care possible. It is up to the clinician to decide whether and to what extent to follow guidelines, based on each patient's special situation. This study aimed to review the updated evidence regarding practical aspects required for midwives to do postpartum care for mothers and newborns during COVID-19. The relevant guidelines in English were searched through databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed, EBSCO, and Scopus, from December 2019 to May 17, 2022, using keywords of ‘puerperium ‘, ‘newborn ‘, ‘2019- nCoV’ ‘SARS-CoV-2‘, ‘coronavirus ‘, and ‘guideline‘. Recommendation reports of WHO, FIGO, RCOG, UNFPA, CDC, and APA were also searched. Out of the 40 guidelines retrieved, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Postnatal care is divided into two general categories: maternal and neonatal care. The principles of postpartum care for maternal consisted of maternal assessment, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, postnatal visits schedule, visitor restriction, vaccination, and postnatal mental support. Also, care for the neonatal included newborn assessment, visitation in the neonatal intensivecare units, breastfeeding, vaccination, circumcision, the decision for location and the separation of the newborn and mother, and discharge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, midwives and other maternal care professionals faced issues due to discrepancies between the guidelines of various global organizations. By obtaining recommendations and guidance and keeping up with the latest data, midwives can help women and their newborns get the best care possible.