Immediate postpartum care in low- and middle-income countries: a gap in health care quality research and practice

The immediate postpartum period carries significant risks of complications such as postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis. Postpartum monitoring, including taking vital signs and monitoring blood loss, is important for early identification and management of complications, but many women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) receive minimal attention between childbirth and facility discharge. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released new guidelines on postnatal care, which include recommendations for immediate postpartum monitoring. In light of the new guidelines, this is an opportune moment to address gaps in postpartum monitoring in LMICs. In this commentary, we bring attention to the importance of immediate postpartum monitoring. We identify opportunities for strengthening this often over-looked aspect of maternity care through improvements in quality measurement and data availability, research into barriers to high quality care, and innovations in service delivery design.