Postpartum care for parent-infant dyads: A community midwifery model

Ariana Thompson-Lastad; Jessica M Harrison; Tanya Khemet Taiwo; Chanda Williams; Mounika Parimi; Briana Wilborn; Maria T Chao

doi:10.1111/birt.12822

Postpartum care for parent-infant dyads: A community midwifery model

Birth. 2024 Apr 8. doi: 10.1111/birt.12822. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ariana Thompson-Lastad^{1

2}, Jessica M Harrison¹, Tanya Khemet Taiwo³, Chanda Williams¹, Mounika Parimi⁴, Briana Wilborn⁵, Maria T Chao^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Osher Center for Integrative Health, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
² Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
³ Department of Midwifery, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, USA.
⁴ School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
⁵ Department of Family Health Care Nursing (*alum), School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.

PMID: 38590170
DOI: 10.1111/birt.12822

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum health is in crisis in the United States, with rising pregnancy-related mortality and worsening racial inequities. The World Health Organization recommends four postpartum visits during the 6 weeks after childbirth, yet standard postpartum care in the United States is generally one visit 6 weeks after birth. We present community midwifery postpartum care in the United States as a model concordant with World Health Organization guidelines, describing this model of care and its potential to improve postpartum health for birthing people and babies.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 34 community midwives providing care in birth centers and home settings in Oregon and California. A multidisciplinary team analyzed data using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: A total of 24 participants were Certified Professional Midwives; 10 were certified nurse-midwives. A total of 14 midwives identified as people of color. Most spoke multiple languages. We describe six key elements of the community midwifery model of postpartum care: (1) multiple visits, including home visits; typically five to eight over six weeks postpartum; (2) care for the parent-infant dyad; (3) continuity of personalized care; (4) relationship-centered care; (5) planning and preparation for postpartum; and (6) focus on postpartum rest.

Conclusion: The community midwifery model of postpartum care is a guideline-concordant approach to caring for the parent-infant dyad and may address rising pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Keywords: community midwifery; parent–infant dyad; perinatal health equity; postpartum care.

Abstract

Grants and funding