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Recommendations aim to improve medical care for new mothers

Having a baby is an exciting – albeit, frightening – experience for many women. It is typically the most important event in a mother’s life, and it is crucial that she receives the care and medical attention to ensure the labor and delivery goes as smoothly as possible.

Unfortunately, for many mothers, the attention to their well-being drops off considerably after the baby is born. According to this recent report from NPR, new mothers typically go months without a doctor visit after having a child. This is far from ideal, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the group is recommending changes to address that.

Tackling a big problem

About 50,000 women experience a life-threatening complication during surgery. Women also struggle immensely with lactation problems, heart problems, depression and countless other conditions after childbirth.

Unfortunately, most women do not receive adequate medical attention or support to address these problems.

Recommendations to improve care

Recommendations from the ACOG committee would dramatically improve postpartum care for mothers. Mothers would see a doctor between three days and three weeks after having a baby, depending on their condition. They would have the opportunity to visit the doctor multiple times, and the visits would be covered by insurance.

How these recommendations would help

When new mothers can see their providers earlier and more frequently, it can be easier to address health risks she might be facing. This includes cardiovascular disease, anxiety and long-lasting consequences of childbirth complications.

Without this type of medical care and attention, serious health complications and problems could persist for months.

Sadly, many women face threats to their lives and well-being during and after childbirth. Some suffer as a result from medical errors, others suffer from inadequate care. Improving the quality of care these mothers receive could reduce the rate of serious injuries and fatality, which is something every parent and child deserves.

Whether these recommendations change the standards for care in the U.S. remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you are a mother affected by a complication during or following childbirth, it may be wise to consult an attorney to determine if your injuries stem from substandard care or medical negligence. If that is the case, you could have grounds to file a legal claim seeking damages.