Recommitting to care and support in the Fourth Trimester

RESEARCH PAPER (Summary)

Postnatal rEvolution Research Paper cover

The research paper Recommitting to care and support in the Fourth Trimester is an extensive summary of scientific evidence proving that social support is instrumental for a positive postpartum experience and well-being. The paper emphasizes the need for physical, social, emotional, and psychological support for women and families during this critical period of transition and discusses the importance of support and the most pressing gaps in the continuum of maternal healthcare. 

The well-known concept of “It takes a village to raise a child” implies that the transition to parenthood needs to be supported by peers. The paper looks deeper into understanding how this village concept can be applied within current societies, health systems and policies to ensure healthy and flourishing populations now and for future generations.

This publication, written by the Postnatal Support Network team and Reproductive Health expert Kathy Herschderfer, is the start of the Postnatal rEvolution Summit. The Summit starts at the end of November 2024 with five online expert talks, an online Dialogue Forum and a Live Event on the 1st of February in Vught, the Netherlands, initiates a collective call to all sectors and disciplines – medical professionals, birth workers and policy makers – to collaborate and take action for a unified recommitment to the Fourth Trimester.

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