The Needs of a Postnatal Woman

(Content revised 02/2023)

It is joyful to have a new baby arriving at the family. Amidst all the happiness and exciting moments, don't forget to take good care of the mother.

A postnatal woman needs plenty of rest for her physical recovery. Her partner and family can help to speed up her recovery by helping in baby care and household chores. Hiring a ‘pei yue' or a domestic helper is another alternative. To enhance parents and caregivers’ confidence, and provide them with updated knowledge and skills on parenting, our Service has provided various health education resources. The resources include a series of ‘Happy Parenting’ booklets, audiovisual materials, e-magazine, and relevant public talks, etc.

Apart from offering practical assistance, the postnatal woman also needs psychological support from her family. Hormonal influence, role changes and demands from baby care all bring stresses to the mother after giving birth. She will be more likely to experience mood swing, tearfulness, sleep disturbance and irritability. About 50% of women will have postnatal blues 3 to 5 days after birth. Her partner and family can pay more attention to her emotional condition. Active listening, showing understanding and care are very important to the mother during the postnatal period. With sufficient rest and support from her partner, family and friends, postnatal blues will usually resolve within days. If the condition persists or gets worse, seeking professional advice without delay has to be considered.

For more information, please read the leaflet on ' Postnatal Mental Health' in this booklet. If there is any query about the care of the mother or baby, please contact the staff of MCHC or other health care professionals.