Two people who need follow-up
In the first days after childbirth, the baby naturally receives considerable attention. Breastfeeding or other feeding needs to be established, weight monitored and the baby examined. Meanwhile, the woman may be experiencing bleeding, pain, stitches, sleep disruption, strong emotions and questions about her body.
Postpartum care should support both woman and baby. The Norwegian Directorate of Health's national guideline describes discharge, home visits and follow-up checks. It was updated on 29 October 2026.
For the woman, a useful check-up can range from examining a birth injury to discussing fatigue, mental health, sexuality or blood loss.
What follow-up is recommended after discharge?
The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends follow-up after childbirth and a check-up with a midwife or doctor four to eight weeks later. Timing should reflect health and individual needs. Women can generally choose between their GP and a midwife.
The check-up should consider the birth and the woman's physical and mental health. Complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, depression or chronic illness may require particular follow-up with a GP or specialist.
There should also be room for questions about healing, pain and whether a pelvic examination is needed. A woman's own experiences matter, even when she struggles to describe symptoms.
How did women experience postpartum care?
The Norwegian Directorate of Health surveyed women's experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum services in 2024 and 2025. More than 13,000 responses were received in the main survey.
In the main survey, 72% reported being satisfied with their hospital postpartum stay to a large or very large extent. At the same time, information about the woman's own health on the postpartum ward had an average score of 60 out of 100, the lowest indicator score in the main survey.
These are different measurements. The 72% is the share of women responding positively to a satisfaction question. The score of 60 out of 100 is a converted average across several questions about information and reflects an average assessment.
The findings show that many women had positive experiences while information about their own health deserves more attention.
What happens with home visits?
In the national summer survey in 2025, 46% of women who gave birth in June and July reported having had no home visit from a midwife. In the main survey, approximately one in three reported the same. The proportions without a home visit from a public health nurse were 14% and 10%, respectively.
The samples consist of different women, and the survey measures reported visits. These figures need to be interpreted alongside other forms of healthcare and possible explanations for differences. They nevertheless provide a basis for asking how follow-up is organised and what women need after returning home.
Which health concerns should there be room to discuss?
After childbirth, relevant topics can include bleeding, pain, pelvic floor symptoms, wound healing, urinary leakage, sleep, mental health and nutrition. Some women also need ongoing assessment after pregnancy complications.
Blood loss can contribute to anaemia. A Norwegian study of 573 women found anaemia in a quarter approximately 14 weeks after birth. This finding describes the Oslo study population, while a national estimate would require representative data. It illustrates why persistent exhaustion and dizziness may warrant medical assessment.
Women may also develop thyroid disorders or depression after childbirth. These conditions call for different investigations and treatments. A postpartum check-up creates an opportunity to consider what is relevant to each woman.
What could we investigate further?
We know how many respondents report satisfaction with postpartum care and how they assess information and home visits. Those answers can support further research into how many women are diagnosed with iron deficiency, how quickly they receive help for persistent symptoms, and how their health develops over several years.
This can be explored through research, health registers, clinical expertise and women's own experiences. A crucial distinction is between what services are recommended to do, what women report receiving and which health outcomes can actually be measured.
When care begins with a woman's body and experiences, the postpartum period becomes part of a longer-term women's health perspective.