Childbirth, while a profound and joyous event, can lead to long-term health complications for mothers that persist for months or even years after delivery, according to a recent study. Published in The Lancet Global Health and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), the research estimates that globally, more than a third of women—equivalent to at least 40 million women—may encounter long-term health issues following labor and childbirth each year.
The study identifies a range of post-natal conditions that extend beyond the conventional six-week period post-childbirth. The most prevalent complications reported by women include painful intercourse, low back pain, unintentional passing of urine and feces, anxiety, depression, fear of childbirth, perineal pain, and secondary infertility.
Less common but severe conditions also noted in the study encompass pelvic organ prolapse, post-traumatic stress disorder, thyroid dysfunction, breast inflammation, and nerve injury, among others.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, emphasized the considerable and enduring impact of these conditions on women’s daily lives. She stated, “Many postpartum conditions cause considerable suffering in women’s daily life long after birth, both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognized, and underreported.”
The study indicates that even women with an uncomplicated vaginal birth may experience post-partum complications, highlighting significant “knowledge gaps” regarding medium- and long-term conditions arising from childbirth.
The authors of the paper, part of a series on maternal health, underscore the need for policymakers and healthcare providers to reassess current post-natal care services and explore improvements. They advocate for more comprehensive health service opportunities extending beyond the conventional six weeks postpartum, incorporating multidisciplinary models of care.
Calling for increased funding to prevent and manage medium- and long-term consequences of labor and childbirth, the authors stress the importance of providing women with access to a range of services throughout their lives. This approach aims to ensure not only the survival of childbirth but also the enjoyment of good health and quality of life beyond motherhood.
In a related context, a report from October highlighted the alarming rate of maternal traumas in Canada resulting from the use of forceps and vacuum delivery tools during labor, including severe perineal and cervical tears. Among high-income nations, Canada demonstrated the highest incidence of maternal trauma associated with forceps or vacuum extraction tools during deliveries, according to the analysis published in the British Medical Journal.
