In this Study Session, you have learned that:

• A postnatal period complicated by health problems on the mother is called abnormal puerperium.
  
• You should evaluate the mother and the baby during the postnatal period and within 24 hours after delivery. Assess the mother for any active vaginal bleeding, any signs of post natal hypertension.
• Asses the baby for breastfeeding if he is sucking well or not, any yellowish discoloration, fever, hypothermia, respiratory distress, any bleeding from the umbilicus, any signs showing the infection of the umbilicus, and infection of the umbilicus.
• If you have got some of these danger signs either on the mother or the baby, you have to refer them to the nearby higher health institution as soon as possible.
  
• Vaginal bleeding which occurs immediately after the third stage of labour up to six months of the postnatal period is called postpartum haemorrhage. It is classified into two main categories based on the time of its occurrences, such as early postpartum haemorrhage and late postpartum haemorrhage with regardless of the cause. And regarding its cause, it can also be classified into atonic, and traumatic postpartum haemorrhage mainly.
  
• Puerperal sepsis is any infection disseminated into the different parts of the body through the blood stream that can cause a serious illness in the mother during the postnatal period.This can occur as a result of retained placental remnants, previous prom, poorly managed episiotomy, or tear, maternal STI, and pelvic inflammatory diseases on the mother.