Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on maternal health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025
Year of Publication2023
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Updated
Recommended
Certainty of evidence
Very low
A minimum of four postnatal care contacts is recommended. If birth is in a health facility, healthy women and newborns should receive postnatal care in the facility for at least 24 hours after birth. If birth is at home, the first postnatal contact should be as early as possible within 24 hours of birth. At least three additional postnatal contacts are recommended for healthy women and newborns, between 48 and 72 hours, between 7 and 14 days, and during week six after birth.