This is the part of my paper which dives into postpartum as per the data/statistical analysis. It essentially says that women in Australia and internationally. Feel they are left to figure it out in terms of caring for their babies after being constantly checked on and assessed through out pregnancy —

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2010), the postpartum period poses the most substantial risk to both mother and baby, but receives less attention from healthcare providers than pregnancy and childbirth. It is also acknowledged by WHO that major changes occur during this sensitive period, and these changes determine the well-being and potential for a healthy future, for both mother and baby.

Women in a Western setting, tend to understand the importance of the postpartum period in terms of how overwhelmed and underprepared they can be (Martin et al, 2013). A prospective observational study of postpartum women in Australia identified that, women experience significant morbidity in the early weeks postpartum that can continue well into postpartum life. The extent of which may have been underestimated in previous research (Cooklin et al, 2015).

On the contrary, postpartum period care is something traditional Chinese culture sees as imperative for the health of baby and most importantly for the future health of the mother (Yeh, St John & Venturato, 2016). From a Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) perspective, the first six weeks after the birth of baby is seen to be a woman’s most vulnerable time mentally, physically and emotionally and therefore a network of support is deemed essential (Allison, 2016; Ou, Greeven, & Belger, 2016).

Statistics:
Postpartum period statistics
Australian postpartum period statistics
Per Humphrey et al (2015), maternal death review is one of the oldest forms of clinical care quality assurance. From the latest published statistics on postpartum maternal deaths (those within the first 42 days after birth) in Australia there were, 7.1 deaths per 100,000 women and 13.8 deaths per 100,000 for indigenous women. The leading cause of maternal death was due to psychosocial causes including suicide. Followed by obstetric haemorrhage, thromboembolism and hypertensive disorders. The leading cause of indirect maternal deaths was cardiovascular disease.

According to the Australian Bureau of statistics compilation from 1999 to 2008, complications during labour and the postpartum period account for the most deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018).

International postpartum period statistics
As reported by Rudman and Waldenstrom (2007), hospital postpartum period care in Sweden has been evaluated as consistently more negative than assessments of other prenatal care. This study underlined the need to discuss and specify the aims of the postpartum period and the ability to provide high-quality follow-up care after childbirth. This becomes more difficult as the length of hospital stay is reduced in combination with an increased demand of information and personalised care from the public.
The most recent report on maternal deaths in the United Kingdom (UK), (2010-12) demonstrated that 10.1 deaths per 100,000 live births occurred. The National Maternity and

Perinatal Audit data presented, that 2.7% of women giving birth to a singleton, term baby will haemorrhage 1500ml of blood or more. (National Maternity and Perinatal Audit, 2017). Additional epidemiological research in the UK demonstrated that, for 2016-17 80% of women who birthed at 37weeks gestation or later had skin-to-skin contact with their baby within one hour of birth and 74% of babies received maternal or donor breast milk as their first feed. However, breastfeeding prevalence at six to eight weeks postpartum averaged 44.4% (NHS, 2017).

In United States of America (USA) from 2006-2010 the pregnancy related mortality ratio was 16.0 deaths per 100,000 live births. Large disparities existed between different ethnic groups and age, as noted maternal-mortality rate increased with age. During this period haemorrhage related deaths were on the decline however cardiovascular and infection related deaths increased (Creanga et al, 2015).

Per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 83% of babies born in 2015 were breastfed at some point. Which is a 7% increase from 2009. However, by three months 47% were exclusively breastfed and only 25% by six months (CDC, 2018).

Postpartum period clinical ailments
One of the most common severe ailments affecting women, which can have detrimental effects on the health of a new mother and her baby during the postpartum period, includes postnatal depression (PND) (Buist et al, 2008; Khajehei & Doherty, 2017).
However, the most common ailments affecting women during the postpartum period include fatigue, back pain, breast-feeding dysfunction, urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, constipation, hemorrhoids, sexual dysfunction, anemia, and perineal trauma (Cooklin et al, 2015; Khajehei & Doherty, 2017; Rouhi et al, 2016; Priddis et al 2013). The importance of understanding these morbidities is their persistence to recur during the first 18months postpartum and their potential to have long-term consequences on maternal health (Woolhouse et al, 2012) if not supported in a way that the mother feels nourished and held.

For example PND, the most well-known ailment regarding the postpartum period that accounts for a large percentage of maternal deaths (Humphrey et al, 2015) may result in depressive symptoms recurring throughout the first year, of motherhood (Buist et al, 2008, Khajehei & Doherty, 2017).

Postpartum period from a Western cultural perspective
According to Martin et al (2013) Western mothers feel underprepared for the changes that occur in the postpartum period and see prenatal education as necessary, yet lacking.
The professional practical advices, emotional care and information regarding maternal health offered postpartum from midwives, is perceived as postive (Fenwick, 2010). However, with the average length of hospital stay postpartum in Australia, at 2.8 days in 2002, and on a consistent decline, the information that is needed regarding baby and self-care may be reduced. This inturn according to Weigers (2006) causes a reduction in new parent’s confidence, leaving new parents anxious and unsatisfied (Zadoroznyj et al, 2015).

Furthermore, according to Martin et al (2013) postpartum period support to aid in recovery is deficient, and there is a perpetuating sense amongst mothers that once baby is born, you are left for six weeks to deal with everything on your own.

Quality care affects Western women who birth in public and private hospitals, as stated by Zadoroznyj et al (2015), public birthing women in Queensland, Australia had issues with the quality of care and length of stay in the hospital. Whereas, private birthing women were concerned with the lack of discharge information. Additionally, both public and private birthing women were unhappy regarding their breastfeeding support. However, according to Bodribb et al (2015) public birthing mothers, have higher satisfaction rates regarding postpartum period support.

What has shown promise is the importance of a trained health visitor within the first six to eight weeks postpartum, who identifies and delivers a psychologically informed session, with the emphasis on mother rather than baby (Dennis & Dowswell, 2013). However, the level of this care is highly variable.