title: Improving Postpartum Education About Warning Signs Of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality.
abstract: Maternal morbidity and mortality rates remain high in the United States compared with other developed countries. Of particular concern is the rise in postpartum deaths, because many of the risk factors for complications associated with maternal morbidity and mortality may not be clearly identified before a woman's discharge after birth. Although nurses provide some form of postpartum discharge education to all women who give birth, the information women receive on common potential complications is not always consistent or evidence based. By improving postpartum education, nurses may be better poised to teach women how to recognize and respond to warning signs. This article describes a project intended to increase women's access to predischarge education about the risks for postbirth complications.
authors.forename: Patricia D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Suplee
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kleppel
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santa-Donato
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bingham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D063886:Patient Discharge Summaries / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: maternal morbidity; maternal mortality; postpartum complications; postpartum education; pregnancy-related death