Talk:Postpartum physiological changes

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This article was nominated for merging with Postpartum period on 20 March 2018. The result of the discussion was Keep separate.

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Barbara (WVS) ✐ ✉ 13:12, 31 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Immune function section[edit]

Hi,

Regarding this paragraph:

Immune function is assessed immediately after the birth. Clinicians test for immunity to rubella, Hepatitis B, Rh, varicella and the presence of antibodies against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.^[1]

This surprises me. I have several questions:

Does this mean that after birth, it is routine for the mother to get a blood test to assess whether she is immune to rubella, etc.? I have never heard of this being done.
Why do postpartum women need to have their immune function assessed?
Are there any other sources that support these statements?

Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 06:51, 17 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

References

^ Henry, p. 122.

There continue to be cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in children and adults; the postpartum period is seen as a moment of opportunity to assess and vaccinate women might not otherwise be engaged in primary care. This has been standard practice for a long time. — soupvector (talk) 00:21, 20 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I've cleaned up that section a bit, but I'm not certain that it belongs in this article (perhaps better suited to an article about postpartum care); the bit about Rh D may, because it relates to a biological process that can happen in Rh-negative moms, but this "immunizations" chapter isn't primarily about physiological changes. — soupvector (talk) 02:19, 20 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

That makes sense, thanks! I also agree the section doesn't belong in this article. Having it in this article makes it sound as if physiological changes in the mother compromise her immune function. Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 03:34, 20 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed; on the contrary, the postpartum period is a time during which the mother's immune system recovers from the immune suppression of pregnancy (e.g. PMID 17918082). — soupvector (talk) 03:56, 20 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Do you know if this is standard practice outside the U.S.? Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 05:34, 21 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

[FOOTNOTEHenry122-1] Henry, p. 122.

[1]