Best practices for post natal care in Zimbabwe.

The purpose of post natal care for the mother is to avert or alleviate significant mortality and morbidity. During the immediate post partum period, the emphasis will be on monitoring to detect complications and assisting the mother to initiate care of the newborn, especially breastfeeding. In the latter post partum period, the aim is to confirm involution and healing of the genital tract, confirm continued good newborn care by the mother and offer protection against pregnancy to the couple.