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Self-Reported Health Problems of Birthing Persons During the First and Second Postpartum Years: Scope and Correlates
Sudhathai Sirithepmontree1,2, Lina Palomares1, Lorraine O Walker1
1School of Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Women experience diverse postpartum health issues, including depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary problems, persisting into the second year. Postpartum care should extend beyond the first year to address these ongoing health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Women's Health
- Postpartum Care
Background:
- Postpartum health issues are varied and can persist beyond the initial year after childbirth.
- Understanding the spectrum of women's health concerns in the second postpartum year is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the range and prevalence of postpartum health problems experienced by women.
- To compare postpartum health issues reported in the first (2-12 months) and second (13-22 months) postpartum years.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 427 women who gave birth within the past 2 to 22 months.
- Qualitative content analysis and non-parametric statistics were used to analyze open-ended responses on health problems and quantitative health ratings.
Main Results:
- The most common issues included depression/anxiety, musculoskeletal problems, and genitourinary disorders.
- No significant differences in the number of physical or mental health problems were found between the first and second postpartum years.
- Physical and mental health problems were correlated with each other and with body mass index and self-rated health.
Conclusions:
- Women report a wide array of postpartum health problems that do not significantly decrease in the second year postpartum.
- These findings highlight the necessity of extending postpartum healthcare services into the second year to adequately support women's ongoing health needs.
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