Australian Postnatal Care Guidelines

Published by Living Evidence for Australian Pregnancy and Postnatal Care (LEAPP) on Jun 19, 2025

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This guideline is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
© Commonwealth of Australia

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Abstract

Citation: Australian Living Evidence Collaboration. Australian Postnatal Care Cuidelines. 2025 [version 6.1]. Available from:
https://livingevidence.org.au/living-guidelines/leapp

Language

en-au

PICOS

PICO 10.1

Population
Postpartum mothers (either high risk for CB-PTSD or general sample)
Intervention
Secondary preventions (psychological therapies provided after childbirth up to 1 month postpartum before PTSD diagnosis can be confirmed)
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Women who are breastfeeding
Intervention
Not consuming alcohol
Comparator
Consuming alcohol
Outcomes

PICO 10.1

Population
Healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies
Intervention
Breastfeeding support as part of maternal/child healthcare
Comparator
Usual care 2022
Outcomes

PICO 10.2

Population
Postpartum mothers (either high risk for CB-PTSD or general sample)
Intervention
Trauma-focused therapies
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.2

Population
Post-cesarean women in early postpartum period
Intervention
Nipple stimulation using breast pump
Comparator
Standard care
Outcomes

PICO 10.3

Population
Postpartum mothers
Intervention
Interventions delivered within 72 hours following traumatic birth
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.3

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Probiotics
Comparator
Placebo
Outcomes

PICO 10.4

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Antibiotics
Comparator
Topical treatments
Outcomes

PICO 10.5

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Antibiotics
Comparator
Placebo or usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.6

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Topical treatments
Comparator
Breastfeeding advice
Outcomes

PICO 10.7

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Mupirocin ointment
Comparator
fusidic acid ointment
Outcomes

PICO 10.8

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Specialist breastfeeding education
Comparator
usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.9

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Hydrothermally processed cereal with anti-secretory factor-inducing properties
Comparator
standard cereal
Outcomes

PICO 10.10

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Acupoint massage
Comparator
routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.11

Population
Postpartum breastfeeding women
Intervention
Breast massage and low frequency pulse treatment
Comparator
routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.12

Population
Healthy mother of healthy term infants
Intervention
Additional health professional contact
Comparator
Less contact
Outcomes

PICO 10.13

Population
Prospective mothers who are about to raise a newborn (healthy or preterm); mothers willing to learn about parenting
Intervention
Directed training on newborn care strategies such as infant nursing knowledge and breastfeeding skills
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.14

Population
Postpartum women
Intervention
Any intervention primarily designed to achieve relaxation through mind-stress reduction
Comparator
Usual care
Outcomes

PICO 10.15

Population
Lactating women
Intervention
Natural products
Comparator
Breast milk
Outcomes

PICO 10.16

Population
Neonates
Intervention
Use of pacifier
Comparator
Restricted use of pacifier
Outcomes

PICO 10.17

Population
New and expectant fathers
Intervention
Health education on breast feeding
Comparator
Maternal education only
Outcomes

PICO 10.18

Population
Pregnant or postnatal women
Intervention
Breastfeeding education and support
Comparator
Usual or other care
Outcomes

PICO 10.19

Population
Women in the early postpartum period
Intervention
Pyridoxine
Comparator
Cabergoline or bromocriptine
Outcomes

PICO 10.20

Population
Treatments for suppression of lactation
Intervention
Bromocriptine or cabergoline
Comparator
Placebo
Outcomes

PICO 10.21

Population
Treatments for suppression of lactation
Intervention
Pharmacologic treatment
Comparator
nonpharmacologic treatment
Outcomes

PICO 10.22

Population
Treatments for suppression of lactation
Intervention
Comparison of two pharmacologic treatments
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 10.23

Population
Treatments for suppression of lactation
Intervention
High
Comparator
low dose cabergoline
Outcomes

PICO 10.24

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Compress treatments
Comparator
other treatments/routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.25

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Medical treatment
Comparator
placebo
Outcomes

PICO 10.26

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Cold gel packs
Comparator
routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.27

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Massage-based therapies
Comparator
other treatments/routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.28

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Other treatments
Comparator
other treatments/advice/routine care
Outcomes

PICO 10.29

Population
Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation
Intervention
Ultrasound
Comparator
sham ultrasound
Outcomes

PICO 20.1

Population
Postnatal women
Intervention
Validated depression assessment tool
Comparator
Any other tool or any scale of a given tool
Outcomes

PICO 30.1

Population
Postnatal women
Intervention
Validated anxiety assessment tool
Comparator
Any other tool or any scale of a given tool
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Postnatal women
Intervention
Validated psychosocial assessment tool
Comparator
Any other tool or any scale of a given tool
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Women with preeclampsia
Intervention
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Comparator
Paracetamol
Outcomes

PICO 40.1

Population
Mothers of non-hospitalised term infants
Intervention
Pharmacological oral galactagogues
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 40.2

Population
Mothers of non-hospitalised term infants
Intervention
Natural oral galactagogues
Comparator
Placebo or no treatment
Outcomes

PICO 40.2

Population
Women with preeclampsia
Intervention
Routine use of loop diuretics in the postpartum period
Comparator
Placebo
Outcomes

PICO 40.3

Population
Women with preeclampsia
Intervention
Beta blockers (Labetalol 200–800 mg BD OR 100–1200 mg QID)
Comparator
Calcium channel blockers (controlled release nifedipine 30–90 mg daily)
Outcomes

PICO 40.4

Population
Women with preeclampsia
Intervention
ACE-1 inhibitor (enalapril 5 mg daily for 1 week, 10 mg daily for 2 weeks and 20 mg daily maintenance dose)
Comparator
Placebo
Outcomes

PICO 40.5

Population
Women with preeclampsia
Intervention
ACE-I (captopril maximum of 150 mg daily)
Comparator
Clonidine maximum of 0.6 mg daily
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Pregnant women with syphilis
Intervention
At least one dose of 2.4 million units (1.8g) penicillin
Comparator
No or inadequate treatment
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Healthy mothers and term infants
Intervention
Early discharge (≤24 hours)
Comparator
Standard or late discharge
Outcomes

PICO 50.1

Population
Postnatal women
Intervention
Routine family violence screening
Comparator
No screening
Outcomes

PICO 50.2

Population
Women disclosed family violence
Intervention
Post disclosure expectation
Comparator
NA
Outcomes

PICO 50.2

Population
Healthy mothers and term infants
Intervention
Earlier (6-48h) first postnatal contact by midwife
Comparator
Later (49-72h) first postnatal contact by midwife
Outcomes

PICO 50.3

Population
Healthy mothers and term infants
Intervention
Schedules involving more home visits
Comparator
Schedules involving fewer home visits
Outcomes

PICO 50.3

Population
Perinatal women
Intervention
Any family violence screening tool
Comparator
Any alternative tool
Outcomes

PICO 50.4

Population
Healthy mothers and term infants
Intervention
Different models of care
Comparator
Standard models of care
Outcomes

PICO 50.4

Population
Perinatal women
Intervention
Paper-pencil screening
Comparator
Tablet based screening
Outcomes

PICO 50.5

Population
Perinatal care provider
Intervention
Training on FV screening
Comparator
No training/pre-intervention
Outcomes

PICO 50.5

Population
Healthy mothers and term infants
Intervention
Home care
Comparator
Facility postnatal care
Outcomes

PICO 60.1

Population
Parents who have experienced perinatal loss
Intervention
Communication
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 60.2

Population
Parents who have experienced perinatal loss
Intervention
Memory making
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 60.3

Population
Parents who have experienced perinatal loss
Intervention
Culturally appropriate care
Comparator
Outcomes

PICO 60.4

Population
Parents who have experienced perinatal loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, ectopic pregnancy, or termination of pregnancy (TOP) due to detection of fetal health problems or fetal abnormality)
Intervention
Nonpharmacological interventions (cognitive based interventions: CBT, mindfulness, meditation, metaphors, and education related to perinatal loss and coping skills, counseling, supportive interventions: emotional and informational support, mind–body exercise: mindfulness/meditation and Yoga and interpersonal psychotherapy)
Comparator
Usual care/ Alternative treatment
Outcomes

PICO 60.5

Population
Women who have experienced stillbirth
Intervention
Contact with baby
Comparator
No contact with baby
Outcomes

PICO 80.1

Population
Test
Intervention
Test
Comparator
Test
Outcomes