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High-Risk Pregnancy: Postpartum Rehospitalization

Journal of Perinatology volume 22, pages 566–571 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Examine frequency, timing, and reasons for maternal postpartum rehospitalizations and acute care visits 1 year postpartum after a high-risk pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data collected during a randomized clinical trial of advanced practice nurses gives transitional care for women with high-risk pregnancies. The 171 women were primarily African American, never married, Medicaid eligible, diagnosed with pregestational diabetes (20), gestational diabetes (23), either diagnosed (48) or at risk (44) for preterm labor, and chronic hypertension (36).

RESULTS: Of the total rehospitalizations (17%) and acute care visits (32%), over one third occurred in the first 8 weeks postpartum. Chronic hypertensives and gestational diabetics had the highest rate of rehospitalization and proportion of acute care visits. Six women were rehospitalized for subsequent pregnancies.

CONCLUSION: Women with high-risk pregnancies have continued high health care resource use over the first postpartum year demonstrating the need for more intensive patient education and follow-up to improve outcomes and reduce resource use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida International University School of Nursing, North Miami, FL, USA

    Margaret S Hamilton DNS, RN, Dorothy Brooten PhD, RN, FAAN & JoAnne M Youngblut PhD, RN, FAAN

Authors
  1. Margaret S Hamilton DNS, RN
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  2. Dorothy Brooten PhD, RN, FAAN
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  3. JoAnne M Youngblut PhD, RN, FAAN
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Additional information

Funded by grant # R01 NR02897 from the National Institute for Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, to D. Brooten.

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Hamilton, M., Brooten, D. & Youngblut, J. High-Risk Pregnancy: Postpartum Rehospitalization. J Perinatol 22, 566–571 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210796

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