The postnatal period which is usually defined as the first six weeks after birth, is critical to the health and survival of a mother and her newborn. The most vulnerable time for both is during the hours and days after birth. Lack of care in this time period may result in death or disability as well as missed opportunities to promote healthy behaviors, affecting women, newborns, and children.

Mothers get stressed mothers, so emotional and psychosocial support should be available to reduce the risk of depression.

At least one in four child deaths occur during the first month of life. These deaths
often take place before child health services begin to provide care, usually at six weeks for the first immunization visit for example, the lack of support for healthy home behaviors, such as breastfeeding, can have ongoing effects on the child in terms of undernutrition. There is a need to provide integrated maternal and newborn care in the postnatal period.