Evaluation on postpartum day 1 should begin with a brief review of the prenatal and labor and delivery course. Particular attention should be paid to those issues that may impact immediate postpartum care. Maternal laboratory values from the prenatal period should be reviewed. Particular note should be made of Rh status, maternal infection (urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted disease, and rubella and varicella immune status). Medical complications of pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes, and infection, should be noted.

Complications of delivery including prolonged labor and delivery method and immediate postpartum complications such as hemorrhage, uterine atony, or maternal fever should be reviewed. The management of these conditions and current status of each should be noted.

A variety of medical conditions such as an abnormal Pap smear may be uncovered in the prenatal course of management. These conditions will usually be deferred until after pregnancy. When present, these medical conditions should be noted. In addition, the management of a variety of medical conditions may have been modified during the course of pregnancy. Examples of this might include a change in hypertension medication or the discontinuation of antiseizure medications. When such changes have been made, the postpartum history should include prepregnancy treatment management as well as the management regimen implemented during pregnancy.