It Takes A Village - The Canadian Postpartum Recovery Approach for Vaginal & C-Section Mothers; A Scoping Review

Childbirth is the most frequent reason for hospitalization in Canada, with cesarean sections being the most common surgical procedure among inpatients. Given this, the postpartum recovery period is a critical aspect of health policy that needs attention. This paper uses a political economy of health research paradigm to examine the role of Canada's liberal welfare state in providing postpartum care and programs, focusing on the duration and extent of this care. Following Arksey and O'Malley's methodology, a scoping review was conducted using databases like ProQuest Sociological Abstracts, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Public Health Database, and Web of Science. The aim was to understand Canada's approach to postpartum care for both vaginal and cesarean births and to identify any differences in care between these methods. Six themes emerged from the data, encompassing the models of care, duration of postpartum care, educational topics, c-section-specific care, available health services and programs, and existing gaps in the Canadian postpartum care approach. The findings reveal that, within the Canadian liberal welfare state, government-funded postpartum care is modest, minimal, and time-limited, with eligibility criteria reviewed to access additional support and referrals. The market offers more personalized care and support, but only for those who can afford it. The study also found that apart from a few additional educational topics and more extended hospital stays, postpartum care for c-section deliveries is mainly similar to that for vaginal births. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Canada's current postpartum care approach, highlighting its shortcomings and suggesting policy changes to enhance postpartum support.