Prior research has identified risk factors that may contribute to the development of maternal stress reactions following childbirth. Specifically, situational factors (e.g., factors associated with childbirth), individual factors, and personality factors, have been explored in a multitude of prior studies. The current study sought to build upon this literature by examining both risk and resilience in a sample of both mothers and fathers via a prospective longitudinal investigation. Baseline assessment of expectant parents occurred prior to the birth of their child, with additional assessment at approximately 1, 6, and 9 weeks post-childbirth. A total of 50 participants completed all four of these assessments. Results indicated approximately 20% (n = 10) of participants endorsed moderate or greater stress symptoms after birth, while 22% (n = 11) also exhibited symptoms of moderate or greater depressive symptoms. Stress reactions were assessed with the Perinatal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ); validity analyses indicated the PPQ had significantly stronger correlations with convergent measures than discriminant measures. Additionally, participants were randomized into one of two post-delivery study arms: an expressive writing group or an active control group. Although expressive writing results were inconclusive, there was a general effect of time, which may be reflective of a natural recovery process. Given the prevalence of stress and depressive reactions in this sample, and the population, exploration into feasible and accessible treatment interventions is warranted. While these results also suggest a potential natural recovery for some participants, interventions for support in the short-term timeframe after childbirth may continue to be useful.

Background: Postnatal depression (PND) is a global problem and an important public health issue. It is estimated that approximately 15% of women experience depression during the first postnatal year but there are problems in recognition because its clinical assessment can be complex. The incidence of postnatal depression continues to rise resulting in serious consequences for the mother, her child and the extended family and a risk of suicide (the leading cause of maternal death in England and Wales) and infanticide in some severely depressed mothers. Treatment programmes vary considerably but many studies are suggesting that psychological interventions can be as equally, if not more, clinically effective in the management of depression as routine care from a general practitioner or anti-depressants in the short term – and may be more cost effective. Method: The aim of this exploratory pilot study is to identify whether the support, on a one to one basis, from a Peer Support Worker (PSW) would assist in the reduction of PND in new mothers. Eight PSW’s were recruited. Each PSW had previously suffered from mild to moderate postnatal depression but had recovered and were not currently receiving any form of psychological support or taking any medication. They were employed, on a six month contract, by the local NHS Trust. References and enhanced criminal records clearance were obtained. A confidentiality statement was also signed by the PSW. Thirty mothers were recruited by their own Health Visitor. This was carried out using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scoring documentation (EPDS) alongside a clinical assessment. The cut off score, as agreed by both the lead researcher and the Health Visitors involved in the study, was 11. Fully informed consent was obtained and participant information sheets given. The mothers were allocated into either a Control group or an Intervention group using number alternating. The PSW’s received formal training about child protection procedures/safeguarding children in addition to the relevance and importance of confidentiality. However, apart from this, a structured training programme was not adhered to. The PSW’s strongly felt, as a combined group, that they wanted to provide the intervention simply as a ‘fellow mum who had survived the rollercoaster journey of PND’. Each PSW wanted to identify the nature of the problem, find a possible solution, and design their own proposed ‘support package’ – from the outset of the study. The PSW visited the mother in their home environment, or a location of their choice, for a period of six weeks on a once weekly basis (intervention group). This was then compared to a number of mothers who received support from their family Health Visitor (HV) alone (control group). Data collected was both qualitative and quantitative. The PSW's and the mothers from both the control group and the intervention group were asked to maintain a log book reflecting upon their feelings and thoughts after each visit (either from their PSW or their HV). Individual and group supervisory sessions were also offered by the lead researcher to both the mothers within the intervention group, and the control group, in addition to the PSW’s. A number of the participants were interviewed on a one to one basis when their infant was six months old. Data from the interviews was subsequently transcribed, coded and categorised, and key themes identified. Quantitative data was collated in the form of an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS) – an assessment tool which is routinely used to identify mothers at risk or suffering from postnatal depression. The EPDS score was recorded prior to the support commencing by either a PSW or the Health Visitor, after completion of all six visits, and when the infant was six months old. Analysis: The EPDS scores recorded at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and again when the infant was six months old, were analysed and summarised using graphs and charts. Non parametric analysis using Friedman’s Anova and the Wilcoxon paired test was carried out. A Mann Whitney test, Kolmogorov-Smirrov test and a Shapiro-Wilk test were also performed. A constant comparative method was used as a means of analysing the qualitative data collected from both log books and interview transcript (Denscombe 2008). The lead researcher consistently read and re-read text data, compared new codes and categories as they emerged and repeatedly compared them against existing versions. This process enabled the researcher to refine and improve the explanatory power of the concepts and theories generated from the data. Similarities and differences were highlighted and categories and codes were identified. On completion of this analysis, all participants were contacted to ensure validity of the findings and that each participant agreed with the researchers interpretation of the data collected. Results: Qualitative and quantitative findings from this study suggest that the input from a PSW does assist in the reduction of PND in new mothers. This is demonstrated in both the analysis of the quantitative data and the qualitative. The EPDS scores demonstrated little difference between the participants at 6 weeks but the statistics started to diverge at 12 weeks – the mean at 12 weeks for the control group is recorded at 12.46 and the intervention group is 10.33 – a difference of 2.13. The EPDS at six months demonstrates a difference between the two scores as 2.67 (the control group mean recording is 11.60 compared with the intervention mean which is 8.93). The key themes identified were the immeasurable value of ‘social support’ and ‘shared experiences’. The resounding factor that appears repeatedly throughout the analysis of data is the fact that the mothers could ‘truly relate to their Worker.’ Their PSW gave them ‘hope’, made them feel as if they were ‘not a failure’ and gave them an overwhelming ‘sense of normality’. This, in turn, increased their self-esteem, their positivity towards their parenting role, and their ability to therefore be ‘a good mother.’ A major strength of the work was the involvement of the PSW’s in both the planning and the implementing of the intervention. It was their design, their creation, and their feelings about what may really help their mother. A number of other themes were also identified that were, interestingly, commonalities across the entire data set (participants and PSW’s). These included recognition of their own changing perspective – a realisation that there simply is no ‘quick fix’ solution, that both time and support are required. The PSW’s described feelings of ‘personal benefit’, ‘self-awareness’ and the ‘provision of closure’ for themselves. The intervention group also talked, at length, about their ‘personal benefit’ from the PSW, and their own self-awareness about how they truly felt, their emotions and, in some instances, why they felt this way. The control group recognised the huge advantage from talking to other mothers and, although they did not have the formal support sessions from a PSW, they embraced the opportunity of sharing their thoughts and feelings with ‘fellow mums’. Each participant, and PSW, discussed the sharing of experiences, empathy, the feeling of ‘release’ and, particularly on the mothers’ part, the importance of knowing that, actually, they are not ‘alone’. Conclusion: The aim of this study was to provide early intervention to mothers who were classed as ‘at risk’ of suffering from PND, and, indeed, the support from the PSW’s did appear to have a positive impact upon the mothers’ mental health and wellbeing. However, this was a small scale, pilot study over a relatively short period of time. Larger, more longitudinal studies are certainly required. The importance of the pilot study presented here lies in its usefulness in shaping research to investigate and explore further whether there are indeed beneficial factors to post-natally depressed mothers who receive one to one support from a PSW. The positive results from this study can, potentially, have a huge impact within practice and, most importantly, upon the lives of those affected by postnatal depression.

Unintended pregnancy (UP) is increasing among Latinos in the United States. Unintended pregnancy contributes to many negative consequences for infants, mothers and families. Concurrently, various factors affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and decision making about family planning, including sexual relationship power, relationship commitment, dyadic adjustment, individual background, and cultural characteristics. Previous research has not focused on understanding the factors that affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sexual relationship power, communication, and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective in relationship to family planning. In a cross-sectional design, recruited were a convenience sample of 40 Latino couples whose female partners in their second/third trimester from prenatal care clinics. Almost half of the participants were Mexican (males: 48%; females: 43%). The mean ages were 28 years (males, SD:5.67) and 26.5 years old (females, SD 4.81). Sample characteristics and partner responses were compared and contrasted. Machismo, perceived relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction and perceived decision making significantly contributed to the variance in sexual relationship power among women (F(8,26) = 6.776, p < 0.001). Increasing sexual relationship power through Latina empowerment and mutual decision making has the potential to build sustainable relationships. Relationship commitment, relationship satisfactions as well as cultural values (machismo and marianismo) were also the significant predictors for most of the study key variables. Decision making conversations among couples should optimally begin before the initiation of sexual activity and continue throughout the couples’ active sexual relationship. Couples communication facilitates making known each other’s will and thoughts and helps to promote healthy reproductive and sexual lives. Findings will contribute to developing targeted interventions to decrease UP while increasing quality of life for Latino families.

The thesis is focused on the specifics of care for women with postpartum bleeding in intensive care. Part of this work are two segments, theoretical and empirical. The first segment focuses on the theoretical part, which lists the existing knowledge from literature approaching the issue of bleeding complications accompanying childbirth, especially postpartum period, when the lack of timely solution can endanger the woman's life. This section defines the terms postpartum bleeding, hemorrhagic shock, DIC, intensive care and severe postpartum bleeding complications. The work also focuses on nursing care for women with postpartum bleeding. The theoretical part is concluded postoperative nursing care. The second segment of the work is of empirical character. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate how the care provided to the ARO / ICU for women with problems postpartum bleeding. This part of the non-standardized using an anonymous questionnaire identifies issues of bleeding complications in postpartum period. The work deals with the level of care provided in intensive care for women with severe postpartum bleeding complications, knowledge of the healthcare paramedical personnel in the care of patients with postpartum bleeding and acquiring new information on nursing care in case postpartum...

Thesis title: Regime intervention for body mass reduction after birth Objective: The aim is to present clear and comprehensive information about three women during the six weeks after childbirth. Then evaluate the regime measures leading to weight reduction and choose the right excercises to stregthen weak muscles and to improve physical condition of these women. Methodology: This thesis deals with weight reduction after childbirth. Quantitative research was used in the practical part and the main method was a case study. Three women aged 27- 35 years were the monitored probands. The first observed woman was at the time of childbirth 30 years old and she gave psysiological childbirth. The second observed woman was at the time 30 years old and she gave also a psysiological childbirth. The third observed woman was at the time of childbirth 27 years and she gave birth by the Ceasarean section. All of the three women were primiparas. They wrote all their physical activities, frequency of food during the day and their weight loss in postpartum period. An indirect field research, more precisely bioimpedance technique, was used to determine body composition in this thesis. For the thesis purposes BODYSTAT 1500 device was used. Results of work: The result of this work is evaluation, comparison and summary...

Thesis title: Regime intervention for body mass reduction after birth Objective: The main objective of this work is to present clear, coherent and complete information about two selected women during the postpartum period, to evaluate the regime intervention leading to weight loss after childbirth and outline the intervention of physical activities to help strengthen weakened muscles and improve the mother`s physical fitness. Methodology: The work is based on the research of selected publications that deal with weight loss after childbirth. For the practical part, we used the qualitative approach, for our case study, we used detailed information from both women and interview. Results of work: The result of this work is to evaluate, compare and summarize the regime intervention of two women who were willing to record in detail all their activities after birth and their weight loss. Key words: Weight loss, exercise after childbirth, postpartum

Bakgrund: Forskningen visar att kvinnor tycker det finns en vinst i att ha ett postpartumsamtal, de värdesätter att få stämma av sin förlossningsupplevelse. Ändå erbjuds inte alla kvinnor detta. Tidigare forskning har visat att barnmorskor likaså värdesätter postpartumsamtal för kvinnans skull men att barnmorskorna saknar utbildning i att genomföra postpartumsamtal på ett tillfredsställande sätt. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva barnmorskors erfarenheter och upplevelser kring postpartumsamtal. Metod: Tre fokusgruppsintervjuer genomfördes med barnmorskor som arbetar på förlossningsavdelning. Semistrukturerad intervju genomfördes utifrån en frågeguide. Som analysmetod användes kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Ett tema, fyra kategorier och 15 underkategorier identifierades. Temat var: Postpartumsamtal idag: Att möta behovet och framtidens utmaningar. Kategorierna var: Postpartumsamtalets betydelse för kvinnan, Postpartumsamtal inte för alla, Genomförande av postpartumsamtal och Förutsättningar för postpartumsamtal. Slutsats: Barnmorskornas upplevelse var att postpartumsamtalet är viktigt för kvinnor, deras partners samt för barnmorskorna själva. Anpassning av organisationen behövs för att erbjuda postpartumsamtal utifrån föräldraparets behov. Kunskap från postpartumsamtal kan tillvaratas för utveckling både för personlig yrkesutveckling för barnmorskan och vårdutveckling för organisationen. Detta kan vara ett steg mot en mer kvinnocentrerad vård. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Studiens resultat skulle kunna leda till utveckling av rutiner kring postpartumsamtal. Ytterligare forskning behövs för att utveckla en samtalsmodell som kan tydliggöra postpartumsamtalets utförande och innehåll. / Background: Previous research shows postpartum counselling beneficial, women value to talk about their childbirth experiences. Still, not all women are offered the option of postpartum counselling. Midwives find it beneficial for women to have a postpartum counselling. Midwives find they have a lack of knowledge to perform fulfilling postpartum counselling. Aim: The aim was to describe midwives’ experiences of postpartum counselling. Method: Three focus group interviews were conducted with midwives employed at the maternity ward. The interviews were semi-structured, based on a questionnaire. Qualitative content analysis was used as the analyze method. Results: One theme, four categories and 15 subcategories were identified. The theme was: Postpartum counselling today: To meet the need and challenges for the future. The categories were: The meaning of postpartum counselling for the woman, Postpartum counselling, not for everyone, To perform postpartum counselling, Conditions to perform postpartum counselling. Conclusion: The midwives’ experiences were that postpartum counselling was of importance to women, their partners but also for the midwive. The organization is in need for adjustment to be able to offer postpartum counselling based on the parents’ needs. Knowledge could be drawn from postpartum counselling for both professional development and care development. This could be one step closer to women centered care. Clinical application: The results of the study could lead to development of routines surrounding postpartum counselling. Yet there is a need for more research in the development of a postpartum counselling model. The model could clarify the content and how to perform postpartum counselling.

Tidigare studier har påtalat att hälsa och aktivitetsbalans är nära sammankopplat och att en ny roll innebär aktivitetsförändringar som kan vara utmanande på olika sätt. Studier visar även att vid förändrad utförandekapacitet, som till exempel efter en förlossning, så kan denna utmaning vara ännu större. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva förstföderskors aktivitetsbalans den första tiden efter förlossningen (≤ 6 månader). Mödrar fick besvara en webbenkät, baserat på instrumentet Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11, (OBQ-11). Frågorna (items) sammanställdes med medianvärden på grupp- och individnivå. Det framkom att majoriteten av deltagarna skattade sin aktivitetsbalans lågt, både utifrån enskilda items och totalt baserat på samtliga item. Vårt resultat indikerar att den undersökta gruppen har en aktivitetsobalans. Resultatet bör betraktas med försiktighet då urvalsgruppen var liten och ett bekvämlighetsurval gjordes. Fler och större studier behövs i ämnet för att kunna göra uttalanden om gruppen förstföderskors aktivitetsbalans i helhet.

A transição para a paternidade é um período na vida do homem que está imbuído de imensas transformações. Durante esta fase ele pode experimentar diversas situações que podem ter consequências positivas ou negativas para a adaptação nesse novo papel. A realização deste estudo foi impulsionada pelos questionamentos que permeiam a participação do pai diante da experiência de nascimento do primeiro filho. Este estudo visou compreender as percepções de pais pela primeira vez frente à transição para a paternidade e descrever os incidentes críticos relacionados à experiência de transição para a paternidade do nascimento ao período pós-parto. Foi realizado estudo descritivo que utilizou como referencial metodológico a técnica dos incidentes críticos. Foram realizadas entrevistas com 10 homens, pais pela primeira vez que vivenciavam o período pós-parto em um município do interior de São Paulo, tendo como foco suas percepções diante de transição para a paternidade. Os resultados foram agrupados por categorias e subcategorias que caracterizavam os períodos da experiência dos pais: 1) Nascimento do bebê: acompanhar o parto e não acompanhar o parto; 2) Período de Internação: momento da visita; permanência no hospital e interação com o bebê no hospital e 3) Levar o bebê para casa: dificuldades com a amamentação, interação com o bebê, interação com a esposa e interação com outros membros da família. Os incidentes negativos foram relatados em numero maior do que os positivos e relacionaram-se às situações que envolveram obstáculos para participar do parto e do período de hospitalização e insegurança para pegar e cuidar do bebê depois da alta. Os incidentes positivos relacionaram-se à participação do pai no parto e às facilidades nas interações com o bebê no hospital e em casa. A paternidade significa crescimento para o pai e a percepção de que ocorre uma mudança como pessoa e na forma como encara a sua vida e a dos que dependem dele. Os resultados deste estudo são evidências que apontam para as necessidades do pai no período que envolve o nascimento do primeiro filho e suas implicações para a enfermagem. Apontam também para a necessidade da inclusão do pai pelos serviços de saúde, organizando estratégias de intervenção voltadas para o acolhimento e o apoio ao pai nas situações que envolvem o nascimento do filho, desde o pré-natal ao período pós-parto. / The transition to fatherhood is a period in the life of a man that is imbued of huge transformations. During this period, he can experience various situations that can bring about positive or negative consequences for his adaptation in this new role. This study was driven by questions related to fathers participation in the experience of birth of his first child. This research aimed to understand first-time fathers perceptions concerning transition to fatherhood as well as to describe the critical incidents related to this transition experience, from the birth to postpartum period. A descriptive study was realized using as a methodological referential the critical incidents technique. Interviews were conducted with 10 men, first-time fathers that experienced the postpartum period in a city of Sao Paulo, focusing their perceptions in relation to fatherhood transition. The results were classified in categories and subcategories that characterized periods of this experience by the fathers: 1) Babys birth: watch the childbirth and not watch the childbirth. 2) Hospitalization period: moment of visiting; permanence in the hospital and interaction with the baby in the hospital. 3) Taking baby home: difficulties with breastfeeding; interaction with the baby; interaction with wife and interaction with other relatives. The negative incidents were reported in larger number than the positive ones, and were related to the situations that involved obstacles to take part in the childbirth and in the hospitalization period, as well as uncertainty to take care of the baby after mothers hospital discharge. The positive incidents were related to the fathers taking part in the childbirth as well as to the ease of interactions with the baby in the hospital and at home. Childbirth means growth for the father besides the perception that a changing occurs as a person and in the way he faces his own life as well as the ones that belong to people that count on him. The outcomes of this study are evidences that point to the fathers necessities in the period that involves the birth of his first child and its implications for nursing. They also point to the fathers necessity of being included by the health services, preparing intervention strategies for care and support fathers in situations that involve the birth, from prenatal to postpartum period.

Os contraceptivos de progestagênios isolados, como o implante de etonogestrel, representam uma opção para uso no puerpério. Classicamente, recomenda-se seu uso, a partir da sexta semana após o parto, mas sabe-se que para um grupo de pacientes de risco para curtos intervalos intergestacionais (com baixa adesão ou pouco acesso às orientações contraceptivas neste período), os mesmos podem ser prescritos no puerpério imediato. Porém, mais estudos são necessários para avaliar a segurança materna e neonatal/infantil do implante de etonogestrel (ETG), quando inserido no puerpério imediato. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar dados de segurança materna (clínicos e metabólicos) e neonatal (clínicos) do uso do implante de ETG no puerpério imediato, durante as primeiras 12 semanas após o parto. Foram randomizadas 40 pacientes, entre 18-35 anos, no Ambulatório de Pré-Natal de Baixo Risco do HCFMRP-USP, para dois grupos: 20 para uso doimplante liberador de etonogestrel (ETG), inserido 24-48 horas após o parto; e 20 para uso de 150 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona de depósito (AMP-D), a partir da 6ª semana de puerpério (grupo de controle). Os parâmetros clínicos avaliados foram: pressão arterial (PA), peso materno e neonatal, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), circunferência abdominal (CA) e taxa de manutenção de lactação até a 12ª segunda semanade puerpério. Os parâmetros laboratoriais avaliados foram: marcadores hepáticos (lesão e colestase): fosfatase alcalina (FA), gama-GT (?-GT), transaminase glutâmico-pirúvica (TGP),transaminase glutamínica oxalicética (TGO), bilirrubinas totais (BT), bilirrubina direta (BD), bilirrubina indireta (BI), albumina; marcadores inflamatórios: interleucina (IL)-6, fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF-?), proteína C reativa (PCR); lipidograma; hemograma e glicemia. As pacientes apresentavam características clínicase laboratoriais basais semelhantes. Observou-se redução do PA, triglicérides, LDL-colesterol, PCR, FA e elevação do peso dos recém-nascidos, da hemoglobina, plaquetas (mais pronunciada no grupo ETG) glicemia, TGP, BT, BD (mais pronunciada no grupo ETG), BI, albumina e durante as primeiras 12 semanas, em ambos os grupos, sem diferença entre eles. No entanto, o peso, IMC e CA reduziram-se mais no grupo ETG do que no grupo de controle entre o basal e a 6 a semana após o parto (ETG: - 4,64 ± 2,71Kg vs. controle: - 2,60 ± 2,45Kg, p=0,017; ETG: - 1,77 ± 1,06Kg/m 2 vs. controle: - 0,97 ± 0,95Kg/m 2 , p=0,026; ETG: -15,30 ± 6,72cm vs.controle: - 9,05 ± 5,84cm, p=0,003; respectivamente); os níveis de leucócitos apresentaram um aumento entre seis e 12 semanas no grupo de controle (ETG: - 440 ± 113céls/µL vs. controle: + 254 ± 377céls/µL, p= 0,005), com declínio entre o período basal e 12 semanas, semelhante em ambos os grupos; o nível de IL-6, apesar de declinar em ambos os grupos, apresentou variação estatisticamente maior entre o basal e 12 semanas no grupo ETG (ETG: -14,30 ± 20,33pg/mL vs.controle: - 6,09 ± 7,23pg/mL, p=0,035); os níveis de TNF-?elevaram-se apenas no grupo de controle, após seis semanas do uso de AMP-D (ETG: - 0,55 ± 2,46pg/mL vs. controle: + 2,21 ± 3,18pg/mL, p=0,001); os níveis de CT e HDL declinaram nos dois grupos com maior queda no grupo de controle, entre seis e 12 semanas pós-parto (ETG: - 7,4 ± 15,01mg/dL vs.controle: - 28,55 ± 17,71mg/dL, p=0,001; ETG: - 0,15 ± 5,02mg/dL vs.controle: - 12,45 ± 7,32mg/dL, p<0,0001; respectivamente); os valores da TGO reduziram mais no grupo de controle em relação ao grupo ETG na variação entre basal e 12 semanas pós-parto (ETG: - 0,40 ± 9,36U/L vs. controle: - 6,05 ± 8,07U/L, p=0,048). Todos os valores estavam dentro dos limites de normalidade para a faixa etária estudada. As demais variáveis e a taxa de manutenção da lactação exclusiva não diferiram entre os grupos. Podemos concluir que a inserção do implante liberador de ETG no pós-parto imediato não foi associada a efeitos clínicos deletérios maternos ou neonatais, nem a alterações laboratoriais maternas significativas. / Progestogen-only contraceptives like the etonogestrel (ETG) implant represent an option for use during the postpartum period. Its use isclassically recommended after the sixth postpartum week, but for patients at risk for short intergestational intervals (with low compliance or with little access to contraceptive guidelines during this period) these contraceptives can be prescribed during the immediate puerperium. However, further studies are needed to assess the maternal and neonatal/infantile safety of this device when inserted during the immediate puerperium. The objective ofthe present study was to assess maternal (clinical and metabolic) and neonatal (clinical) safety data regarding the use of the ETG implant during the immediate postpartum period and the first 12 postpartum weeks. Forty patients aged 18-35 years attended at the Low Risk Prenatal Care Program of HCFMRP-USP were randomly assigned to two groups: 20 subjects use of the ETG-releasing implant inserted 24-48 hours after delivery, and 20 for use of 150 mg depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) starting during the 6 th week postpartum (control). The following clinical parameters were assessed: arterial pressure (AP), maternal and neonatal weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC); liver markers: alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase (?-GT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), total bilirubins (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), indirect bilirubin (IB), albumin; inflammatory markers: interleukin-6 (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), C reactive protein (CRP); lipid profile; blood count; glycemia, and rate of breastfeeding mothers up to the 12 th week of the puerperium. The basal clinicaland laboratory characteristics of the two groups were similar. We observed a reduction of AP, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, CRP and alkaline phosphatase, and an increase in newborn weight, hemoglobin, platelets (more pronounced in the ETG group), glycemia, GPT,TB,DB (more pronounced in the ETG group), IB and albumin during the first 12 weeks in both groups, with no difference between them. However, weight, BMI and AC were lower in the EGT group compared to control up to the 6th week after delivery (ETG: - 4.64 ± 2.71Kg vs. control: - 2.60 ± 2.45Kg, p=0.017; ETG: - 1.77 ± 1.06Kg/m 2 vs. control: - 0.97 ± 0.95Kg/m 2 , p=0.026; ETG: -15.30 ± 6.72cm vs. control: - 9.05 ± 5.84cm, p=0.003; respectively); white cell count increased between six and 12 weeks after delivery in control group (ETG: - 440 ± 113céls/µL vs. control: + 254 ± 377céls/µL, p= 0.005), with a decrease between basal evaluation and 12 weeks after delivery in both groups; IL-6 decrease in both groups however the variation was statistically different between basal and 12 weeks only in ETG group (ETG: -14.30 ± 20.33pg/mL vs.control: - 6.09 ± 7.23pg/mL, p=0.035); TNF-?levels was higher only in the control group six weeks after DMPA administration (ETG: - 0.55 ± 2.46pg/mL vs. control: + 2.21 ± 3.18pg/mL, p=0.001); HDL levels decrease in both groups however it was more pronounced in control group between six and 12 weeks postpartum (ETG: - 7.4 ± 15.01mg/dL vs.control: - 28.55 ± 17.71mg/dL, p=0.001; ETG: - 0.15 ± 5.02mg/dL vs.control: - 12.45 ± 7.32mg/dL, p<0.0001; respectively); TGO levels was lower in control group than in ETG between basal evaluation and 12 weeks postpartum (ETG: - 0.40 ± 9.36U/L vs. control: - 6.05 ± 8.07U/L, p=0.048). All values were within normal limits for the age range studied. The other variables and the maintenance of exclusive lactation were similar between the groups. In conclusion, ETG releasing implant insertion during the immediate postpartum period was not associated with deleterious maternal or neonatal clinical effects or with significant laboratory alterations.