For example, postpartum women also need information about breastfeeding, infant care and nutrition. Clients' needs first While both postpartum and postabortion women need information about family planning, the need is immediate for postabortion women. Fertility often returns within two weeks following an abortion. Ovulation generally does not occur during the first six weeks for postpartum women. Consequently, while she may be counseled and given supplies before leaving the hospital, the need is not immediate.
Counseling is an important element of quality services.
For postabortion and postpartum women, counseling should begin by helping the woman discuss her past contraceptive experiences and identify her future reproductive health needs. When counseling both postabortion and postpartum women, providers should ask the client if she wants future pregnancies and offer information on contraceptive methods if she chooses to delay or space births. In addition, providers should help women understand the effects an individual contraceptive method will have on her life and help her assess the practicality of using a particular method. For example, condoms will require a male partner's knowledge and consent and must be used during every act of intercourse. Progestin-only methods may cause bleeding between menstrual periods, and women need to consider how or if that will affect their work and family life.