The 4th Trimester: Not Long Enough.

On April 12, 2021, Illinois agreed to provide Medicaid benefits to eligible mothers for up to 12 months postpartum, a major extension from the previous 60-day limit. Follow up of postpartum women for 12 months after delivery is gaining favor as data is evolving which shows that “the 4th trimester” (the first 12 weeks postpartum) is just not long enough to detect postpartum complications. In this episode we will review a new editorial which states that “the 4th trimester” is not long enough.