Cognitive deficits in women after childbirth

Objective: To test the cognitive function of parturients in the days immediately after delivery. Methods: One hundred postpartum mothers who delivered normal full-term infants were tested on standardized neuropsychological tests-the Wechsler Logical Memory Test and the Wechsler Visual Reproduction Test. Their test results were compared with those of nonpregnant childless women, third-trimester high-risk pregnant women, and fathers of newborns. Results: Postpartum women scored significantly lower than nonpregnant women on both tests on the first postpartum day. The use of intrapartum analgesia mitigated the cognitive deficit. High-risk pregnant women and fathers scored lower than nonpregnant women only on the Logical Memory Test. Conclusion: Objective documentation that postpartum women have transient deficits in cognitive function, particularly in memory function, can guide caretakers in the design of care plans for the postpartum lying-in period.