Do not skip the 42-day postpartum checkup; in some places it is also a postpartum depression screen

It’s free; it’s part of basic public health services. It takes half a day. The hard part is that right after childbirth you often feel too lazy to go.

Under maternal health management in the National Basic Public Health Service Standards (Third Edition), after birth there is 1 postpartum home visit and 1 health checkup at 42 days postpartum. On local published service lists, that visit includes lab tests (complete blood count, vaginal discharge exam) and 1 postpartum depression screen. The National Health Commission’s 2020 work plan for specialized depression prevention services asks pilot areas to “include perinatal depression screening in routine prenatal checkups and postpartum visit workflows.” So whether depression screening comes with the postpartum visit depends on whether the locality does this. Serious complications can still appear in the first year after birth. On the “go to the hospital immediately” list in Item 7, “thoughts of harming yourself or the child,” “postpartum vaginal bleeding or abnormal discharge,” and “severe swelling and pain in one limb” all belong to the postpartum period

国家卫生计生委 (2017). 国家基本公共卫生服务规范（第三版）. https://www.nhc.gov.cn/ewebeditor/uploadfile/2017/04/20170417104506514.pdf；靖江市人民政府. 国家基本公共卫生服务项目——孕产妇健康管理服务（地方服务清单公开）. https://www.jingjiang.gov.cn/xxgk/zdlyxxgk/wsjk/art/2023/art_383017a2e7794892bc772bfbe042f379.html；国家卫生健康委办公厅 (2020). 关于探索开展抑郁症、老年痴呆防治特色服务工作的通知（国卫办疾控函〔2020〕726 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-09/11/content_5542555.htm

Postpartum depression isn’t a sign of weakness or something that can be fixed by family telling you to “cheer up.” There are specific screening questionnaires and treatments available, and recovery is possible. Handling suicidal thoughts is covered in Section 1. Legal options if caring for a newborn proves impossible are outlined in Section 9, Item 20. This checkup also evaluates wound healing, uterine recovery, pelvic floor function, and discusses contraception — remember, the absence of menstruation after childbirth doesn’t mean pregnancy is impossible.