The effect of the online postpartum follow-up on depression and postpartum adaptation: A randomized controlled trial

The postpartum period, also called the puerperium period, is the time from the delivery of the placenta through the first six to eight weeks after the delivery (Graziottin et al., 2024 ). Many women have significant concerns and educational needs related to this period. These concerns and educational needs of women in the postpartum period have been widely addressed in the literature. In a study by Prince et al. it was reported that women had significant concerns about fatigue (65.8%), breastfeeding (62.3%), pain (61.2%), physical activity (54.9%) and ‘baby blues’ (50.4%) in the postpartum period (Prince et al., 2023 ). The maternal role means creating a maternal identity and performing actions according to the needs of the child. The role of motherhood is one of the most fundamental and important roles of women throughout their lives (Lok et al., 2022 ). This is because it has a decisive influence on the child's life, develops the ideal relationship between mother and baby and forms the child's natural development (Ahmadpour et al., 2022 ). Postpartum adaptation refers to the process of adapting to physical, psychological and social changes by adopting the role of motherhood in the postnatal period. In this process, mothers learn their new roles, bond with their babies and reorganise the dynamics within the family (Rosnani & Mediarti, 2022 ). In the literature, it is stated that the support provided in this process and the adaptation of mothers to the hormonal, physical and psychological changes they experience have important effects on both their own well-being and the development of their babies (Curren et al., 2022 ).