Why anaesthetists should care about postnatal care.

(Anaesthesia. 2023;78(9):1058–1061) The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) characterizes current UK postnatal care as a “Cinderella service,” marked by insufficient provisions and only 8.5% of the maternity care budget. Despite 97% of births occurring in hospitals, the average postnatal stay of 1.5 days is the shortest among high-income countries. While most women find their stay appropriate, empowering them to choose its duration enhances satisfaction without adverse effects.