The postpartum period is the time beginning immediately after the birth of the child until the anatomic and physiologic changes of pregnancy are reversed and the body returns to its nonpregnant state. Puerperium is another term that refers to this time period. Although the postpartum period is traditionally considered to last for 6 weeks, the time needed for recovery from pregnancy and childbirth varies. The postpartum period has been arbitrarily divided into three phases: the immediate puerperium; the early puerperium; and the remote puerperium. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are uniquely qualified to address known contributing factors for preventable maternal mortality and to optimize healthcare outcomes. This chapter focuses on postpartum care of a patient in an ambulatory setting. It addresses routine postpartum care along with patient education, breastfeeding support, and health promotion.