Final answer:
The importance of social support in the context of postpartum care is backed by several studies indicating its role in mitigating postpartum depression, improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and providing long-term benefits for children's development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Postpartum Support International statement on social support in June 2001 isn't explicitly listed in the provided references, so we will focus on the importance of social support as it pertains to postpartum care based on the research available. Social support plays a critical role in maternal health, particularly after childbirth. According to Fields (2010), postpartum depression can significantly affect early interactions, parenting, and safety practices, indicating a strong need for adequate support post-delivery. Lepore (1998) expands on this to highlight the potential for social support to mitigate stress responses, which could be particularly valuable for new mothers experiencing postpartum challenges.
Further, the Nurse-Family Partnership studies by Olds et al., both from 2004 and 2007, reference the importance of prenatal and infancy support of parents, suggesting that such interventions can lead to long-term positive outcomes including reduced crime rates and improved child development. Eckenrode et al. (2010) found that prenatal and infancy nurse home visitation had positive life course effects on youths 19 years after the intervention, underscoring the long-term benefits of support. In addition, Uchino (2009) discusses the critical distinction between perceived and received social support in the realm of physical health, which can have implications for psychological wellbeing as well.
Stroebe & Stroebe (1996) and Phillips, Carroll, & Gallagher (2009) delve into the social psychology of social support and how social support and social intimacy can impact cardiovascular reactions to stress. Finally, increased support for Girls' Holistic Development from a wide array of community members has been seen as crucial to both the individual and collective health of communities. Such support systems are also linked to improved immunity according to Uchino et al. (2012), which can be beneficial for postpartum women who are recovering from childbirth while caring for a newborn.