Final answer:
The postpartum period is the six-week span following childbirth when the mother's body gradually returns to a nearly prepregnant state, which includes the delivery of the afterbirth and other physiological changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period that lasts from the end of delivery until the mother's body has returned to a nearly prepregnant state is known as the postpartum period. This period typically spans about six weeks immediately following childbirth. During the postpartum period, the mother's body undergoes several changes, including the delivery of the afterbirth, which includes the placenta and associated membranes that are normally expelled after the newborn. Additionally, the mother may experience postpartum vaginal discharge called lochia and uterine contractions that facilitate the process of involution, which helps the uterus and abdominal organs return to their pre-pregnancy state. Breastfeeding can also facilitate this process by promoting uterine contractions.