<prompt> Which of these best defines puerperium:A period of 6 weeks following expulsion of placentaA period after 6 weeks of delivery upto 12 weeksA period of 24 hrs after deliveryThe entire peripaum period upto 6 weeks following childbih  <response>: Puerperium begins as soon as the placenta is expelled and lasts for approximately 6 weeks when the uterus and all other pelvic organs regress back almost to the non-pregnant size and function 