Post Birth Care
After your baby is born – Mum
Caring for you
After the birth of your baby you will spend some time in the birthing room having some special time with your baby and partner/support person.
We encourage skin to skin contact between you and your baby immediately after birth and for at least one hour following.
With support from your midwife, we will encourage you to breastfeed your baby when he / she is ready to feed.
Midwives are there to assist as needed and will help you as required and to do the necessary post birth observations of both you and your baby.
Each day the midwives will spend time with you, discussing any concerns you might have and assist you with parenting, breast-feeding and baby care skills.
Length of Stay
Women who give birth vaginally can expect to stay in hospital for 2 days
Women who birth with a Cesarean Section, can expect to stay in hospital for 3 days.
Following discharge from hospital, the Home Care Midwife will visit you and your baby at home to provide further support for you and your family.
Exercises
Post-natal and pelvic floor exercises are important
The physiotherapist will visit you on the Maternity Unit and a postnatal exercise class is available ,free of charge every Wednesday 10-11am. You are encouraged to attend this class either during your stay or once you have gone home.
Rest Period
The Maternity Unit has a rest period between 12-2pm.
We strongly encourage you to let your family and friends know that they will not be able visit you at this time.
It is important for you to rest as much as possible after your baby is born. When your baby is asleep, we encourage you to take the opportunity to rest.
The Blues
Some mothers experience ‘baby blues’ around the third or fourth day after birth. It can be normal to feel tearful, emotional, anxious and overwhelmed at this time.
Please feel free to talk to one of the midwives if you feel like this. For most mothers these feelings will generally subside quickly ,but for a small number of women these feelings can continue on to be post-natal depression.
It is important that you let someone know If you are feeling overwhelmed Support is available. Think about talking to:
- Your partner, family or support people
- Maternal and child health nurse
- Your local doctor
Counselling is available by contacting Primary Care Consulting Suites on 5485 5800.
Caring for your baby
Rooming in
During your hospital stay your baby will remain in your room with you. This gives you the opportunity to get to know your baby and to respond to his/her needs. Support and assistance with baby care and feeding are available at all times.
Breastfeeding
Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Breastmilk contains antibodies to protect your baby from infection and sets up a healthy microbiome in your baby’s gut which is important for their short and long term health. It protects your baby against gastroenteritis and diarrhoea, ear and chest infections, allergies and diabetes. These are all more common in formula fed babies.
For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of bleeding after the birth, helps you lose the weight gained during pregnancy, is convenient and costs nothing. Breastfeeding also reduces your risk of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.
You will be given more information on breastfeeding at you booking in appointment
Lactation Consultant
The hospital has a lactation consultant available for appointments free of charge for breastfeeding support. Please phone the Maternity Unit on 5485 5306 to arrange a time to see the lactation consultant or 54855309 to talk to a midwife any other time.
Blood tests
When your baby is between 36-72hrs old we take a routine sample from a “heel prick” blood test called the NST that screens for various disorders.
More information will be given to you after the birth of your baby as we require your written consent to do this screening test.
Child health record
This will be given to you when your baby is born and is a record of your baby’s birth and development . It is a good idea to pack this in your nappy bag and take to any appointments with you.
Paperwork
Before you leave hospital, you will be given paperwork about family (allowance) payments and registering your baby’s birth. You can complete and send these to the appropriate agencies at a time convenient to you. Your child’s birth must be registered within 60 days.
