After Baby Arrives

Armidale - Postnatal unit

During your stay on the maternity unit, you will be supported by midwives who will assist you to develop the skills to care for your baby and gain confidence as a new parent. There is inpatient education on the ward such a baby bathing demonstrations. These are all great opportunities to gain confidence as new parents.

When you first arrive to the unit, the midwife caring for you will discuss a plan of care for your stay including discharge planning.

Accommodation options

Within hours of birth, you and your baby may go home if you are both well and your baby has fed. If you choose or need to stay in hospital, your care will be provided in the Maternity unit. For most women, pregnancy and birth is a healthy experience, which does not necessitate a long stay in hospital.

The postnatal ward at Armidale Hospital has mostly single bed rooms. Family members are unable to stay overnight with the mother and baby unless there are significant health concerns with the mother or baby. A small fold out couch is available for use during these times.

Rooming-in

It is important not to separate mothers from their babies, so mothers keep their baby at the bedside with them, 24 hours a day. The midwives will assist and provide support with all aspects of baby’s care.  Please ask for assistance if required. There is also a Mother and Baby Care Board near each bed which is a very useful way to request support. We also ask that this board is used to communicate with the staff if you are leaving the ward for any reason. We request that you write your mobile phone number and the approximate time of your return to the ward.

Feeding your baby

The midwives caring for you are able to give assistance, support and advice with breastfeeding.

If you are artificially feeding your baby, you will need to bring a tin of your choice of infant formula with you, sterile bottles and teats, to use in hospital.

Support for breastfeeding your baby when you go home:

• A Breastfeeding Clinic is available for women with a baby less than 4 weeks old. For appointments please  telephone: 6776 9642
• Child and Family Health Nurse provides long-term ongoing feeding and parenting support. You will be linked to this free service before discharge from our maternity service.
• The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) provides breastfeeding support in the community.
  24-hour phone number: 1800 6862686 (1800 MUM 2 MUM); while membership supports this valuable organisation, non-members can still receive support.
• Look for Useful Contacts leaflet in your postnatal pack for useful phone numbers.

Armidale Hospital Routine screening for your baby

Routine screening as outlined in the NSW Health Having a Baby book will be done in the early postnatal days. You will be offered a screening test for hearing for your baby soon after birth. About one to two babies out of every 1000 will have a significant hearing loss. This screening program is called the NSW State-wide Infant Screening Hearing program (SWISH), and is available in the postnatal ward.

Newborn Bloodspot Screening will be done around day 2-3 by your midwife or a pathology technician.

Transport for going home

Please plan for your transport home. You will need an approved baby restraint fitted to your car. Ideally this should be in place around 34-36 weeks pregnant. The Transport NSW website can help you locate a fitting station near you.

Discharging Home

Discuss with your midwife your needs for discharge. Ensure that you arrange on the previous evening for someone to collect you
Please note:  Discharge time on the postnatal ward is between the hours of 10-11am.

Mothers with babies in SCN

Sometimes babies requiring care in the SCN may need a longer hospital stay than the mother. In these instances the mother will be discharged from hospital before the baby. Mothers will be a boarder within the maternity unit until their baby is discharged or transferred to another facility.

Postnatal timeline

Keeping you and your baby safe while in hospital

Sometimes mothers to be and new mothers can fall while in hospital and cause injury particularly if they are tired, or if they have recently had an anaesthetic (including an epidural), pain medication or heavy bleeding or if the mum to be or new mum has other medical conditions such as low blood pressure, epilepsy or diabetes.

We request that you:

• Use your call bell if you require assistance
• Wear safe footwear at all times
• Take your time when moving about
• Use a shower chair when showering
• Use a light as required during the night time.

It’s important also to keep your baby safe from falling. We ask you to ensure that your baby:

• Is placed on their back to sleep and placed in their own cot placed next to your bed
• Is never left unattended on an adult bed or other surface from which they can fall
• Is always in their own cot while being transported. Walking around with your baby in your arms is not encouraged.

We Do Not Encourage Sleeping With Your Baby As Babies Can Fall Or Have Sleep Accidents

Please ensure that visitors are aware of these important factors to keep your baby safe.

We recognise that babies like to feel safe in their mum’s arms, but sometimes tired mums can fall asleep with their babies and babies can then easily fall from their mums’ hold. We ask that you avoid all of these situations that place your baby at risk of falls.

REMEMBER the safe sleeping SIDS prevention = Baby on back, in own bed, feet at end of cot, smoke free environment, no hats or bonnets, and breastfeed your baby.

See more at https://rednose.com.au/section/safe-sleeping

After birth care

Contraception

It is possible to fall pregnant immediately after giving birth even if you are breastfeeding.

If you do not desire to fall pregnant then consider using barrier contraception (condoms). You may resume sexual activity as soon as you feel comfortable. You may need to wait longer if you had a vaginal birth requiring stitches, or a caesarean birth.

If you are breastfeeding then it is important not to start the combined oral contraceptive pill as it may affect your milk supply. Your options will include progesterone-only pills (the mini pill), a progesterone implant or progesterone injection given every third month.

Ask your GP for more information at your six-week appointment.

Feeling unwell

If you are feeling unwell please contact your GP or local Maternity Service.

General signs of infection include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Discharge that may have an unpleasant odour
• Temperature
• Area may be hot to touch

If you are breastfeeding and find painful areas that are red and lumpy you may have blocked milk ducts or be developing mastitis (infection of the milk ducts).

In this case you should to see your GP as soon as possible, however keep breastfeeding/expressing for until your appointment time as it may help to relieve the blockage.

Postnatal follow up with your GP

We recommend that you and your baby visit your local GP within six weeks after birth.

A full complete postnatal review should be attended at this appointment which may include:

• Your baby should have a complete routine head-to-toe check up
• Discuss contraception with you GP
• Have a plan when your next pap smear is due
• Discuss current medications and follow-up scripts required
• Have perineal suturing reviewed or Caesarean wound check
• Discuss any discomforts that you may be experiencing including incontinence
• Discuss your emotional well being
• Blood tests (as required)
• Breast check
• Blood pressure
• Pap smear
• Perineal stitches or caesarean section wound
• Discuss any incontinence you may be experiencing
• Emotional well being