Maternity Services at Singleton Hospital

Now that you are pregnant

Your care begins with your General Practitioner (GP), by confirming your pregnancy, taking a comprehensive health and medical history, ordering your blood tests and an obstetric ultrasound.

If your GP is not also an Obstetrician, you will be required to transfer your care to a GPOB at around 20 week’s gestation.

You will be required to book into the Singleton Hospital for your pregnancy and birth. You do not require a referral from your GP to make an appointment to book into the Maternity unit.

Ideally your booking in appointment will occur between 11-14 weeks. During this visit, the midwife will discuss with you the options of care available for your pregnancy.

Where you have your pregnancy care will depend on your general health, your preferences, where you live and your previous birth experience.

The midwife will also discuss the importance of healthy eating and physical activity during this visit. You will be offered a referral to the Get Healthy in Pregnancy service. The Service is open to anyone aged 16 years and over. You will be able to talk with a qualified dietitian or exercise physiologist over the phone in the privacy of your own home. For Aboriginal women or women carrying an Aboriginal baby you may be able to speak with the Get Healthy Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO), for your first phone call or one of your coaching calls. The ALO will talk to you about your needs and your access to services in the community before referring you to either a dietitian or an exercise physiologist for the remainder of your phone calls.

Click on the image below for more information or to refer yourself to the service.

Options of care during pregnancy

Shared Care with your GP

Shared care means that you are cared for by your GPOB in consultation with the hospital midwives. You will need to come to Singleton Hospital Antenatal Clinic for a Booking-in visit, and three subsequent visits usually around 28 weeks and 34 weeks and 38 weeks. Your baby will be born at Singleton Maternity Unit. Shared Care enables you to continue seeing your family doctor, who you already know and trust, during your pregnancy, and this may be more convenient for you. Your GP/Obs may be present at your birth

Care with  GP/Obstetrician

Women choosing their GP/OB for their pregnancy care may birth at Singleton Hospital. Women choosing this option of care will see their GP/OB for all their antenatal care in their surgery. It is important if you choose this care option that you attend an administrative booking visit at Singleton Hospital Admissions Office and have an Midwife Booking In appointment at around 24 weeks pregnant. Your GP/Obs may be present at your birth.

For women requiring Specialist Obstetric care will be referred to either the Maitland Hospital or to John Hunter Hospital.

AMHIS (Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service)

Hunter Valley Sector AMIHS is a service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women and babies and non-Aboriginal women who are pregnant and having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby. We aim to provide individualised culturally appropriate support and education during pregnancy, after birth for up to 8 weeks.

Our services include pregnancy and post birth care, cultural support, breastfeeding support, referrals to other services and health education.

Most importantly, you can see us at a venue that suits you, including at your local hospital or your house.

Our team includes:

• Aboriginal Health Worker
• Registered Midwife
• Student Midwives

Services We Offer

• Cultural support
• Pregnancy and post birth care
• Smoking cessation support
• Breastfeeding support
• Whooping Cough Vaccine

Areas that we Cover

We provide care to women located within Muswellbrook, Singleton, and Scone and from Branxton to Murrurundi, Merriwa and Denman.

Please contact us:

• If you think you are pregnant or as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test

How can you access us?

• Ask your local doctor to refer you
• Ask the staff at Ungooroo Aboriginal Medical Service to refer you
• Talk to staff at the antenatal clinic about referring you
• You can contact us directly on the number below

Contacts us

Hunter Valley Sector Aboriginal Maternal & Infant Health Service

Cara or Therese

PH: 02 65422023

​Women requiring specialist or higher level care will be referred to the High Risk Clinic at either the Maitland Hospital or the John Hunter Hospital.

Pregnancy support services

A referral by a medical practitioner (General Practice or Emergency Department) is required for this service.

Multicultural Health Services

The Multicultural Health Unit provides the following services to women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds:

Health Care Interpreter Services

The Multicultural Health Unit provides professional health care interpreters for all women from CALD backgrounds. Health Care Interpreters assist women to communicate with their health professional during antenatal visits, labour, postnatal period and other health-related occasions. If you need the assistance of a health care interpreter please let staff know and they will book one for your appointment.

Aboriginal Liaison Officers

The Singleton Hospital Aboriginal Liaison Officer is available to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and is available each Tuesday.

Care and Support for women with drug and alcohol problems

Some women may still be using alcohol or taking drugs during pregnancy. It is known that this can be very harmful to the unborn child. A number of skilled, non-judgmental and empathetic staff can provide a range of support. This will greatly improve the chances of having a healthy baby. Other services include the Drug and Alcohol Team and Social Work team.

Providing practical assistance and counselling:  Social Work

Social workers are part of the health care team looking after you and your family while you are in hospital.

Social Workers can offer counselling to individuals and families in all areas, including:

• Women or families experiencing difficulties during the pregnancy, such as family breakdown or financial difficulties
• Women or families considering adoption
• Information about community support services

If you wish to contact a social worker, you can contact the Social Worker through the Singleton Community Health Centre (02) 65179248 or ask your midwife, doctor or other hospital staff involved in your care to contact a social worker for you.

Promoting Healthy Eating: Dietitians

Both you and your baby need extra nutrients during all stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Eating a nutritious diet during pregnancy promotes healthy growth and development for your baby, prepares you for breastfeeding and is important for your own wellbeing. It is important to remember that even though you are eating for two, there is no need to eat twice as much.

A dietitian can assess your diet and suggest any changes that you may need to make. This is particularly important for women who are under- or over-weight, suffer from anaemia or a malabsorption illness such as Crohn’s or Coeliac disease, follow a vegetarian diet, or are diabetic.

Our staff can refer to this service as required or requested.

Get Healthy in Pregnancy

The Get Healthy in Pregnancy Service is a FREE telephone health coaching service available to anyone aged 16 years and over. You will be able to talk with a qualified dietitian or exercise physiologist over the phone in the privacy of your own home.

Your health coach could help you to:

• Eat healthily
• Get active
• Gain or maintain a healthy amount of weight during your pregnancy
• Not drink alcohol during your pregnancy
• Return to your pre-pregnancy weight.

For Aboriginal women or women carrying an Aboriginal baby you may be able to speak with the Get Healthy Aboriginal Liaison Officer, for your first phone call or one of your coaching calls. The ALO will talk to you about your needs and your access to services in the community before referring you to either a dietitian or an exercise physiologist for the remainder of your phone calls.

Discuss referral to the service with your midwife at your booking-in visit or you can click the image below for more information and to refer yourself to the service.

This service can be accessed online or discuss referral with the midwife at your booking in visit.

Helping women to move well: Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist is available to give you advice or treatment on the discomforts that may arise during your pregnancy or after your baby is born. These may include back pain, pelvic pain, pelvic floor weakness, incontinence or abdominal muscle weakness. If you wish to see a physiotherapist, ask your caregiver to contact them for you.

Singleton - Birth Suite and Birth Centre

The Singleton Birth Suite is located on the ground floor of Singleton Hospital.

When you arrive at The hospital, go straight to the Maternity Unit Nurses Station. You will be met by a midwife or another staff member and taken to Birth Suite if you are in labour. If you are not in labour you will be taken to another room for assessment.

Travelling to have your baby in hospital

• Contact the midwife in the Birthing Service (or your own midwife as arranged) for advice.
• Wear a sanitary pad (or more!).
• Have your support person drive safely, and use your seat belt with lap belt positioned below your baby.  Have old towels available to catch leaks if they occur, and an old ice-cream bucket in case of nausea or vomiting.
• Bring your antenatal record. Your antenatal record provides us with your history and plan of management for labour and birth. Please carry it at all times, and present it to the midwife on your arrival.

A plan for going home after birth

For most women, pregnancy and birth is a healthy experience. Many women choose to go home from the hospital soon after the baby is born. This is dependent on both mother and baby being well, baby has had the first feed, and mother is confident going home with adequate family support. You can go home straight from Birth Suite. A physical examination of mother and baby will be done before you leave. All the necessary documents and supportive information will also be provided.  Singleton Hospital does not have a Home Midwifery Service, we ask you to return to the hospital between 48-72 hours after the birth of you baby for a postnatal check, baby check Newborn Screen Test and Baby weigh. We schedule these visits between 1:30pm and 3pm seven days per week.

Husband/ partner/ support persons in labour and birth

We welcome people who will support and encourage you throughout labour and birth. There is room for a maximum of two support people at any one time in the Birth Suite.

Doulas

It is the woman’s choice who supports her during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. A doula is a layperson, identified by the woman, who provides continuous support during the antenatal period, childbirth and the postnatal period. The doula attends as an employee of the woman. Under normal circumstances each woman is able to have two support people with her in delivery suite. A doula is to be considered one of the two support people.

Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) is open to the use of doulas at birth, and maternity services will facilitate a productive, receptive environment for doulas to support women. However, HNELHD clearly states that it does not accept responsibility and is not accountable for any actions or advice given to labouring women by doulas.

Visitors

If there are some visitors you would like to visit you soon after the birth of your baby in the Maternity unit, we request that your visitors check at the Maternity Unit desk before proceeding to your room. This is to protect your privacy and the privacy of other women in the unit.

Enquiries while in Birth Suite

To protect your privacy and confidentiality, information is not given to people enquiring about you without your consent.  We will take messages for you to contact the enquirers at a convenient time.

Video recording and photography

We respect your wish to film labour and birth. However, all staff have the right to refuse to be identified on film or refuse filming during specific procedures. Please inform your midwife of your intention to film.

Children

There are no childcare facilities available in the maternity unit. If you wish to have your children present for labour and birth, we request you have one adult, other than your main support person to care and supervise. However, the limit of two additional people at a time will also need to be considered.

Mobile phones

We ask that all mobile phones are turned to silent mode in the Birth Suite, and ward environments.

Keeping baby with you following birth

Your baby will remain with you following birth. Skin-to-skin is encouraged for a minimum of 1 hour after the birth or until the first breastfeed. Skin to skin contact stimulates the mothers’ production of the oxytocin hormone, which decreases bleeding, promotes bonding and breastfeeding. It allows the baby to smell, touch and know mum as well as stay warm. When the baby shows signs of readiness, he/she will be able to breastfeed.

It is strongly suggested that during this important time the baby stays with mum, rather than being handed around to other family members. The father of the baby has an important role in protecting the new mother and baby.

After your baby has fed, he / she will be weighed and measured. With your consent, Vitamin K (Konakion) and Hepatitis B vaccine injections will be given at this time.

Two arm-bands with the baby’s correct identification details will be placed on the baby’s arm and leg – the midwife will ask you to check these details to ensure they are accurate. The identifying number on the mother’s armbands are the same as the baby’s, so it is important that you make sure the identifying numbers correspond.

The armbands are routinely checked by the midwives. Should the armbands fall off, please tell the midwife as soon as you can so that new armbands can be provided.

What happens to the placenta (afterbirth)?

After the birth of your baby, the placenta will be disposed of in accordance with NSW Health Guidelines.

On some occasions the placenta may be sent to the Pathology Department, for extra information. If you would like to take your placenta home please talk to your midwife.

Stem cell collection and storage

If you are interested in the collection of stem cells from your baby’s cord blood for possible future use, you need to organise this with one of the private companies several weeks before coming to hospital to birth your baby. You will need to organise the collection, equipment, courier service and storage with the private company.

When you should contact Singleton hospital

Please phone Singleton Hospital Maternity Service 02 6571 9331 immediately for advice if any of these occur:

• Your baby stops moving or there is an obvious reduction in your baby’s movements at any time during your pregnancy
• Trauma to the abdomen, assault, serious fall or car accident
• Vaginal bleeding at any time
• Sharp pains in the abdomen with or without vaginal bleeding
• Your waters break or if you have a constant clear watery vaginal discharge
• Fever or chills, temperature over 37.8 degrees
• Severe nausea and persistent vomiting
• Recurring and persistent headaches
• Blurred vision or spots before your eyes
• Pain or burning on passing urine
• Contractions at any time before 37 weeks
• Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
• Persistently itchy skin, especially hands and feet
• Labour has started and you feel it is time to come to hospital
• Booked Caesarean birth and labour commences

Antenatal clinic general information

The first Booking-in antenatal visit

All women (including those who are doing ‘Shared Care’) will have their first visit with a midwife at Singleton Hospital’s Antenatal clinic. This is a comprehensive visit where we will discuss your previous medical history, family medical history, and your general well-being. This is to determine ways we can provide you with appropriate care and support throughout your pregnancy and to ensure your pregnancy care meets your needs. If you require a higher level of pregnancy care the midwife will discuss transferring your care to an appropriate Maternity Unit for the remainder of your pregnancy. The midwife will also inform your GPOB of the transfer of care requirement.

You can expect your first appointment to take about up to 2 hours. Please arrive at the clinic at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time, this will allow time to complete your paperwork before you see the midwife. Your partner or support person is always welcome at your visits, but due to the length and personal nature of your first visit, we ask that you attend this appointment alone where possible. Your next appointment will be booked before you leave your first visit.

Booking-in to hospital (admission procedures)

This involves providing details of Medicare card, any health insurance, next of kin, etc and will occur at the time of the booking visit. As pregnant women know they will be inpatients at some time in the near future, it is suggested that these are completed well ahead of the baby’s due birth date.

Specialty obstetric care

For women requiring specialist maternity care, the woman may be referred to either the Maitland Hospital or the John Hunter Hospital for pregnancy care and for the birth of her baby and will be determined on a case by case assessment.

Waiting times

The Singleton we make every effort to keep appointment times, the clinic may occasionally run late. We ask for your patience during these times and will endeavour to keep you well informed.

Ultrasound and pathology results

Routine antenatal care involves blood and urine tests, and ultrasounds examinations. These test results are made available to you at your next antenatal visit appointment. All abnormal results that require follow up will be communicated to you by your care provider. We ask that, where possible, that you do not phone for test results.

Students at Singleton Hospital

The Singleton Hospital is a teaching hospital, providing important training opportunities for a wide range of health care professionals. Students are always under the direct supervision of an experienced practitioner. You will be asked permission before a student observes or participates in your care and you have the right to say no. Your wishes will be respected at all times and this will not affect your care.

Our future midwives, the midwifery students are available to share your pregnancy journey with you, and can provide a familiar face throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience. Speak to your midwife if you would like to be part of this special program.

Overseas Visitors or those who don’t have a Medicare card

The Singleton Hospital is a public health care facility. All patients must have a Medicare card. Women not eligible for Medicare benefits will be asked to pay a fee at each visit; this may be reimbursed later by their own Health Insurance Fund.

What to bring to hospital when having your baby

Please bring all you need for yourself and your baby for one day in 1-2 small overnight bags, as space is limited in the hospital.

For the mother

• Antenatal Record
• You are encouraged to wear your own clothes during labour and birth. A comfortable cotton nightshirt or long T-shirt or sarongs are suitable (you may need more than one if you wish to be covered while in the shower or bath)
• Comfortable underwear
• Sanitary adhesive pads
• Maternity bras or “crop top,” breast (nursing) pads (disposable or cloth, not plastic lined)
• Comfortable clothing, suitable when breastfeeding: T-shirts, shorts/trousers or leggings for day wear, pyjamas, nightshirts,
  dressing gown
• Non slip footwear
• Toiletries, tissues, etc
• Massage oil
• Your favourite food and drink to keep up your energy levels, preferably these should be nonperishable; special foods that require cooling or heating must be carried and stored following Safe Food Handling Guidelines
• Phone or iPod, with selection of music, relaxation and/or affirmations for different stages of labour; some speakers available, but you may bring your own, labelled (all optional but may be helpful)
• Mobile phone
• Camera or smart phone (still photos only)
• Note pad/ book and pen
• Please leave all valuables at home – there is nowhere to secure them safely in the hospital

For the Support person

• Wear ‘closed’ shoes for WH&S safety in the Birthing Service
• Change of clothes/board shorts if assisting mother in shower or bath
• Jacket or warm clothing for cool air conditioning
• Snacks and drinks (following Safe Food Handling Guidelines)
• Toothbrush & paste

For baby

• At least three singlets
• At least three sets of clothing (every day clothes, not good ones!)
• At least three bunny rugs/baby wraps (suggest brushed cotton if cold weather, fine cotton or muslin type if warm weather)
• One packet of cotton buds (for ‘cord’ care)
• Optional: bath solution or baby soap, baby lotion or wipes (just water for baby is fine)
• Disposable nappies will be supplied during your hospital stay
• If you are formula feeding your baby, bring a tin of your choice of infant formula. Sterile bottles and teats will be provided only while you are in hospital
• An approved baby restraint as required by law should be fitted to your car; it is strongly suggested that you do this when you are about 34-36 weeks pregnant. If you need help with this, check the Transport NSW website for fitting stations located near you.

Mother and Baby Care Boards

Near each bed you will notice a Mother and Baby Care Board. We use these boards in all ward areas across the hospital to communicate the daily and anticipated plan for care between the woman, the family and carer and healthcare team.

Ward staff will update the board each shift, and you or your family or carer can write comments and questions on it at any time. If you have any questions regarding your care board, please ask one of our staff members. For your safety, we want to work together to plan your care and know what is important to you.

PLEASE INFORM US WHEN YOU LEAVE THE WARD

We need to check if there is anything we should do for you before you go, and confirm what time you plan to return.

REACH: Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help

If you or a family member becomes concerned about your condition while in hospital:

• Have you spoken to your midwife or doctor?
• Have your concerns been answered?
• Are you still concerned?

If so, ask your midwife for a ‘Clinical Review’, or if you  feel that concerns are not being addressed you can call for a ‘Clinical Review’ through the REACH program. Making a REACH call will enable you to speak to a manager to escalate your concerns. A REACH poster will be displayed beside your bed with this information including the contact number.

Clinical handover

At Singleton Hospital we aim to provide excellent healthcare for every woman, every time. An important part of this commitment is staff performing a clinical handover at the bedside every shift.

At the handover, the midwife who has been caring for you provides information regarding your care and reason for your admission to the midwife who will be looking after you during the next shift.

The staff will involve you in this process, which will allow you to participate in the planning of your care and ensure that the information that is exchanged is accurate. You will also have an opportunity at this time to ask any questions regarding your care.

Hand Hygiene

To help prevent infection the following rules are for all visitors for the Muswellbrook Hospital:

• Gel hands on entering unit
• Gel hands on entering patient’s rooms
• Gel hands on exit from patient’s room
• Inform staff if you are unwell

Providing a safe environment for clients and staff

Creating a safe environment for patients, visitors to our hospital and our staff is our priority. Any behaviour which compromises the safety of mothers and babies will not be tolerated. Any behaviour which disrupts the ability of our staff to fulfil their duty of care will also not be tolerated.

Should any person display such behaviour they may be asked to leave.

Security

The hospital has a lock down period between 9pm and 7am.  During these hours, entrance and exit to Singleton Hospital is through the main Emergency entrance only. There is an intercom system to notify staff you need to enter the hospital.

Security cameras are located in most areas throughout the hospital.

Belongings and Valuables

To minimise the chance of misplacing your belongings it is helpful if your items are marked with an identifying label, especially valuables such as glasses and phone chargers.

We do our best to ensure all private items are returned to you if misplaced but we cannot take responsibility for lost items. Valuable items are best left at home for safekeeping. There is no secure environment on the wards to store valuable items.

Car Parking

Car parking is available at Singleton Hospital free of charge.

Visiting Hours

Singleton has an open visiting policy. We acknowledge that new mothers need rest and so we encourage a rest period on the wards between 1pm and 3pm each day.

The majority of our beds are in four-bed rooms, so when visiting we ask that you are mindful of this quiet period for your family member and for other women and babies on the ward.

We also request that visitors are up-to-date with the whooping cough vaccination when visiting new babies, and if feeling unwell with colds and flu-like illness, please avoid visiting new mothers and babies.

Smoke Free Health Service

Singleton Hospital are smoke-free health services. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or on hospital grounds. The midwife caring for you will assist you with smoking cessation support if required.

Other Services Available:

Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

Hospital Chaplains and Pastoral Carers are available to all patients and visitors. Please ask one of our friendly staff to contact the service if required.

Singleton Parenting Education Service

“Knowledge reduces fear and promotes confidence”

Learning about your pregnancy and growing baby, preparing for labour and the birth of your baby, preparing for the joys and challenges of becoming a parent are all very important parts of your antenatal care and planning.

The Singleton Maternity Service offers the Birth and Parenting programs  to support you and your partner with your physical, mental and emotional preparation for your pregnancy, birth, early parenting and feeding your baby.

The sessions are relaxed and informative, giving you and your support person the opportunity to meet other families and discuss ideas, thoughts and choices for birthing and parenting.

It is important to book your sessions early to ensure you don’t miss out on a time that best suits you.

Why come to our programs?

Attending face to face education programs will help you to learn more about your birth and parenting journey as we are able to tailor our programs to meet your specific learning needs. You will share the experience with other pregnant women and families which is an excellent parent-education to meet others about to become new parents.

Our qualified, welcoming team will provide an environment which is informal and relaxed. Our programs are interactive and based on the most up to date information.

General information about educational programs

• Course fees for the birth and Parenting programs  $50 per couple
• The courses are held in the conference room at Singleton Hospital.

Contact the maternity unit to book your place!

Office hours are: Monday to Friday 9-4pm
Phone: 0265719240

Online Live Streamed programs

HNE Health are offering interactive online live streamed programs by an experienced Healthcare Professional who will help engage with your online group through all aspects of pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

Our previous clients say.....

"We learn't alot about labour and options during the process. An incredibly informative course and very interactive so we could retain the information! We loved it."

"We had very little knowledge prior to this course. This course has covered a wide range of topics and provided additional sources for us to get further information."

To see available online classes, click here

Singleton 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. 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. This enables you to be cared for in the comfort of your own home. Singleton Hospital does not have a Home Midwifery Service, we ask you to return to the hospital between 48-72 hours after the birth of you baby for a postnatal check, baby check Newborn Screen Test and Baby weigh. We schedule these visits between 1:30pm and 3pm seven days per week.

If you choose or need to stay in hospital, your care will be provided in the hospital’s postnatal unit. For most women, pregnancy and birth is a healthy experience, which does not necessitate a long stay in hospital.

The postnatal ward at Singleton Hospital has one shared four-bed rooms and three single room for women with private health cover. A family member can only stay if you are in a single room.  At times the single rooms are allocated to women admitted during pregnancy to facilitate a restful environment.

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.

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:

• Singleton Hospital does not have a Breastfeeding Clinic however you may be referred to a lactation consultant through the Family Care Cottage at Maitland.
• You are able to contact the Maternity Unit for Breastfeeding advice and speck to a Midwife up to four weeks of age.
• 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
• 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.
• Look for Useful Contacts leaflet in your postnatal pack for useful phone numbers.

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 at your local Early Childhood and Family Centre if you go home early.

Newborn Bloodspot Screening will be done after 28 hours by your midwife.

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.

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