After your baby is born
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Bringing your new baby home can be exciting but it's busy and demanding too. It's normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes but there are a number of things that you can do to help you and your family enjoy the early weeks at home.
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Discharge from hospital
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If all is going well with you and your baby, you will be able to go home as early as six hours after the birth. The normal discharge time is 10am so please arrange to be collected as near to this time as possible. If you are unable to be taken home at this time, you may wait in the patient lounge.
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Remember if you are going home in your own car, you will need to have an appropriate child restraint fitted. (Visit the VicRoads website http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ or ask your midwife for the VicRoads Child Restraints brochure).
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If you, or the medical and midwifery staff feel that you may need extra assistance to recuperate when you are at home, a formal assessment will be done in hospital to give you access to services such as homecare, respite childcare and Meals on Wheels. This assessment will be done after the birth of your baby.
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A visit at home
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You will be offered a midwife (domiciliary) visit at home to make sure you and your baby are both well and settling in. Before you leave the hospital make sure you have spoken to a midwife to arrange this. You should also confirm your home address or the address where you will be staying if you are not returning to your usual place of residence.
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Maternal and Child Health Nurse
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The maternal and child health nurse will visit you at home within the first two weeks. The nurse will assess you and your baby and organise subsequent visits at the maternal and child health centre.
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Settling in at home
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All new parents need support, especially if they're single or have no family close by. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You can contact your maternal and child health nurse, or speak to your domiciliary midwife about services available in you area.
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Here are some other tips to help with the transition from hospital to home:
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- Joining a new mothers group and/or attending your Maternal and Child Health Centre are good ways to meet other new parents and share ideas and suggestions.
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- Show your partner how to bath and change the baby. It's good for everyone. It helps your partner get to know the baby. It gives you a break and helps the baby feel close to both parents. It's okay if your partner does things in a different way to you.
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- Do as little as possible. Keep housework to a minimum (looking after yourself and the baby is more important). Family and friends often like to help with housework and some cooking as a 'welcome' gift.
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- Save energy by sitting down to do things like changing nappies or folding laundry.
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- Don't worry if breastfeeding isn't as easy as you thought it would be - it gets easier. Your maternal and child health nurse can help. Most women can breastfeed successfully and breastfeeding is best for your baby. If you do find that you are having problems you may contact the Breastfeeding Education and Support Services at the Women's for appointments or further information. Contact details are at the bottom of this fact sheet.
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Common questions about newborns
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The baby's cord
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Your baby's cord will drop away from the belly button in one to two weeks. Until then, clean the cord daily after the baby's bath. Clean around the base of the cord and along the stump with a clean cotton bud. Don't use creams or powders on the cord. Fold the baby's nappy down so it doesn't cover the cord. This helps the cord stay dry.
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Rashes
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Nappy rash makes the baby's bottom red and sore. Help prevent it by:
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- washing and rinse cloth nappies thoroughly
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- leaving the nappy off for a while each day
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- washing the baby's bottom in water only, or with perfume and alcohol-free baby wipes.
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The best nappy rash treatment is zinc and castor oil cream. If the rash doesn't get better, tell your maternal and child health nurse or your doctor.
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Rashes on the face
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Rashes on the face are common in babies at around four weeks, and may affect the body too. They usually go away after a couple of weeks. If you're worried, ask your maternal and child health nurse.
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Baby's stools
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Breastfed baby's stools are normally greenish-yellow. Formula fed baby's stools are more yellow and formed. See your doctor if the baby's stools:
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When to see a doctor
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If you're worried about your baby, your maternal and child health nurse can usually help. See your doctor if your baby:
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- has a fever - a temperature over 37.5 C (taken with a thermometer under the arm) may mean the baby has a fever. Some babies with a fever become hot flushed and upset. Others are pale and floppy.
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- has redness around the belly button
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- has a big drop in appetite
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Reflux (regurgitation)
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Reflux is when the baby brings up a small amount of milk after a feed. It's common in young babies, and usually not a problem. Babies generally grow out of it between six and twelve months. See your doctor if the baby brings up so much milk that he or she isn't growing well.
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A growing family
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A new baby means some major changes for the entire family. Children can be excited, loving and caring about a new brother or sister or they can be jealous, aggressive and difficult. After the baby is born:
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- involve your child in caring for the baby
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- spend some quality time with your other children every day
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- praise your child for being gentle with the baby
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- plan ahead to prevent problems at feeding times
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- try to be consistent and stick to a routine.
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If you have pets, you should consider preparing them for the new addition to the family. (Ask for the Kids and Pets Brochure produced by the Royal Children's Hospital)
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Further information
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Royal Women's Hospital
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Women's Health Information Centre
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Locked Bag 300
Grattan St & Flemington Rd
Parkville VIC 3052
Tel: (03) 8345 3045
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1800 344 207 (Country Callers)
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Breastfeeding Education & Support Services (BESS)
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Tel: (03) 9344 3651
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Post-Acute Care Program
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Tel: (03) 9344 2557
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Other contacts
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Australian Breastfeeding Association
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Tel: (03) 9885 0653
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Maternal & Child Health Line (24 hours)
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Tel: 13 22 29
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The Royal Children's Hospital
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Tel: (03) 9345 5522
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Web: http://www.rch.org.au
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PANDA (Post & Antenatal Depression Inc)
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Tel: (03) 9428 4600
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Web: http://www.panda.org.au
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Disclaimer
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The Royal Women’s Hospital does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or use of such information or advice) which is provided in this fact sheet or incorporated into it by reference.
We provide this information on the understanding that all persons accessing it take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy.
Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner. If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest Emergency Dept.
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Last updated Jan 2008
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