Your
Postpartum Stay
First let us congratulate
you and your family on the birth of your baby! You are about to embark
on a very exciting adventure in your life. Our goal is to help you
to learn to care for yourself and your baby and get ready for discharge
home. Be sure to ask lots of questions and to seek us out if you
have questions or concerns.
The length of stay in hospital for a normal
vaginal delivery is 48 hours and for cesarean births the stay is 4-5 days.
These are guidelines only and depend on moms and baby's condition.This
early discharge program is called CRADLE and
is provided in partnership with Public Health Nursing.
Although the QEH does provide a nursery,
we encourage families to keep their baby with them as much as possible.
Rooming-in during your hospital stay will help you get more comfortable
with your baby and increase your confidence for going home.
You may want to limit your visitors during
your hospital stay. It is important that you and your partner spend
as much time learning about your baby as possible. This also allows
time for you to rest.
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Arrival
Following the delivery
of your baby, you will be transferred to the mother - baby unit. Prior to your transfer, your partner and baby will have already
gone to the nursery. In the nursery your baby will be weighed, measured,
& have his/her vital signs assessed and have a physical examination
done by the nurse as well as have an antibiotic ointment
put in his/her eyes. Your baby will also receive an injection of vitamin
K. Following the routine admission, your baby will be diapered,
dressed, bundled and made ready for your arrival to your room.
If you have had a cesarean birth you will
deliver your baby in the operating room. In most cases, women receive
a regional block and are awake during the surgery, but feel no pain. Your
partner can be present for the birth of your baby. Following the birth
of your baby, and after you and your partner have had a chance to visit
with the baby, s/he will be transferred to the nursery. You will
be transferred to the recovery room. Your partner is
not able to join you there but can wait in the nursery until you return
to Unit 4.
When you arrive in
your room on unit 4, the nurse will do a postbirth assessment
on you. Once you are settled, you will be reunited with your baby.
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Personal
Hygiene
Your perineum (bottom)
is made up of the structures involved in the birth process and requires
special care and attention following the birth of your baby. You
may or may not have an episiotomy which is a surgical cut through the perineum
to increase the size of opening that baby is to come out. You may
or may not have a tear that occurs naturally as the perineum stretches
during birth. Your nurse will instruct you in the proper way to cleanse this area, which will lower your risk of infection and promotes healing. Tub or sitz baths are a very important part of
your perineal care. You should try to have a tub or sitz bath
at least twice a day, using just plain, clear water and taking time to
soak.
It is important to
do the same pericare for both a vaginal birth as well as a cesarean birth.
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Abdominal
Dressing
If you have had a
cesarean birth, you will have a large surgical bandage on your abdomen.
Two days after your surgery, you will be able to have a full shower.
After the shower, a nurse will remove your dressing and replace it with
a smaller dressing. Your dressing will
be changed daily after the intial dressing change.
Sexual
Acivity
We usually advise women to wait until they
have had a check up with their Doctor before resuming sexual activity.
Use some type of birth control if you don't wish to become pregnant. The
following link has some information as to how to make your sex life pleasurable
after childbirth. http://pregnancy.about.com/library/weekly/aa071600a.htm
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Normal
Bleeding (Lochia, flow)
Your vaginal flow
usually lasts for at least 3 weeks. The first few days after delivery
it will be bright to dark red and will be like a menstrual period.
It will change to a pink discharge, then brown, and then to a white or
colourless discharge. If at any time you experience increased bleeding,
saturating more than one sanitary pad an hour, seek medical attention immediately.
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Afterpains
Your uterus will continue
to contract as it returns to its original size and shape. Everyone
describes these contractions differently. They are normal. Women
who have had more than one baby often have stronger afterpains. After
pains often increase when you are nursing. They may last for several
days. For relief, try a hot water bottle or a mild analgesic
such as tylenol.
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Passing
urine and bowel movements
Following delivery,
you may find you are going to the bathroom more often. This is due to the
increased fluid you may have stored during pregnancy. You may experience
some discomfort when you pass urine over your perineal stitches.
It is important to report any difficulties you may have passing your urine.
It is important to
avoid constipation. Most people will have a bowel movement about 3 days
following the birth of their baby. Be sure to drink lots of fluids,
choose high fiber breads and cereals, and eat at least 5 to 8 servings
of fruits and vegetables daily.
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Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are common
following the birth of a baby. They are caused by enlarged blood
vessels inside and/or outside the rectum. They result from increased
pressure often from pushing your baby out. Tub and sitz baths relieve
the discomfort. Do not strain to have a bowel movement. You
can ask your doctor for a medicated ointment to relieve the discomfort.
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Swollen
Feet or Ankles
You may notice that
following the birth of your baby that your feet and ankles appear more
swollen. This is a redistribution of the extra fluid in your body.
This will resolve on its own. Be sure to keep your feet elevated
when you can.
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Bathing
Your Baby
The nursing staff
will assist you with bathing your baby for the first time. Babies
do not need to be bathed each day, every other day is enough. Shampoo your baby's hair 3-4 times per week. Be
sure to use a mild baby soap on his/her skin and use unscented lotions
and other baby products. Never leave your baby unattended during their bath.
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Cord
Care
Your baby's umbilical
cord needs to be cared for after birth. The nursing staff will instruct
you as to the current standard of cord care. Be sure to keep the
base of the cord clean and dry. Fold the top of the baby's diaper
down to prevent irrtation of the cord.
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Jaundice
Jaundice is the yellow
color of an infant's skin which results from a substance, called bilirubin,
in the tissues and skin. The major source of bilirubin is a breakdown
of extra red blood cells, which is a normal process. If you are breastfeeding,
be sure you are feeding your baby 8 to 10 times in 24 hours and feeding
at least 20 minutes on one side. This will help your baby get rid
of the excess bilirubin by stimulating bowel movements. If you are
bottle feeding, be sure your baby feeds every 3 to 4 hours and takes at
least one ounce of formula. Watch your baby for increased sleepiness,
poor feeding, or a decrease in the number of wet and dirty diapers.
Report this to your nurse or to your family doctor after discharge.
If the nurses and your doctor are concerned that your baby is jaundiced,
a blood test may be done to check the bilirubin level.
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Birth
Certificates, PEI Health Card, Child Tax Benefits
All births must be registered with vital
statistics. The ward clerk on the maternity unit will provide you
with the necessary forms to fill out after the birth of your baby.
When you go home you will need to contact the department of Health and
Social Services to obtain a provincial health card for your baby.
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Visiting
Fathers may visit with mothers and babies
any time. All other visitors can visit from 2:30pm - 4:30pm and from
6:30pm- 8:30pm. Patient rest period is from 1:30pm -
2:30pm and there is no visiting during this
time (not even fathers!!!). This visiting hours allow time to rest
for mom and baby. They also allow for time for mothers and fathers
to get to know their babies. Siblings of new babies may visit with
their parents. Please ask anyone who may have a cold, flu, or other
infectious condition not to visit until they are feeling better.
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Baby
Photographs
This service is provided by FirstFoto. A
representative visits the unit daily. Please speak to the ward clerk
on Unit 4 if you are interested in having your baby's picture taken.
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Television
Hospitality Network
provides television services for patients in the QEH. Order forms are available
across from the nurses station on Unit 4. The representative visits
the unit daily to establish, update, and disconnect tv service. There
is a fee for this service and it is due upon installation or renewal.
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Telephone
Telephone service at the QEH is provided
through Island Tel. The cost is billed to your home number.
For phone service, just pick up the phone located at your bedside and an
Island Tel operator will connect your phone service. This can be
done Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
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