Postnatal Care for you after the birth of your baby

Whether you have your baby at home or

in hospital you will be offered postnatal

care, support and advice to help you in

those first few important days.

 

If you have your baby in a hospital you

may go home from the Labour Ward if

all is straightforward. You will then be

visited at home by a community midwife.

 

You may wish to stay on our postnatal

ward for a night or two if this is your first

baby, or if you or your baby need some

additional care and observation.

It is just as important to look after yourself as it is to look after your newborn baby and the following information will help you to stay healthy. It is extrememly important for you to have a healthy balanced diet, get plenty of rest and have time to get to know your baby.

 

 

Care of your Perineum after the birth of your baby

If you have a perineal tear this will be repaired with stitches which will dissolve after approximately 30 days, it is important though to keep the area clean but avoid long periods in the bath as this may interfere with the healing, a 10 minute soak would be fine.

A community midwife will check that your tear is healing well at your home or in the post natal clinic. All women are encouraged to do pelvic floor exercises after the birth of their baby even if they have had a caesarean section. It is advisable to do these exercises as soon as you can after giving birth, please see our leaflet on how to do pelvic floor exercises.

 

Care of your Caesarean Section wound

Caesarean Section Wound Care

If you have had either an elective or emergency caesarean section, you will be moved down to the postnatal ward, once your condition has stabilised after surgery. You will have regular observations for at least the first 12 hours after the birth of your baby. You will have a cannula in your arm and a urinary catheter. Your wound will be covered by a dressing. Some women will also have a drain situated in their wound. This will be removed as soon as fluid stops draining from the wound.

The cannula will be removed as soon as the midwife who is looking after you, is happy that your condition following surgery is stable. Your urinary catheter remains in for at least 12 hours, but will be removed once you are able to mobilise. Please do not attempt to get out of bed, without assistance from a member of staff. Once the catheter has been removed, we have to ensure that normal bladder function has returned. You will be given a jug to measure the amount of urine you pass, the first three times. You will be given a chart, to record this.