We want your stay with us on Ward 16 to be as comfortable and safe as possible. Please take a few moments to read the following information.
Ward 16 consists of two shared four bedded rooms, two single rooms and an admission/triage room. Single rooms are allocated based on clinical need and cannot be reserved in advance.
Visiting
Afternoon: 14.30 - 16.30
Evening: 18.30 - 20.00
Visitors
Siblings may visit during visiting hours only, when accompanied by an adult
Over 16's only, except siblings
Maximum of 2 visitors per bed at any time
Birthing Partner
Open visiting for birthing partners between 09.00 and 22.00
Regrettably we cannot accomodate partners to stay overnight on ward 16. Please arrange transport home in advance.
YOUR POSTNATAL JOURNEY:
During your stay in Ward 16;
The midwife or maternity care assistant looking after you will perform daily examination on both you and your baby. This will include observations, discussing how feeding is going (breast or bottle) and how you are feeling physically and emotionally. All preparing you for heading home with your new bundle, ensuring you feel comfortable with all aspects of baby’s care, including feeding, changing, handling and bathing baby.
Recovery
Staff will assist you at any point required, if you are not yet ready to mobilise. However, we do recommend mobilising shortly after the delivery of your baby, as this helps to aid your recovery, and will be there to assist you with this.
Mental health
It can be normal, over the first few days, after having your baby to have the “baby blues”, please speak to your midwife about this if you are concerned regarding these feelings. If your mental health does not improve or you feel you are having issues with bonding with your baby; please speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP immediately, so that we can assist you with this.
Contraception
Although this may be one of the last things on your mind, contraception is an important thing to consider when you have just had a baby. Your fertility can return quickly, and you may become pregnant before your first period after having your baby.
We offer different methods of contraception prior to discharge. Please ask your midwife about this. Below is further information supplied by NHS Inform regarding all contraceptive choices.
New Baby!
Skin to Skin:
Throughout the first few hours of your baby’s life, it is very important for them to starting bonding and forming an attachment to their parents. Skin to skin contact is an excellent way to help facilitate this, and also aids in comforting your baby, making them feel safe and secure, and helps with building breastfeeding journeys.
Following the delivery of your baby, they will be dried and placed onto your chest to be held in skin to skin contact. This time should be undisturbed and unhurried, unless there are concerns with baby or mum’s health.
Please watch:
Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Meeting baby for the first time - YouTube
Detailed Examination of the Newborn:
Prior to your discharge home with your new baby, there are a few tests that will be completed by a paediatrician or midwife. This is a more thorough check of your baby, which has to be completed after 6 hours of age and before 72 hours of age. This will include checking your baby’s heart, hips and eyes.
Hearing Screen:
Also prior to your discharge, a hearing screen will be completed by one of our hearing screeners. Depending on the time of discharge, occasionally there will not be a hearing screener available, and you may be required to return to one of our “hearing screening clinics” after discharge.
Following delivery it is not uncommon for babies to require a second hearing screen, this would also take place at the clinic.
Swaddling your baby:
Please find below the advice given to parents in regards to swaddling your baby.
Swaddling your baby and using slings - The Lullaby Trust
Taking care of yourself
It is important to remain vigilant postnatally, in regard to your health.
It is completely normal to be feeling tired, but occasionally some women become unwell following having a baby. You should seek immediate advice from your midwife or GP if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Foul smelling bleeding/discharge from your vagina or wound
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
- Headaches
- Generally feeling unwell
- A temperature above 38 degrees
- A fast pulse (above 100 beats per minute)
- Leg pain
- Abdominal pain that is new or increasing
- Red or painful areas on your breasts
It is normal for women to have vaginal bleeding following delivery of their baby – known as lochia. It happens for all women, vaginal birth or caesarean birth. It is normal for this to be like a heavy period to begin with but should become less and lighter in colour. This may last up until 6 weeks following the birth of your baby. To help reduce the risk of infection, change your maternity pad regularly and keep the area clean and dry.
If you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Foul smelling discharge
- A temperature above 38 degrees
- Your bleeding becomes heavier
- You pass large clots (larger than a £2 coin)
Please call your midwife or Ward 16 for further advice.
Taking care of your Baby
- skin
Your baby’s skin should be pink and feel warm to touch. It is not uncommon in the first few hours for baby’s hands and feet to be darker. This is their body transitioning into the outside world. When feeling for a baby’s temperature always judge this by their torso, as they often have cooler hands and feet.
It’s not uncommon for your baby’s skin to dry – non-perfumed based oils can be used as moisturiser.
If your baby’s skin or the whites of your baby’s eyes happen to look yellow, inform your midwife of this. This may indicate jaundice. Newborn jaundice - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- jaundice
Jaundice is the name given to the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is very common for newborn babies to develop this. For the majority of babies, jaundice is harmless and will clear out of the body itself. However it is important to alert your midwife if you think your baby may be jaundiced:
Urgently if you notice your baby is jaundiced within 24 hours of birth
Same day if you notice your baby is jaundiced after 24 hours of age
There are two ways in which we can test for jaundiced -
A non-invasive means, using a handheld machine called a “bilimeter”, which is placed on your babies chest.
Or by obtained a blood sample from your baby’s heel. (If your baby is less than 24 hours of age, they will require this or if the bilimeter reading is high)
Mild jaundice will resolve without any treatment, but if your baby does happen to require treatment, this will be under a light known as “phototherapy”. This is a UV light that shines a blue light onto your baby’s skin which enables the body to break down the jaundice.
- cord
The clamped cord will usually dry up and fall off around 7-10days after your baby is born. It is important to keep the cord clean and dry, and out of the nappy to encourage it to dry up and help prevent infection. If you think the cord may be smelling or have discharge coming from it, you may use cooled boiled water with cotton wool at home to clean this. If you are concerned, or your baby has other symptoms that may indicate they are unwell, please inform your midwife or GP.
- eyes
It is not uncommon for your baby’s eyes to become slightly “gunky” following delivery, due to their immune systems reacting to life outside the womb. You can clean each eye with cooled boiled water and cotton wool, using different cotton wool for each eye. If you have concerns please talk to your community midwife or GP.
GOING HOME:
Prior to you heading home, and your care being assumed by the community midwives, we will cover a few topics to ensure you are happy and comfortable. These include:
- Handling your baby safely
- Choosing Nappies
- Changing your baby’s nappy
- Cord care
- “Top and Tail” wash
- Bathing your baby
- How to reduce the risk of cot death
- Signs your baby is well
- Signs your baby may be ill
- Car seat safety
- Registering your baby’s birth
- Registering your baby at the GP
- How feeding your baby is going
- Sharing a bed with your baby
- Signs your baby is thriving
IMPORTANT:
You will be seen at home the day after you are discharged, by your community midwife. They will be notified of your delivery and a summary of your care will be provided.
If you do not hear from them by 1500hrs the day after you are discharged home, please contact your community midwife. If you struggle to get a hold of them, then contact Ward 16 (01896826016).