You’ve had your baby!
The birth of a baby is a very exciting time for everyone, and many people will want to come and see you and baby. These early hours and days are also important time for you and your baby to get to know each other, establish feeding and recover from the birth which can be a tiring experience. Although a cot is provided, we encourage skin to skin. Keeping baby close makes them feel safe and loved and produces happy love hormones which help you to bond as a family.
While you’re in hospital
How long will I stay after having my baby?
If all is well and safe to do so it is usual for families to leave the hospital from a few hours after the birth up to 48 hours.
Who can stay with me while I am in hospital?
You may be accompanied by one support person for the duration of your stay 24/7. We do kindly request that the privacy and dignity of everyone be respected at all times. Appropriate clothing and footwear should always be worn and we kindly ask telephone calls be taken away from the ward area.
What facilities are available?
All wards have limited amount of room so please keep luggage to a minimum. Your community midwife will discuss with you at your 34 week appointment what to bring in to hospital. Each ward has basic showering facilities for supporting people. There are limited facilities for food on each ward and no microwave. Meals are provided for inpatients only; visitors have to provide their own food and refreshments.
Formula Milk – We do not provide any infant feeding formula within the hospital. We have dedicated kitchen for the preparation of formula on Pearl Ward and on The Birth Place. Should you need infant formula it is available in the League of Friends shop at the hospital entrance.
Routine examinations for baby
A screening examination which will be carried out before your go home by one of the midwives specialised in this examination. This will be done when your baby is calm and settled. As part of the overall examination, a number of specific screening tests will be carried out to identify whether there are any problems or conditions that may need monitoring, further investigation or treatment.
The specific examinations include:
- Heart
- Hips
- Eyes
- Testes
The outcome of the examination is recorded on the NIPE System and recorded in your baby’s personal Child Health Record (Red Book), which you will be given shortly after birth. As your baby will experience a lot of changes in the first two months of life, this examination is repeated again between six to eight weeks. It is usually carried out by your GP. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your baby or this examination, please do not hesitate to ask.
The Newborn Hearing Screen is offered to all babies either before being discharged from hospital or at an outpatient clinic appointment. One to two babies in every 1000 are born with permanent hearing loss in one or both ears. Finding out early can give your baby a better chance of developing speech and language skills. A newborn hearing screener will explain the screen to you and the results will be given to you as the hearing screen is completed. There are no risks associated with your baby having the screen.
After you get home
Role of community midwifery team and health visitor
A community midwife will visit you and your baby at home to ensure you are both well, your community midwife will call on the morning of your first visit prior to attending. You will also be offered feeding support visit, a visit on day five to weigh baby and for newborn blood spot to be taken and a discharge appointment which may take place at home or in one of the community clinics. You will be given information on all appointments during your first home visit.
You may be offered a virtual/video clinic so that you do not have to come for a face-to-face appointment.
If you are expecting a visit but have not had a text or call to confirm a time by 12pm please call the team office Monday to Friday (8am to 4pm) or The Birth Place on 01634 825199 at weekends or bank holidays.
A health visitor will be in contact shortly after your baby’s birth to arrange a home visit; the health visitor will provide support for you and your baby from birth until 5 years of age. The health visitor will weigh and examine your baby; this information will be recorded in the child record book, which you will be given before leaving the hospital. The health visitor will explain the purpose of the record book, and provide information on immunisations, support groups, clinic times and locations, developmental assessments. You can contact the health visiting teams (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Medway area
Call: 0300 123 3444
Online: Health visiting in Medway
Swale Area
Call: 0300 123 4014
Online: Health visiting in Swale
When will I be discharged from Midwifery care?
This will depend upon individual circumstances; it is usual for you to be invited to a discharge clinic 10 to 28 days following the birth of your baby.
What happens if I need help once I am home?
You can contact your team of midwives via the office from 9am to 4pm. If you require advice outside of these hours you can call the hospital ward you were discharged from or Call the midwife line if you have non-emergency concerns about the health of either mum or baby.
Kent Ward: 01634 976890
The Birth Place: 01634 825199
Call the midwife: 01634 825277
Additional Care
Neonatal Transitional Care (TC)
Transitional care is located within Pearl Ward. It is an area where babies requiring care from specialist neonatal staff may be admitted but with facilities for a parent to stay as well.
Babies requiring extra care either following birth or after a staying in The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit may be admitted. A parent stays with the baby to provide care supported by unit staff and the maternity team. Once the woman can be discharged, parents may swap who remains in hospital with their baby.
Mothers still requiring care for their own health will be looked after by midwives and maternity support workers. Once fit for discharge they will receive the same care to that which would be provided in the community setting with postnatal checks only when required. Once discharged any medication needed will be dispensed so that they can be self-administered as prescribed.
One parent/ guardian must remain with the baby, it is not possible to leave any baby in the care of staff alone.
Midwifery Additional Care (MAC)
The Midwifery Additional Care (MAC) pathway for babies is now being offered on Kent Ward. This pathway has been created for those babies requiring either Intravenous Antibiotics or Phototherapy for physiological jaundice. This is beneficial for families as it means that they are cared for by Maternity staff on our postnatal ward supported by the Neonatal Team, rather than be admitted directly onto the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit. Preventing term admissions to the neonatal unit and reducing separation between mother and baby is our priority. Provided that baby is well, it is recommended babies stay together with their mothers on the postnatal ward.
Maternity Enhanced Care Unit (MECU)
MECU is situated on our Delivery Suite. It provides an intermediate level of care for any woman requiring a higher level of care above that readily available on the antenatal or postnatal ward. It can include women requiring step-down care from the ITU or HDU wards. Provided that baby is well, it is recommended babies stay together with their mothers on MECU.
Birth Reflections
Birth reflections is a service available to any woman who has given birth, or is planning to give birth, with Medway NHS Foundation Trust. It is a service that provides an opportunity to discuss and understand what happened during both labour and birth.
Useful information
Exercise and advice after pregnancy – Following the birth of your baby it is important to help your body recover with safe and effective exercises.
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