Before you’re discharged from Swan Ward or the Bluebell Birth Centre you will be signposted to lots of information including our postnatal video which gives advice about the first few days and weeks after giving birth. If you choose to give birth at home, your midwife will let you know where to find these resources.

If you are not going home to your usual address following discharge from hospital, it’s important that you let us know.  

Your postnatal care at home will be personalised and will depend on your needs and the needs of your baby however you can expect to be offered the following appointments. 

Your baby’s birthday is day 0 so day 3 will be 3 days after baby is born.

Primary visit (midwife appointment on your first day at home)

Your midwife will visit you during the day, usually between 08:30 and 20:00, so we appreciate you staying at home during this time. If you have another appointment during your first day home, please let us know.

During your primary visit your midwife will offer to examine both you and your baby. Your midwife will offer to: feel your abdomen to ensure your uterus is shrinking back towards its original size, measure your blood pressure, and take your pulse and temperature. They will ask you questions about your recovery following birth, including blood loss and how you’re feeling physically and emotionally. 

Your midwife will offer to examine your baby and if appropriate, weigh your baby. They will ask questions about your baby, including how many wet and dirty nappies your baby is having each day, and discuss feeding in more detail. Your midwife will check for any signs of jaundice (changes to skin colouring, often seen as yellowing of the face or body), and any signs of infection in the umbilical cord.

Your midwife will also discuss safe sleeping with you and ensure you’re aware of how to put your baby to sleep safely to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Postnatal day 3

If you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding, you will be offered an appointment with a midwife or a support worker when your baby is 3 days old. This is to weigh your baby and offer feeding support if needed. This appointment will take place in your home or in our Postnatal Clinic in the Bluebell Birth Centre. Your midwife will let you know where your appointment will be held.

Postnatal day 5

Your baby will be reweighed when they are 5 days old. We will also offer the Neonatal Screening Test (NNST) otherwise known as a heel prick test. This involves your midwife collecting 4 spots of blood onto a special card. This is sent for screening of rare but serious conditions that, if treated early, can help a baby live a healthier life. This appointment will take place in your home or in our Postnatal Clinic in the Bluebell Birth Centre. Your midwife will let you know where your appointment will be held.

More information about this screening test can be found here. The information is available in other languages and in an easy read format.

Other visits

If there are any complications with your baby, such as a larger than normal weight loss on day 3 or 5, your midwife will put a plan into place which may involve more visits to monitor baby’s weight and may involve the infant feeding team to give you more support with feeding if needed. However, if you have any concerns about yourself or your baby following birth, you can call the Bluebell Birth Centre at any time for advice on 01926 495321 ext 6977.

Discharge from maternity services

If your baby has regained their birth weight and there are no concerns with either you or your baby, we would aim to discharge you from maternity services between 10 – 14 days. We will then hand over you and your baby’s care to the health visiting team. This discharge appointment may be face-to-face or over the phone, depending on circumstances.

Your health is important, both during pregnancy and afterwards. It is important to recognise that health encompasses more than just the physical and that mental wellbeing is equally significant. In fact, mental health issues are more common than physical health issues during pregnancy, impacting up to 20% of women and birthing people. 

Here are some tips and steps you can take to help you to feel physically and emotionally at your best during pregnancy and after birth:

Diet

What you put in to your body is important. You can support your mental wellbeing by eating a healthy, balanced diet with regular meals. Also reducing alcohol intake (stopping is ideal) and stopping smoking will help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Sleep and rest

Your energy levels may fluctuate so it is important to make time to relax and try to get regular sleep. You might find mindfulness or meditation useful to assist with winding down and the below suggested apps can help:

Physical activity

If you are already doing regular physical activity then you do not need to stop. Talk to your midwife or doctor if you think you might be doing too much. If you would like to be more active, have a think about doing something that appeals to you, such as swimming, yoga or walking. All are excellent ways to keep fit, lift your mood and help you sleep.

Ask your midwife about local exercise classes.

Relationships

This is a time to think about who you have around you to share your pregnancy with. Think about who will be around to support you during your birth and after your baby arrives. Let your family and friends help you with routine tasks, such as shopping or housework.

Relationships can change during pregnancy. If you are concerned about this, please talk to your midwife or doctor. 

Antenatal education

There is a lot to learn about what to expect in pregnancy, during birth and the postnatal period. Try to attend antenatal classes to learn about the changes to your body and how to prepare for a baby. This will help you feel more in control of what can be an exciting but challenging time and help you to meet others who are expecting babies around the same time as you.

Ask your midwife for further information.

Talk to someone

Pregnancy and the period after childbirth are significant times of change in a person’s life. It is common for women, birthing people and their partners to experience many different emotions during this time. It is often an exciting time, but you may also have mixed feelings about being pregnant. Many women and birthing people are worried about the impact that a baby will have on their lives and how they might cope with these changes. These worries might include:

  • The changes in your role (becoming a parent, stopping work)
  • The changes in your relationships
  • Whether you will be a good parent
  • Fear that there will be problems with the pregnancy or the baby
  • Physical health problems and pregnancy complications
  • Fear of childbirth
  • Lack of support and being alone

All of these anxieties are common and can be normal. However, as many as 1 in 5 women will experience a mental health issue in pregnancy or after birth. If your anxieties are impacting your day-to-day life, speak to a health professional. Talking to other people and sharing your feelings can be helpful.

Please speak to a healthcare professional if you notice changes in your mood that are lasting much longer than is normal for you. There is plenty of support in the local area and you can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies and Parents in Mind (catchment for women and birthing people with a CV postcode) using the links below:

Please tell your midwife, GP or obstetrician if you have an existing mental health problem or have had a mental illness in the past. They can make sure that you get the individualised care and support you need from a specialist perinatal mental health midwife and/or a perinatal mental health team.

Learn more about perinatal mental health services.

Pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan

Creating a wellbeing plan might help you to start the conversation with your partner, family, friends or midwife about how you are feeling and what might help you during pregnancy:

Further information 

To find out more about your body after pregnancy and birth, and for advice about how to help your body recover, click on the following links:

We recommend that you use contraception after your baby is born. For information about sex and contraception after birth, click on the following links: