Postnatal period

Once your baby is born and everything is going well, you can choose to go directly home or to stay a day or two in hospital. We will be coming to visit you regularly. We will visit you within 24 hours of you going home, and in the first week a couple of times, providing support as your confidence grows with caring for your new baby. These first weeks after the baby is born are often the most challenging as you are dealing with hormonal changes, less night sleep, breastfeeding, adjusting to a new life and getting to know your baby and its needs.

After that first week we will see you once weekly or as often as needed until your baby is 6 weeks old. It is important to us that at discharge from our midwifery care you are a confident and managing well.

After discharge from our midwifery care, we will refer you back to your GP for on-going healthcare and immunisation. We will also arrange follow-up to Plunket (if requested) – who offer continuing Well-Child checks.

• During our postnatal care we thoroughly monitor and follow up on your recovery as well as the development and health of your baby. We will make sure that you are physically recovering well after the birth of your baby.
• Offer any on-going tests that are available for you and you baby.
• Support, advice and assistance with breastfeeding.
• Contraceptive advice.

The postnatal period is sometimes known as the ‘4th trimester’. It is a very important time for you and your family in getting to know your newborn. We are committed to providing you with as much support as you need during this time, as we have during your pregnancy and labour and birth.