A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

• Your nurse will check on you routinely and respond
to your concerns and questions.
• You and your nurse will discuss whether your pain
medication is effectively controlling your pain.
• You will complete the birth certificate information
before going home.
Your Care From 24 Hours After Birth
Until You Go Home
Baby
• Your baby will need to eat at least eight to 10 times a
day or every two to four hours. Try to feed your
baby when you see the baby is wakeful and alert.
However, you may sometimes need to wake your
baby for a feeding.
• Your doctor will examine your baby every day.
• Your nurse will check your baby routinely, and
whenever you have concerns and questions.
• Your baby will have a blood test called the Newborn
Screen.
• Prior to discharge, it is recommended that your baby
receive the Hepatitis B vaccine.
• Your nurse will take your baby’s blood pressure.
• If you choose to have your son circumcised, your
baby’s doctor will discuss the procedure with you
and ask you to sign a consent form. The doctor will
perform the circumcision before you leave the
hospital.
• Your baby will want to be near you, either in your
arms or nearby in the crib. We encourage you to
room-in with your baby so you become familiar
with feeding cues and how to care for your baby.
• While in the hospital, infants are required to sleep
independently in their bassinet.
Mom/Family
• You will talk to your nurse about your needs for
pain management, comfort, rest and food.
• If you had a cesarean birth, our staff will remove
your bandages. You will be able to shower, and
should spend time out of bed to regain strength.
• You should feel comfortable requesting any help
you need to care for your baby.
• Your nurse will check on you routinely and respond
at any time to your concerns and questions.
• You will complete the “Mother and Baby Teaching
Checklist (see page 71).”
• Your doctor/midwife will examine you daily until
you go home. Remember to ask about follow-up
appointments, birth control, prescriptions/
medications, activity and other concerns you have.
• Your nurse will ask if you have questions about your
labor and/or birth.
Your Family Checklist
Day One
___ Bring your car seat and instructions to the hospital. Practice
placing your baby in the car seat in your room. Adjust the
harness straps snugly. If your car seat has a base, secure it
facing the rear in the back seat of your vehicle.
___ There is a car seat DVD available, ask your nurse
to get it for you.
___ Identify who will help you at home.
___ Discuss with your nurse how the baby will affect your family
and her siblings.
___ Read the information in your bedside folder.
___ Begin the “Mother and Baby Teaching Checklist
(see page 71).”
___ Complete the birth certificate information.
___ Make a list of questions you have to discuss with your
doctor, midwife or nurse.
___ Make arrangements to go home. Talk to your
doctor/midwife about a going-home date.
Day Two or Until You Go Home
___ Plan a going-home time with your family and nurse. The
usual checkout time is at or before 1 p.m.
___ Have all your questions answered by your doctor,
midwife or nurse.
___ Talk with your nurse about supplies to take home.
___ Schedule follow-up appointments for you and
your baby.
___ Complete the “ Mother and Baby Teaching Checklist
(see page 71)” with your nurse.
___ When you are ready to leave the hospital, your
nurse will sign you and your baby out, escort you
to the lobby, and check your car seat.
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