Staying in hospital after birth

Please be aware:

• For infection control purposes, it is Trust policy that fresh flowers are not allowed on the wards.
• Please ensure that your relatives are aware of the visiting times, and will not have a wasted journey to the hospital.
• Please refer to the  visiting patients page for the latest information regarding visiting guidelines.

Breakfast – 8am
Lunch – 12:30
Dinner – 17:30

The ward hosts will come to ask your preferences for lunch and dinner. Please let them know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Please help yourself to breakfast between 8am-9am, if you are unable to get out of bed someone will bring your breakfast to you.

We have snack boxes and fruit available if you feel hungry between meals or if you miss your hot meal, for any reason. Please just ask one of the midwifery team.

The ward hosts serve hot drinks mid-afternoon and mid-evening. There is a hot drinks trolley if you would like to help yourself at any other time. Please note that the drinks are free for women staying on the ward, but we ask that visitors make a small contribution.

We are currently unable to allow partners to stay overnight.

You are allowed to use your mobile phone whilst on the ward, but please respect the other women on the ward, who may be trying to sleep. Please turn the ring tone to silent.

We ask that visitors leave the ward to use their mobile phones.

If you wish to use the Hospedia TV/Telephone facility, cards may be purchased from the machines on the wards.

Your length of stay on the postnatal ward will be dependent on the type of birth you had and how well you and your baby are.

All babies require a newborn check before going home. This is either done by a paediatrician or a senior nurse or midwife who has undertaken a course to be qualified to perform the check.

It is also advised that all babies have their hearing screened on the ward before going home.

Once you and your baby are ready to go home from hospital the midwife will arrange your discharge from our care. This process may take some time depending on your needs and the workload on the ward. We will do our best to get you home as soon as possible, but it is likely that this will be in the afternoon.

We have developed a postnatal booklet which we hope will cover everything you need to know in the first few days at home with your baby including:

• Registering the birth
• Safe sleeping and reducing the risk of cot death
• Assessing common health problems
• Feeding advice
• Postnatal exercises and caring for your perineum
• Contraception