After Your Baby is Born

After recovery, you will be taken to a private room in the Women’s Care Center—our post-partum unit—where you can enjoy your new baby, family and friends in fresh, peaceful surroundings. Birth partner may enjoy staying for the entire time; sleep chairs are available.

Our studies show that when new moms have rested up after the birth, they would prefer to move to a fresh, quiet room. The Postpartum Unit is just a short trip down the hall from Labor & Delivery. (Post = after; partum = delivery.) Here homelike rooms are also pleasantly decorated in soothing colors, with private bathrooms. Our liberal Rooming-In policy helps you and your family bond with your new baby. Keep the baby with you as long as you like. When you need time for yourself, our skilled staff will give your baby tender, loving care in our nursery.

Our meal plan allows Mom and her birth partner to order breakfast, lunch and dinner from a restaurant-style menu. Order from 7 am - 7 pm and your selection will be brought to you within one hour.

Our goal is to provide family centered care in a comfortable environment to make your stay with us the best it can possibly be. We want this to be a memorable experience for you. We have 24 hour a day seven day a week availability of pediatric expertise to help in the care of your newborn. This includes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, all specifically trained in newborn care, and neonatologists (specialists in newborn care). We are available to communicate any important information to you and your pediatrician at any time. We recognize the benefits to you and your baby when your baby rooms in with you and we encourage this. However, when you feel you need time to rest or sleep, we offer the option of having your baby cared for in our well baby nursery. To help us make your stay with us special, we encourage you to contact us if you have any special requests concerning your baby.

We continue to adjust our visitor policy to reflect optimal patient support balanced with creating a hospital environment that minimizes infection risks.

See our Visitation Guidelines for current visitor information

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns receive hepatitis B vaccine during their nursery stay. Our staff would be happy to provide you with information about this vaccine and to answer any questions you might have about it. We ask that you discuss this vaccine with your pediatrician.

All infants have their hearing checked by a hearing screen during their nursery stay. You will be provided with the results of this screening test, and your pediatrician will be given a written report.

Jaundice or yellow color of the skin is caused by a buildup of a chemical in the blood called bilirubin. This occurs very commonly in newborns and typically lasts for a few days. It is usually seen starting at about 24 hours of age and typically is of no consequence. To insure that the bilirubin does not go too high, which can be a problem, your baby will have the level of bilirubin in his or her blood measured at 24 hours of life.

By law, all infants in Connecticut are checked for a group of diseases by a screening test done on a blood sample taken from the heel. Some babies require more than one such test. The results of this test will not be available until about 2 weeks after it is done. While abnormalities are rare, if any are detected, the results will be reported to your pediatrician and the hospital. In the unlikely event that occurs, your pediatrician will contact you with information on any subsequent testing and treatments that are necessary.

When you first come home, you may wish to just be alone with your new family. Accept offers of help, but leave enough time to rest. "Sleep when the baby sleeps" is also a good rule to follow.

See safe sleep guidelines for baby here

Many people have normal discomfort after giving birth. Below are common things you may experience:

• After pains: These slightly crampy pains in your uterus last a few days. Those who breastfeed may notice these pains coincide with feedings.
• Episiotomy or tear: If you had an episiotomy or tear, this area will be very sensitive when you first come home. Your doctor or midwife may recommend a cream or medication.
• Hemorrhoids: Because of pushing during labor, hemorrhoids may now be a problem. Drink lots of fluids and eat enough fruits and fiber to keep your stools soft.
• Breast discomfort: Whether you are breastfeeding or not, your breasts will become tender and enlarged as your milk comes in a few days after delivery. Breastfeeding frequently will relieve the discomfort. Even for those who are not breastfeeding, wearing a supportive bra—even when you sleep—will help.

Below are common things that are normal for newborns in the first days home:

• Sleep: Newborns sleep a lot,16 or more hours total in a day. You may wish for your baby to start sleeping through the night right away, but he/she needs to eat frequently and will likely want to sleep more during the day rather than at night.
• Feedings: Breastfeeding babies will need to feed 8 or more times in a 24-hour period. They naturally will want to feed more frequently between 3 pm and 3 am than at any other times. Formula-feeding babies usually eat at least 6 times in 24 hours.
• Diaper changes: Your baby's urination will increase each day, to the point when he/she will have 6-8 wet diapers per day. His or her stool will change color, from black/green, meconium, to brown or yellow stools. Especially in the first weeks of life, your baby's diaper will frequently contain stool.

Call your healthcare provider, physician's office or midwife immediately if you experience:

• Fever
• Increase in vaginal discharge
• Increase in vaginal bleeding
• Intense pain or cramping
• Feelings of depression
• Damaged nipples from breastfeeding
• Engorged/hard breasts that do not soften when breastfeeding
• Red parts of your breasts that are warm to the touch or painful

Call your baby's pediatrician or healthcare provider if you see:

• Sleepiness that leads to fewer than 8 feedings in 24 hours (if breastfeeding); or fewer than 6 feedings in 24 hours (if formula feeding)
• Fussiness or crying that lasts for long periods of time
• Frequent spitting up
• Less frequent urination or defecation than during the hospital stay
• Yellow or orange color to the baby's skin or whites of the eyes

You will need to see your health care provider about six weeks after the delivery of your baby or sooner if you had complications. During this visit, your doctor or midwife will check your weight, blood pressure, size of the uterus, any stitches or discharge you may have and your general health. It's a good time to ask questions and discuss birth control options with your health care provider too.

Your baby will need to be seen by a healthcare provider within days of going home. During this visit, your baby's healthcare provider will check the baby's weight and talk with you about your baby's feedings. This is a great time to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.