AFTER THE BIRTH

After the birth of your baby, you can choose to stay at National Women's Hospital, transfer to Birthcare or go home. At the hospital and Birthcare, there will be nurses available to care for you. If you choose to go home, we can arrange for a private midwife to visit.

When to call Origins or your postnatal midwife:

You experience bleeding from the vagina that has large clots or soaks a sanitary pad in less than 2 hours. If it is gushing, call an ambulance immediately.
You notice that your lochia has a bad odour.
You feel severe pain in your lower abdomen.
You notice redness, swelling, hardness or discharge from the site of a vaginal tear or episiotomy.
A vaginal tear or episiotomy begins to hurt more rather than less.
You are unable to pass urine or have pain, burning or notice traces of blood when passing urine.
You have a temperature over 38°C, or you feel hot and feverish.
You have pain in the legs.
There are hard, sore areas in your breasts, or discomfort when breastfeeding.
You experience sudden, severe chest pain (call an ambulance).
If your caesarean wound looks red or is opening or there is bad smelling fluid coming from the wound site.

Pelvic floor exercises

Your pelvic floor muscles stretch from the pubic bone to the tail bone. They support the bladder, uterus and bowel. They also close the bladder outlet and back passage. During and after pregnancy, it's important to give these muscles a regular workout. If you neglect your pelvic floor muscles, your bladder control could be compromised - when you sneeze or cough, you'll wet your pants. You can begin improving the tone of your pelvic floor muscles the day after delivery.

Pelvic floor workout:

Sit comfortably with your feet and knees wide apart. Lean forward and place your elbows on your knees. Remember to keep breathing throughout and keep your tummy, leg and back muscles relaxed.
Imagine you are trying to stop yourself from passing wind and peeing at the same time. Tighten the muscles around your front and back passages and lift up inside. Hold for at least three seconds, then relax the muscles and rest for a few seconds.
Now tighten these muscles as quickly and as strongly as you can, then relax. Do this three times.
Repeat the pattern of one hold and three short pulses until the muscle begins to feel tired.
Try to do this workout around six times a day.

Breastfeeding advice:

If you're having your first baby and want to breastfeed, you may need some guidance from an expert.
The postnatal midwives that we recommend are very knowledgeable about how to successfully establish breastfeeding. We can also refer you to a lactation consultant if necessary.
If this isn't your first child, but you had problems breastfeeding previously, you may want to talk to a lactation consultant before your baby arrives.