Once you are medically stable, you will be discharged to go home. If you have had an uncomplicated birth, you will usually be okay to go home with your baby after 24 hours in hospital. If you had a Caesarean section, you will usually need to stay in hospital for two or three days to recover.
We will assess you and your baby regularly to monitor well-being, needs and requirements for any support after you go home. Before you are discharged from the hospital, we will review your discharge planning checklist with you to ensure that all of your questions have been answered and follow-up care is in place before you leave the hospital.
If your baby requires special care, you be discharged home before your baby. In these cases your baby will stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which is located on Kidd 5. You and your partner are welcome to visit the unit anytime and participate in your baby's care, but you won’t be able to stay in your postpartum room. A member of your health care team will talk about this possibility. Before you go home a social worker may be involved in arranging support for you depending on your individual needs.
Here are some other items to be considered or completed before you and your baby leave the hospital:
For parents
Bleeding
After your delivery, you will notice that you are bleeding as you may during menstruation. This bleeding should decrease on a daily basis. Bleeding, spotting and bloody discharges may continue for a few days to a few weeks after your baby's birth. If you notice that the amount of bleeding is increasing or lasts more than three or four weeks, please notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Sexual intercourse & contraception
It is recommended that you wait until your bleeding has stopped before you resume intercourse. It is important for you to recover and heal which may take four to six weeks. For more information speak to a member of your health-care team.
Before leaving the hospital, please ask your care provider any questions on issues related to fertility and contraception.
Exercise
Exercising after delivery can be very beneficial, but give your body time to recover. Many women don’t try anything more active than going for a walk until six weeks after delivery. If you’ve had a caesarean section, we also recommend you wait six weeks before doing any heavy lifting.
Emotional adjustments + Postpartum depression
Having a new baby is an exciting time but, sometimes life with a new baby is not always what you expect. Many parents will go through a period of the ‘baby blues’ as they adjust to their new role. This can have a significant impact on the birth parent as their body adjusts to the hormonal surges of the postpartum period. This is not the same as postpartum depression and is a common and completely normal part of new parenthood. You may experience moodiness, irritability, a feeling of isolation, headaches and sleeplessness. If you feel that you can’t cope, or are overwhelmed, ask for help. It is important to manage your emotions so that you can meet the needs of your baby.
Postpartum depression is more serious. It is a condition that can occur anytime after delivery but typically appears in the first few weeks after birth. Symptoms can include feelings of hopelessness, extreme sadness and frustration. You may feel overwhelmed and have low self-esteem, reduced libido and problems sleeping or eating. You could experience increased anxiety or panic attacks and have little interest in your baby. If you are feeling this way, it is important that you receive help, so notify your caregiver as soon as possible. They will provide you with support and counselling services. Please click here for more information from KFL&A Public Health about perinatal mood disorders.
For babies
Infant Car Seats
Before you leave the hospital, you must have an approved car seat installed for your baby. It's the law. Before you are discharged we will check to make sure you have an approved car seat and have safely secured your baby in it. The Ontario Ministry Transportation has step-by-step tips on installing car seats. If you are still unsure how to install your seat, contact your Seats for Kids which is a non-profit organization that offers clinics and inspections.
Registering your baby
We will give you the forms that you will need to complete to register your baby's birth. If you have a computer or tablet with you in the hospital many of these forms can also be completed online. The forms include:
- Health Registration
- Statement of Live Birth
- Child Tax Benefit Forms
Newborn Screening
We will screen your baby for several rare disorders that can cause future health problems. 24 hours after they have been born, small sample of blood will be collected from your baby. This blood is collected on a special paper card and sent to the Newborn Screening Program for testing. We also screen for heart defects which using a small probe wrapped around the baby’s foot.
This screening is done on all babies born in Ontario. Early detection of these childhood illnesses will lead to early treatment and cam reduce the chance of serious health problems later in life.
Infant Hearing Program Screening
We will offer a hearing screening test for your baby. This is usually done before you leave the hospital, however it can be carried out in a clinic afterwards. This test will allow babies who have a hearing loss to be identified early and early detection is important for their future development. This is a non-invasive test that will be carried out by a specially trained member of our team. It is usually done while your baby is asleep or settled and you can stay with your baby while the test is done.
Circumcision
This procedure is not performed on newborns at KHSC. Circumcisions that are performed for religious, social or cultural reasons are also not covered by OHIP. For more information about circumcision, speak with your primary caregiver. You can also click here for information about the Napanee Area Circumcision Clinic.
After you go home with your baby
Your baby should be seen by your family doctor, midwife, or pediatrician during your first week back at home to make sure that all is well. If your baby needs to be seen in our Well Newborn and Parent Clinic, an appointment will be booked before you are discharged from the hospital.
While you are at home, it is important to continue to monitor for signs and symptoms of jaundice. If you notice anything, please see contact your primary care provider immediately or take your baby to the Children’s Outpatient Clinic.
You should also arrange an appointment for yourself with your caregiver for six weeks after delivery. Home and Community Care will also provide support and resources to you if your baby has any special needs.
