Before you go home with your baby
Going home can feel rushed. You are allowed to ask for the discharge plan to be explained clearly, written down and for someone to talk through what to watch for in you and your baby.
You could say
“Before we leave, please can you explain what has been checked, what is normal to expect, what should make us call back, who will visit us at home and when our follow-up appointments are?”
Questions to ask
- · How am I expected to recover in the first few days?
- · What bleeding, pain or symptoms are normal, and what is not?
- · What signs of infection should I watch for in me or my baby?
- · What checks have been done on my baby?
- · Has my baby fed well, and is feeding established enough to go home?
- · Who will visit us at home and when?
- · Who do I call if I am worried about myself or my baby out of hours?
- · What follow-up appointments do we have, and what are they for?
- · Is there anything that would mean we need to come back to hospital?
- · Can the discharge plan and advice be written down for me?
Hear Her First does not replace your midwife, health visitor, GP or urgent care. It helps you ask clear questions before you leave.