Worried about your baby after birth
If you are worried about your baby after birth, you can ask for them to be checked, for the plan to be explained and for your concern to be recorded.
Your concern
I am worried about my baby after birth
Ask for urgent help now if your baby is struggling to breathe, making grunting noises, very floppy, unusually sleepy, difficult to wake, very pale, blue or grey, not feeding, has a high or low temperature, has fewer wet nappies than expected, or if you are seriously worried. If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.
You could say
“I am worried about my baby. Please can they be checked now, and can someone explain what they find, what we should watch for and when to seek urgent help?”
Questions to ask
- What checks have been done?
- What should we watch for?
- What would mean we need to be seen urgently?
- Who should we call out of hours?
- Can this concern be documented?
Ask for it to be documented
If you are worried, you can ask for your concern and the advice given to be recorded.
“Please can you record in my notes that I raised this concern, what I reported, what was checked and what the plan is?”
The core question
If you are worried and do not know what else to say, ask this.
“What has been checked? What is the plan? When will this be reviewed again? Who is responsible for the next decision?”
You are allowed to ask for the reason, the plan, the review point and who is responsible for the next decision.
Hear Her First does not tell you what clinical decision is right. It helps you ask clear questions, understand the plan and seek further review if you do not feel reassured.