Being discharged from the post natal ward
Next steps when you leave the hospital
Appointment requirements:
- Registering the birth of your baby is a legal requirement that needs to happen within 42 days of birth: Births - Reading Borough Council
- GP appointment for you and the baby at 6/52
- A health visitor will contact you in the first couple of weeks to introduce themselves and their service to you
First few days at home
You will be visited at home by a community midwife, the visits will be any time between 8.30am and 4.30pm, 7 days a week including bank holidays.
If you do not receive a visit or have not been contacted by 4.00pm, please call Triage on 0118 322 7304
Baby crying
Cry-sis provides support for families with a crying sleepless babies.
You can contact their helpline: 08451 228 669 - 9am-10am 7 days a week
or on their website Homepage Who We Are | The Cry-sis Helpline
You can also find advice on the ICON website Parents - ICON: Babies cry, you can cope
Safer sleeping
For more support on safe sleep, please refer to Safer sleep overview | The Lullaby Trust
Baby safety
Pain relief after birth
Breastfeeding support
Your health
- If you have concerns around the healing of a wound including pus, smell, signs of infection including fever
- If you pass blood clots bigger than a 50 pence piece or have any increased blood loss
- Feeding concerns
- Signs of mastitis including engorged breasts, pain, lumps, heat, feeling unwell.
- Increased abdominal pain
Call Triage on 0118 322 7304
Worried about your newborn baby
The following symptoms require you to contact a health professional through NHS 111:
- Change in cry - high pitched or weak
- Not interested in feeding
- Passing much less urine than usual
- 'Soft spot' on head bulging or feeling like a blister
- High temperature or sweating
- Some blood is seen when the newborn has a bowel motion
If your baby is showing symptoms that require urgent medica attention as specified in the video, please dial 999.