While you and your baby are still in hospital
LMC’s responsibility is to:
- work in partnership with you to develop your postnatal care plan
- complete a daily postnatal check with you and your baby
- be available to answer your questions and help with your concerns
- promote early bonding between you and your baby
Your responsibility is to:
- share information with your LMC that may affect your care
- ask your LMC questions and voice your concerns
- expect to have your baby rooming in with you.
- ask for help when you need it
After you and your baby are discharged from hospital
LMC’s responsibility is to:
- visit you at home within the first 24 hours following discharge from hospital or Birthcare
- arrange mutually convenient visiting times
- ensure you are well and your baby is thriving
- provide you with support and guidance for feeding your baby
- refer you to the appropriate community support groups with your consent
- provide postnatal care for you and your baby from discharge home up to 6 weeks
Your responsibility is to:
- make yourself available to be checked by your LMC at the arranged times to ensure both you and your baby are thriving
- ensure that you have provided your correct address and contact numbers on discharge from hospital or Birthcare
- inform your LMC in plenty of time if you need to change the time of a visit
Physical postnatal check
At each visit in hospital and at home, your LMC will carry out a physical check to make sure you’re recovering well from childbirth.
The check may include:
- Breasts and nipples: to check their condition and assess milk supply.
- Uterus: to ensure it is returning to pre-pregnant size (usually by six weeks).
- Lochia (blood loss): amount, colour and odour.
- Perineum/wound: to check healing, if appropriate, and observe for signs of infection.
- Bladder/bowels: to check that they’re functioning normally.
- Legs: to observe for signs of blood clots and to check that swelling is reducing.
- Pelvic floor exercises: instruction and encouragement, to reduce the risks of incontinence later in life.