Your Hospital Stay
The big day has finally arrived. Along with all of the excitement of your new baby’s arrival are many questions you may have about how your hospitalization experience will be. Your stay will depend on the type of labor and delivery you have. The following overview can help prepare you for what to expect.
If you have a routine vaginal delivery, in general, your baby will be examined by a Labor and Delivery Nurse initially. This Labor and Delivery Nurse will check your baby head to toe to make sure that everything appears to be normal. The nurse will assess your baby’s activity, coloring, breathing. If you had a complicated delivery or any reason for your baby to be examined by a NICU Nurse or Physician, that service will be provided.
In the first 24 hours after delivery, if you decide to breastfeed your baby, you will likely attempt to breastfeed your baby multiple times. There are generally experienced nurses as well as lactation consultants that will assist you in this process.
Within 24 hours, a pediatrician on staff or a community pediatrician taking newborn call with the group of pediatricians you have chosen, will assess your baby. This physician is not necessarily the pediatrician that you have specifically chosen for your baby’s long-term care. Newborn care in the hospital currently is commonly provided by newborn specialists on staff and less likely to be provided by your chosen pediatrician. The pediatrician who cares for your baby in the hospital will communicate with your pediatrician regarding the care your baby received in the hospital.
If you have a baby boy and desire circumcision, this will likely be done by the pediatrician caring for your baby in the hospital. Occasionally, this is done by the obstetrician in the hospital who delivered your baby. Occasionally, the pediatrician who you have chosen for long-term care can provide circumcision in their office (if that physician provides this service).
Most healthy vaginally delivered infants will be discharged at 48 hours of life and will followup for a weight check, feeding check and bilirubin check with their chosen pediatrician at 48 hours of life. If the baby has spent more time in the hospital due to C-section delivery or any complications, then your baby may followup in 1-2 weeks after being discharged from the hospital.
After being discharged from the hospital, any concerns about your baby should be directed to your pediatrician. Do not hesitate to call your pediatrician with concerns about feeding, jaundice, hydration issues, or any other concerns you may have about your infant.
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