Post-Partum Instructions

All of us at Women's Health & Birth Care are proud of your new arrival and of you as parents. The joys of your new family addition are just beginning. However, for the next 2 weeks, your main responsibility will be to just yourself and your baby. Arrangements should have already been made for someone to be with you during this time of "getting to know each other". This adjustment period will establish your breast milk, well being and your relationship. The following are some simple being and your relationship. The - following are some simple guidelines to help you during the immediate postpartum period.

Mother

Temperature	Check every morning and evening for one week. Call if it is higher than 100.4°.
Diet	You still need plenty of protein foods and fresh vegetables. Drink 8-12 glasses of water/juice daily.
Rest	You don't have to stay in bed, but when the baby naps, so should you. Don't overwork yourself!
Breasts	Milk should come in on the 2nd or 3rd day after delivery. Nurse often to relieve the pressure. If your breasts get hard, turn the baby around in the football hold, stand under a warm shower, or put warm washcloths on your breasts prior to nursing. Call if your breasts are painful, or if red, hot areas develop. Check your temperature before calling.
Uterus	"Afterbirth pains" are crampy-Iike feelings that very often occur in the first week and are stronger when nursing. It helps to keep your bladder empty, so be sure you drink plenty of fluids and urinate often. Try lying on your stomach. If this does not help, you may take two (2) regular strength Tyienol every 4-6 hours as needed. Call if your uterus is tender. Check your temperature before calling.
Bleeding	The locia should change from red to pinkish/brown in 3-4 days, then white/brown in 7-10 days. Every time you go to the bathroom, use your squirt bottle to rinse off. Be sure to change your sanitary napkins frequently, even if just slightly soiled. Call if you bleed enough to soak a pad in one hour, or if you pass many large size clots.
Stitches	If it was necessary for you to have stitches, your bottom may be sore. Be sure to rinse yourself every time you use the toilet by squirting from front to back with your peri bottle. You may add an ounce of betadine solution to 8 ounces of warm water. Sitz baths make your bottom feel better as well as improve healing. Do not rinse the herbs off after getting out of the bath. A compress made from the herb, Comfrey, also promotes healing. Keeping your legs together will put less stress on the stitches. Swing both legs over the side of the bed together when getting up. Keep your legs together when sitting. Call if your stitches become very tender or red. Check your temperature before calling.
Elimination	Drink lots of liquid and be sure to empty your bladder at least every two hours while awake. Your routine bowel habits should return in 2-3 days. If you have stitches, don't be afraid to have a bowel movement. The stitches will not "rip" out.
Other	Rest when baby sleeps. Call us if the calves of legs hurt. Nothing in the vagina until bleeding has totally stopped. Call us if you have other questions, problems or concerns.

Baby

Temperature	Check your baby's temperature every morning and evening for one week. Do this by holding the thermometer in place under the armpit for 5-8 minutes. Call us or your pediatrician if the temperature is below 97° or above 100°.
Feeding	Fluids are important to infants. They need to eat at least every 2-3 hours at first—both in the day and night. Put your baby to the breast if he seems fussy, even if its only been 30 minutes since the last feeding. This will insure that your milk will keep up with your fast-growing infant, as well as hive him added security.
Wet Diapers	The baby should wet from 6-8 diapers a day after your mild comes in. Change the diapers often when necessary and always wipe from front to back with a warm washcloth. Call us if your baby has not urinated within the first 24 hours.
Bowel Movements	The first stools are black/green, then change to yellow and are often curd-like. Diarrhea stools are green, watery and smelly. Almost all babies' grunt and strain with their bowel movements. This is okay. It does mean the baby is constipated unless the bowel movement looks like marbles. Call us if diarrhea occurs, or if the baby does not pass meconium within 24 hours.
Respiration	Count only when sleeping for one full minute. Respiration should be below 60 per minute.
Cord	Clean the cord area with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide with every diaper change until it falls off—usually within 10-14 days. Call your pediatrician if the cord is smelly or if red streaks show up on the baby's tummy.
Other	Call if the baby's color is yellow or orange. Also, call for any other questions, problems or concerns.

REMEMBER TO CALL US IF MOTHER...

has a temperature higher than 100.4°.
has pain and the uterus is very tender.
bleeds enough to soak a pad in 1 hour or if passing many large blood clots.
has painful breasts, or has hot, red areas.
has other questions, problems or concerns.

REMEMBER TO CALL PEDIATRICIAN IF BABY...

has temperature below 97° or higher than 100°.
has diarrhea or is constipated.
has a smelly cord, or is red streaks show up on baby's tummy.
turns yellow or orange.
If you have any questions, problems or concerns.

Call 911...

If for any reason, the baby or mother, is experiencing extreme distress, pain, difficulty breathing, etc... do not hesitate to call 911.

Post-Partum Instructions

Mother

Baby

REMEMBER TO CALL US IF MOTHER...

REMEMBER TO CALL PEDIATRICIAN IF BABY...

Call 911...

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