Taking care of your baby - maternity discharge video
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Hello, I'm Sammy and I'm a midwife.
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Congratulations on the birth of your baby.
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Before you go home with your baby, there are some things we'd like
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to tell you about to help you take care of yourself and your baby.
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If you have any questions, please ask a midwife or one of
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the team on the maternity unit.
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You can watch this video again on the hospital website or via
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the MOMA app when you get home.
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So don't worry about remembering everything now.
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Between five and eight days after your baby is born a midwife or
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maternity care support worker will, with your consent, take a small sample
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of bloods from your baby's heel.
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This simple test identifies babies who may have a rare but serious condition.
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Most babies screens will not have any of these conditions, but for those who do
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early treatment can improve their health.
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Your baby's cord will dry out and drop off anytime between five
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days and 15 days after that.
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If it's kept dry, it usually takes around a week for this to happen.
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As the cord dries out, it will shrivel up and it will change from
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yellowish green to brown or black.
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It should drop off by itself.
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Be sure to let the cord come away naturally, don't pull on it,
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even if it's hanging by a thread.
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If you notice any bleeding or discharge, tell your midwife,
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your health, visitor, or your GP.
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You'll need to keep your baby's umbilical cord clean and dry to
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prevent it from becoming infected.
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Always wash your hands before and after you change your baby's nappy.
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Dress your baby in loose clothing to allow the air to get to the cord.
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You can keep the cord clean by giving your baby a bath or topping
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and tailing with a warm, moist flannel or sponge using just water.
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Getting your baby's cord wet won't slow up the healing or make an infection
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more likely as long as you dry it afterwards, by gently patting it
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with a soft, clean towel or cloth.
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Keep your baby warm.
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Let the cold dry fully before putting on a nappy, you can fold down the
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top of your baby's nappy to allow air to get to it and to avoid friction
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from the nappy, irritating that.
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Whichever way you decide to feed your baby.
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We're definitely here to support you.
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Feeding's a really special time where you and your baby can build a close
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and loving relationship and make sure your baby has the best start in life.
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If any issues have been identified from feeding assessments in hospital,
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then an individual feeding plan will be put in place for you.
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A feeding assessment is carried out on day five, as well as a weight check,
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which helps us know how feeding's going.
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Nappy is also another great way of knowing if your baby's getting enough
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milk and the nappies will change over the first week of the baby's life.
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For more information on what to expect in the nappy, please visit the website.
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On the wall around your bed space there's also an information board
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with an infant feeding poster.
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You can use the QR code to access our baby friendly feeding information.
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You can also find information about the feeding on our website.
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On our website you can find reliable and useful information to support
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you with feeding your baby, tongue tie information, and infant feeding support groups.
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In those first 24 hours after your baby's born it is usual for a
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baby to feed about four times.
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After the first 24 hours, the number of feeds should increase and a
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baby should be having between eight and 12 feeds in a 24 hour period.
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If your baby isn't having enough feeds, they can develop jaundice.
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Jaundice causes a yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and the gums.
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Most babies will not be affected, but a small number do require treatment.
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Most only need monitoring, some require light treatment and a few
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will require specialist support.
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If your baby has any signs of jaundice contact your community
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midwife during the day, or you can contact the maternity department
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during the night, they'll perform a painless and quick bilirubin test.
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Some babies may need a blood test.
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Sunshine is not a treatment, so please do not place your baby in direct sunlight.
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Here's some important advice to help you create a safe sleeping
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environment for your baby
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both day and night. Make sure that your car and your home is
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always free of cigarette smoke.
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Make sure the room where your baby's sleeping is kept between
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16 and 20 degrees celsius.
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Make sure that your baby sleeps alone in their cot or crib in their parents
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or carers room for the first six months.
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Please always place your baby on their back to sleep day and night.
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Position your baby so that their feet are at the foot of their cot or crib
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and make sure any bedding is tucked in securely and that there is nothing
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else in their crib or their car.
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To prevent your baby overheating, never cover your baby's face or head.
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While they're sleeping.
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Make sure you never put your baby to sleep in a cot or crib with pillows, cot
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bumpers, duvets, quilts or soft toys.
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Always remove your baby's hats and outer clothing when coming indoors,
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especially if the baby's asleep.
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Always remove your baby from their car seat as soon as they're brought inside.
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Avoid dressing your baby and warm clothing when carrying in a baby sling.
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You can speak to your midwife or health visitor at any time for advice about
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safer sleeping in your baby's first year, particularly about the dangers
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of overheating and how to prevent it.
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The Lullaby Trust promotes expert advice on safe sleeping.
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So as you get to know your baby, you will get to know what is
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normal and what is not normal.
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If your baby is becoming unwell, you may see a change in them.
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And ensure you contact your midwife GP or local maternity unit if you have any of
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the following concerns about your baby.
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If your baby is not feeding, if your baby's not having wet nappies, if your
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baby does not do a poo for more than 24 hours, if your baby's floppy, difficult
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to wake and difficult to feed, if baby's skin looks yellow and it's sleepy and
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not feeding, if there are any blisters on your baby's skin, if your baby has a high
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pitched cry that continues, and you are unable to settle him or her. Dial 999, and
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pitched cry that continues, and you are unable to settle him or her.
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Dial 999, and ask for an ambulance if your baby stops breathing or has difficulty breathing.
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If your baby's unresponsive and shows no awareness of what is going on,
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has glazed eyes and does not focus on anything, cannot be woken, has a fit,
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even if the baby recovers without medical intervention or has any changing color,
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so they're very pale, blue or dusky.
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We recommend that you register your baby with a GP of your choice as early as
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possible, and that you arrange a postnatal appointment with your GP between six
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and eight weeks after giving birth to check that you are both fully recovered.
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All births must be registered with a register of births and deaths in
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the area where the baby was born.
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Your baby must be registered within six weeks, which is 42 days of being born.
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Registering your baby's birth is free.
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You can make an appointment to register the birth on Kent
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County Council's website.
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Alternatively, you can call 03000 41 51 51.
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Thank you for watching.
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If you have any questions, please speak to a midwife or a member of
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the team before you leave hospital.
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If you have any questions, when you get home you can get in touch
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with us at the maternity liaison or here at the maternity unit.