Maternity Unit
Post Natal Care
Contact: (0191) 282 5739 - Sister Lynne McDonald
Following the birth of your baby you will be cared for on one of our postnatal wards in the Maternity Unit before being transferred home to the care of your community midwife.
On the wards you and your baby will be cared for by Midwives and Doctors who are supported by Nursery Nurses and Health Care Assistants.
If your birth was straightforward you will usually be admitted to Ward 33 and as long as all is well with you and your baby you may have an early transfer home to the care of your community midwife.
If you have a caesarean section, a complicated delivery or your baby is born early you will usually be admitted to Ward 32.
All the support and advice you need
If your baby is small or needs extra help with feeding you will receive help and advice from our Neonatal Nurse Practitioners who work closely with our Midwifery team and Nursery Nurses. In the past these babies would have been cared for in our Special Care Baby Unit. We are now able to care for these babies on the ward which helps with bonding and promotes Breastfeeding.
Specialist screening so you know all is well with your baby
After the birth your baby will be offered a newborn health screen by one of our paediatricians, neonatal practitioners or your midwife. This is an initial screen to check that all is well with your baby and gives you an opportunity to discuss any concerns or worries that you may have. Your baby will also be offered a hearing screen by a newborn hearing screener. If there are any concerns your baby will be referred to a specialist for any necessary tests.
When your baby is about five or six days old they will be offered a Newborn Blood Spot Screening Test. This helps to identify babies that are at risk of rare conditions such as Phenylktonuria, Congenital Hypothyroid, Sickle Cell Disease and Cystic Fibrosis. Ask your midwife for any further information or visit the UK Newborn Screening Programme Centre's website.
