We provide postnatal care for you and your baby up to 28 days post birth.
Postnatal inpatient care is offered on Ward 16 at The Northumbria Hospital (NSECH). All rooms are private with en-suite facilities.
Birth partners are welcome to stay overnight, all other visitors must book a visiting time slot with the ward clerk. Postnatal care is continued by our team of community midwives who will visit you in your home or offer you an appointment in our postnatal clinic.
If you have any concerns about your or your baby during the postnatal period, you should contact 0191 607 2815.
We explain the fourth trimester
Signs and symptoms of an unwell baby
Signs and symptoms of an unwell mum
Choosing how you feed your baby is a personal choice and one that doesn’t need to be made before your baby is born. Although getting all the information when your pregnant will help you to make your decision. Your midwife and health visitor will be able to give you lots of information and answer any questions you may have.
Regardless of your feeding choice getting to know your baby during pregnancy helps your baby’s brain development. Take some time to relax and talk to your baby, stroke your bump. Encouraging your partner and other children to do the same will also help with the family bonding. Responding to your baby has been shown to be the most effective way of feeding, regardless of feeding choice so getting to know your baby early is a great way to start your feeding journey.
Skin to skin
Holding your baby in skin to skin directly after birth for at least an hour or until after the first feed, regardless of your feeding choice, will have benefits for both you and your baby. Skin to skin contact:
- Regulates your baby’s temperature, heart rate and breathing
- Calms and relaxes both you and your baby (and also your partner)
- Passes all the family friendly bacteria from mum to baby to help protect against infection
- Stimulates digestion ready for the first feed
For more information on skin to skin and the benefits and safety considerations, click here
Breastfeeding
Here at Northumbria we support all women to choose how they want to feed their baby, our staff are also aware of all the benefits that breastfeeding your baby brings to both you and your baby. Getting your feeding journey off to the best start will benefit both you and your baby health wise and also support the growing bond between you both. Our staff will be able to support you, antenatally and after your baby is born. Please speak to your midwife if you have any questions you would like answering.
Antenatal colostrum harvesting is a great way to commence your breastfeeding journey. By expressing your colostrum towards the end of your pregnancy you will be better prepared to meet any feeding challenges should they arise. For more information, click here.
Formula feeding
It is important that formula feeds are sterilised and made up safely at the right time. Powdered infant formula is not sterile and needs to be made up at the right temperature which will kill any potential bacteria present.
Please see – Guide To Bottle Feeding for more information.
Making sure you get the right milk for your baby is really important, your baby can stay on the Stage 1 (often described as suitable for newborns) until they are one year old. For more information on formula milks and different brands, please go to: First Steps Nutrition
The early days with your baby are a great time to get to know and build that loving bond together. Keeping your baby close and responding to the feeding cues will ensure your baby is relaxed and feels secure. More information on responsive bottle feeding can be found here.
Tongue tie
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie is an extra piece of skin which goes from underneath the tongue to the floor of the mouth and restricts the tongue’s movement.
Babies feed well with a free moving tongue regardless if they are breast or bottle fed. The presence of a tongue-tie may lead to feeding difficulties.
If a tongue tie is suspected to be causing your baby feeding difficulties, your midwife or health visitor will discuss with you a referral for a tongue tie assessment.
We have a specialist tongue tie division service at Northumbria for babies up to 6 weeks of age.
For more information on tongue tie, see our leaflet.
The Lullaby Trust gives this advice for safer sleep, day and night:
The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, firm separate sleep space (e.g. a cot or Moses basket) in the same room as you.
- Lie your baby on their back.
- Keep their cot clear.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
- Keep baby smoke-free.
- Avoid your baby getting too hot.
- Sleep your baby in the same room as you for at least the first six months.
For more information
Drop-in clinics now available
We now a postnatal contraception service at our weekend postnatal clinics at Wansbeck and North Tyneside.
We can offer:
- Progesterone-only pill (mini pill)
- Contraceptive injection
- Contraceptive implant
All contraception offered by maternity is safe to use immediately after birth and when breastfeeding.
Just drop in, babies and other children are welcome to attend. No appointment necessary.
For more information, visit Sex and contraception after birth - NHS