Going home after the birth of your baby

Information for women, birthing people, and their families

Congratulations on the birth of your baby

Many new parents are anxious about caring for their baby at home. This booklet explains the process for going home after your baby’s birth. The care and support you receive after your baby’s birth is very important to us. This leaflet is an information guide, which aims to support you during this special time.

Going home from hospital

When is it ok to go home after the birth?

Why might I have to stay in hospital longer than expected after the birth?

You will need to stay longer if you experienced one or more of the following.

Leaving hospital / Midwife-Led Unit (MLU) / staying at home after a home birth

Before you leave the hospital you will be seen by a midwife or discharge co-ordinator. They will give you:

Please do not leave the hospital without your notes, and this going home advice. It is important that staff have checked:

Community midwifery care

What happens after I leave the hospital?

Community midwives will take over your care after you go home. This is usually the same team you saw during your pregnancy. The community midwife provides postnatal follow-up care. This may be through home visits, clinic appointments, and telephone calls. Your midwife will explain to you how you will receive your care. This will depend on:

We aim to ensure personalised support for you and your baby. Appointments / home visits are subject to your individual needs. The usual postnatal appointments are as below.

Home visits will usually take place between 9am and 3pm. You will receive a text reminder the morning of your home visit. Ideally a community midwife known to you will visit you. You should have had your first visit (or a telephone call) from your midwife by 3pm. If you have not heard from your midwife by 2pm, please contact the Maternity Liaison Office. Their number is at the bottom of this leaflet.

What can I expect from my community midwife?

Your midwife will ask you about your health and wellbeing, and that of your baby. They will offer information and guidance on the following.

Part of the physical postnatal assessment of you and your baby could include for following.

Your midwife is able to discuss your birth experience with you. They can answer any questions you may have about your care during labour and birth. If you have further questions, please discuss these with Birth Afterthoughts. More information on Birth Afterthoughts is available further down in this leaflet.

What if I need a midwife and am not expecting a visit?

If you are not expecting a visit or telephone call from your midwife but you have concerns and need to speak to them, you can:

Child Health Record book (‘the red book’)

Soon after the birth of your baby you will be given a personal Child Health Record book for your baby. This is a way of keeping track of your baby’s progress until they are 5 years old. It records the following information.

More information about the screening tests offered to your baby can be found in Screening tests for you and your baby.  

These screening tests include:

Newborn Blood Spot Screening (‘Heel Prick Test’)

This test is carried out by the midwife or maternity support worker with your consent, between 5 and 8 days after birth. This simple blood test identifies babies who may have rare but serious conditions. Most babies screened will not have any of the conditions. Early treatment is important for those that do. This can improve their health and prevent severe disability or even death.

Further information can be found in the following leaflets.

You will find more information on the ‘heel prick test’ in ‘the red book’.

Taking care of yourself after birth

It is important to look after yourself after birth. It may feel like there is no time to eat or sleep, but if you don't take care of yourself you will end up run down and exhausted.

You may feel tearful, anxious, or sad (this is often called baby blues). Your midwife should discuss this with you. Baby blues is common and the symptoms often go away on their own. It is not unusual to feel this way for the first two weeks. Speak with your midwife or doctor if you notice changes in your mood or emotions beyond this time. Do not struggle alone, hoping that the problem will go away – there is help and support available to you. If you think you may be depressed, speak to your midwife, GP, or health visitor.

In the immediate days after having a baby, there is increased chance of infection in the vaginal area. Very occasionally this can lead to the life-threatening infectious illness sepsis. It is important to wash your hands before and after going to the toilet or changing your sanitary pads. This is especially important when you or someone close to you has:

More resources for help and support can be found in the Further information section below.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) / blood clots

A VTE is also known as:

Pregnancy increases the risk of VTE by four to six times. The highest risk is soon after childbirth.

It is important that you can recognise and do something about the symptoms. Early treatment will reduce your risks of more serious medical problems.

Signs and symptoms

For more information, please read the Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy and the postnatal period leaflet.

If you have any symptoms or concerns, please contact Maternity Triage immediately. Their contact number is at the bottom of this leaflet.

Concerns about your health

Call Maternity Triage immediately if you have any of the symptoms listed below. Their number is at the bottom of this leaflet. You can call any time of the day or night. You can also call 111 for help and advice.

Symptoms to watch out for What this could mean
Feeling unwell, with a high temperature with or without shivers infection
Very heavy vaginal bleeding or passing blood clots haemorrhage (loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel)
Smelly vaginal discharge infection
Dizziness, fainting, breathlessness, palpitations, or chest pain a blood clot or anaemia
Severe abdominal (tummy) pain infection or haemorrhage
Visual (eyesight) disturbances raised blood pressure
Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting raised blood pressure
Pain in one of your calves a blood clot in your leg
Severe anxiety, paranoia, extreme depression, or strange thoughts. Speak with your midwife or GP if you are aware of these symptoms. If your family have noticed any of the above changes in you, they can also speak with your midwife or call 111 for help. postnatal mental illness

Concerns about your baby’s health

Newborn babies have underdeveloped immune systems, so they can quickly become unwell.

Ask for medical advice if you have any concerns about your baby’s health. You can speak with your midwife, GP, or call 111 if you have any of the following concerns.

Dial 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby has any of the following.

A baby can become unwell very quickly, so you need to act fast.

Caring for your baby

It is important to speak to someone if you need more support. You can speak with your family, friends, midwife, GP, or health visitor. There are more resources available in the Further information section below.

For more information about reducing the risk of cot death, go to the Lullaby Trust web site Safer sleep advice for babies. This covers:

When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there, all you need to do is ask. ICON have resources to support parents who need help.  

Children’s Hospital Services

If your midwife or GP has any concerns about your baby, you may be asked to bring them to one of our Children’s Day Assessment Units.

Discharge from midwifery care

You will usually be discharged from the midwife on day 10 after you have given birth. You may need to remain under the care of the midwife for a little longer. This will depend on your individual circumstances and needs. You may ask for midwifery advice for yourself up until 42 days after the birth of your baby.

After your midwife has discharged you, your baby will be under the care of the health visitor. The health visitor will continue to support you and monitor your baby’s wellbeing and development. They will also give you information about:

Your local children’s centre may also offer baby groups and baby massage classes.

It is advised that you register your baby with the GP of your choice as early as possible. If your baby needs to see a doctor before they are registered, they can be seen by your GP under your name.

It is recommended that you arrange a postnatal appointment with your GP surgery. You should have this appointment between 6 and 8 weeks after giving birth. Your GP will:

Registering your baby

You will need to register your baby’s birth before they are 6 weeks (42 days) old. You will not be able to claim child benefit until your baby is registered. More information on registering the birth is available in the Further information section below.

Sharing your birth experience: support after birth

Would you like to talk to someone about your experience of giving birth? You might find it helpful to discuss your experience. You may find this helpful for example if:

It is not unusual to be left with questions. These could include why something happened, or how it might affect any future births. You can speak to a midwife on the postnatal ward, a doctor, or a community midwife soon after you have gone home. They can answer your questions and help you understand what happened.

If you need support later on – weeks or even months later – you can contact Birth Afterthoughts. Please contact the Maternity Liaison Office and ask for an appointment with Birth Afterthoughts.

Who can I contact if I have any worries or concerns?

Your voice is heard

You will be contacted by a member of the ‘Your Voice is Heard’ team. They will aim to call you once you have been at home with your baby for approximately 6 weeks. They will listen to your experiences about the care you received. You can also share any suggestions you may have for us to improve our maternity service.

You can contact a patient experience midwife at any point in your maternity care via email.

Maternity Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP)

The MNVP is a group made up of parents, families, healthcare professionals, and community members. They work together to improve maternity and neonatal care during pregnancy, birth, and the early days of a baby’s life.

The MNVP are independent from the NHS Trusts they work with. They listen to the experiences of people who have used maternity or neonatal services. They use that feedback to suggest changes, solve problems, and help make care safer, more respectful, and more inclusive for everyone. If you would like more information about joining the MNVP, please email our patient experience midwives and ask for more information.

Maternity Units contact details

Further information