I Just
gave birth
'Only maternity care'
Have you been under the care of a hospital during your pregnancy and delivery? If so, you can also come to us for check-ups and support during your postpartum period. You can sign up for this already during your pregnancy. Call our assistant or fill in your details here.
Your midwife, also during the postpartum period
As your midwife, we remain the responsible party during the first eight days after the birth.
If you have any questions during your postpartum period, you can always reach us at 0294-430317. Even after this period, if you have any concerns or issues related to your pregnancy or delivery, we are, of course, still available. This mental support continues even after midwifery care has been ‘closed’. This support covers everything related to motherhood, such as questions and concerns about returning to work, available coaching, and much more.
Practical stuff
The postpartum period may seem far away, but you can already start preparing in advance. These are a few practical things you should know or arrange for your postpartum week and beyond.
The maternity care provider comes every day to help you with the care of the baby and to monitor your health. She:
Teaches you everything about baby care and behavior
Checks your recovery daily
Checks the baby daily for things like: color, weight, temperature, urination, and bowel movements
Does basic household tasks
Supports you with breastfeeding.
Take a look at our page ‘Everything About Maternity Care‘ for more information or the ‘Maternity Care‘ page for tips on who to choose!
You must register the baby with the municipality where they were born within 3 days of birth. Your partner can do this as well, provided they are recognized as the parent. Recognition can be arranged before the birth!
Once the birth registration is done, the health clinic will automatically visit around the 7th day for the heel prick and hearing test. You can also arrange the baby’s health insurance now.
The If you are breastfeeding, you should start giving your baby vitamin K and D drops on day 8.
If you are formula feeding, you should start giving your baby vitamin D drops on day 8 (vitamin K is already included in the formula). Need more information?
The first week
The time has finally come, you’ve given birth, and you can now truly start getting to know your baby. It’s new and something to get used to. Read more below about the postpartum week.
Advice for you
- Go to the bathroom every 3 hours to urinate. Rinse with water or urinate under the shower.
- Try to feed your baby every 3 hours. If it doesn’t work, it’s not a problem in the first 24 hours, as your baby has enough reserves from the womb.
- Drink plenty
- Take paracetamol if you experience afterpains or discomfort from stitches (a maximum of 2 tablets of 500mg every 8 hours).
- Keep an eye on the bleeding. Some bleeding is, of course, normal.
Call us when
- If you need to change the large maternity pad more than once an hour because it is soaked.
- You lose many blood cloths
- If you pass two or more clots the size of, or larger than, your fist.
advice for baby
- Change the diaper every 3 hours and keep the diapers. Check if your baby has urinated or had a bowel movement.
- Take your baby’s temperature rectally every 3 hours. A temperature between 36.5 and 37.5°C is normal. Contact us immediately if your baby has a temperature of 38.0°C or higher. If your baby has a slightly low temperature, you can first try to warm your baby yourself by, for example:
- making an extra warm water bottle
- Put on more cloths / wrap the baby in an extra blanket
- Undress the baby (but keep the cap on) and place them skin-to-skin with you or your partner, covering the baby with plenty of blankets.
- Take your baby’s temperature again after more than 1 hour to check if the temperature has risen to 36.5°C or higher. If this is not the case, call 0294-430317 and press option 1.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding offers many benefits for both you and your baby. Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients a baby needs, such as proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The composition of breast milk is perfectly tailored to the baby’s needs, making it an ideal food for their growth and development.
Breastfeeding also contains substances that strengthen the baby’s immune system. This helps protect the baby from infections and diseases. Breast milk is easier to digest than formula, which also reduces the risk of cramps and constipation.
Additionally, breastfeeding also helps with faster recovery after childbirth, as your uterus returns to its original size more quickly and the bleeding decreases. It also promotes the production of oxytocin, a hormone that helps reduce stress.
Getting breastfeeding started is not always easy. That’s why we have some tips here!
Golden hour
The first hour after birth, babies are very alert. This is the best time to place your baby on the breast immediately. This stimulates milk production. Newborns are very good at finding the nipple on their own. They will then use their hands and latch on by themselves. It’s as if they crawl towards the breast.
Practice, practice, practice...
Watch a video with tips on proper latching:
engorgement
You may experience some discomfort on day 4 and/or 5 due to engorged breasts. You can take 2 tablets of 500mg paracetamol every 8 hours if needed. Sometimes, engorgement can be accompanied by a slight fever or chills. If your temperature rises above >38.0°C, call us on the emergency number.
pumping
Sometimes it is necessary to stimulate the breasts further with a breast pump. The Medela Symphony pump is the best pump to use during the first period. You can rent this pump from us! Ask our assistants for more information and how it works.
Don't be scared...
Baby Blues
More than half of new mothers experience ‘baby blues,’ also known as postpartum tears. You can recognize baby blues by sudden mood swings and/or unexpected crying spells. Usually, this goes away on its own after a few days. During these days, it’s better to take it easy and avoid too many visitors.
Baby's weightloss
All babies lose some weight in the first week after birth. This is completely normal. The maternity care provider and we will closely monitor the weight. Around day 4, most babies reach their lowest weight. After that, there is often a steady increase in weight.
jaundice in your baby
Most babies become a little jaundiced a few days after birth, regardless of their skin color. This is normal and usually goes away on its own after a few days. The yellow color of the skin is caused by a breakdown product from your baby’s blood. This substance is called bilirubin and it ends up in the skin. All babies are born with a lot of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is needed to absorb oxygen. In the womb, they cannot breathe on their own and therefore need more hemoglobin. After birth, this is no longer necessary and it gets broken down. If there is any doubt that the baby may be too yellow, we may conduct additional tests.
Blood loss
Bleeding is normal after childbirth and can last up to about 6 weeks after birth. In principle, the bleeding should decrease over time. If you become more active, you may notice that the bleeding sometimes increases slightly. That’s normal. It is important that the bleeding gradually decreases overall.
Fertility after childbirth
You can have sex again when you feel ready. There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Give the skin at the entrance of the vagina time to heal properly.
- Don’t have sex when you are still losing blood
The first menstruation can start again from 6 weeks onwards, but it can also be absent for several months. About 2 weeks before your period, ovulation occurs, which means you can already be fertile without knowing it. If you are not breastfeeding, you can be fertile as early as 3 weeks after giving birth.
If you don’t want to get pregnant again right away, make sure to use contraception when having sex. Exclusively breastfeeding can significantly reduce the chances of a new pregnancy, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk.
Which contraceptive method is best for you depends on various factors. For example, if you’re breastfeeding or want to get pregnant again soon, the choice will be different. What contraceptive fits me?
Are you interested in an IUD? You can have one inserted with us. For more information, visit the ‘I want an IUD’ page.
Pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor muscles are stretched during childbirth. After delivery, these muscles gradually regain their original shape and strength. You may experience pelvic floor problems, such as:
- Urine loss, especially when coughing, sneezing, or lifting (stress urinary incontinence)
- Difficulty holding in gas
- Loss of bowel control
- A heavy, pressure-like feeling in the lower abdomen and pelvic floor
- Pain in the pelvic floor area, such as during cycling or pain during intercourse
About 6 weeks after childbirth, the symptoms should improve with exercises. If this doesn’t happen, contact your doctor or a pelvic floor therapist. What exercises can i do?
Postnatal depression
During the first period after childbirth, 1 in 8 women experience mild to very severe psychological issues. A postpartum depression can be recognized by feelings of sadness, lack of interest, not wanting to eat, and being unable to sleep. If you have persistent feelings of sadness, lie awake all night, can’t enjoy things (even your newborn baby; you may not want to hold them or wish they were never born), have no appetite, and dread the day, talk about it with your midwife or doctor. For 1 in 10 women, these depressive feelings do not go away on their own after childbirth. They develop into a postpartum depression, which can last for a long time.
Typical symptoms of postpartum depression include crying, anxiety and irritability, worrying, and poor sleep. If you experience psychological issues, it’s important to contact your midwife or doctor. More information?
6 week check-up
About 6 weeks after childbirth, a final check-up takes place with your midwife. You can make an appointment for this at the practice. During the postnatal check, the focus is mainly on talking and reflecting on the birth and the postpartum period. Any additional tests can be performed if necessary. There will also be plenty of time for questions. We’d love for you to bring your baby to the check-up, but it’s not required. It’s up to what’s most convenient for you.