by Justine Deputy, RN, MSN
Photo: Clare Davis, Birth Center Mama
As many of you know, Mamas and Babies go home about four to six hours after birth. If you aren’t familiar with early discharge at TBC, read more here.
Even though families go home earlier than you may in the hospital, TBC offers very thorough postpartum care. A home visit is one piece of the postpartum care. A Birth Center nurse will come visit you in your home between day two and day three. The nurses travel to you no matter where you live. If you come to us for your prenatal care and birth, we come to you for your home visit. The nurses also see clients that transferred to the hospital during labor for home visits once mom and baby have been discharged from the hospital.
What to Expect During the Visit
The nurse will assess both mom and baby during the home visit. She will assess mom’s vital signs, fundus, lochia, lacerations, and the help and support available for mom. She will review what is normal and not normal related to where you are in the postpartum period.
The nurse will also assess your baby. She will do vital signs, listen to baby’s heart and lungs, check the umbilical cord, weigh baby, ask about the pees and the poops, complete the pulse oximetry screening, check for jaundice, collect a blood sample for the HMD screening, observe breastfeeding, and more.
She will also answer any questions you might have. Postpartum tip: Write down any questions that you have during the first week that don’t need an immediate response (always call TBC if you need immediate assistance from the midwife on call). Have the list ready at the home visit or one week to review with the nurse. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember everything you wanted to ask in the fog of new parenthood.
**Important Note**
It is NOT important to have your house clean and tidy for the nurse. You have a two or three day old baby. You shouldn’t be cleaning! Remember what you learned in
For as little as two weeks and as long as six weeks,
- Mom is responsible for:
- Nursing her baby
- Napping/Resting
- Eating well
- Personal hygiene
- Being waited upon
- Imposing on friends and family
- Mom is NOT responsible for:
- Caring for older children
- Walking the dog
- Climbing stairs
- Grocery shopping and cooking
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Driving
So don’t worry what your house looks like! We are just there to see you and baby. 🙂