After Your Baby is Born

Located on the 4th floor of the main hospital, the 24-bed unit of L+M Maternity Services (often called LDRP, for Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Post-partum) has the area’s most respected team of doctors, midwives, nurses and support services, ready to care for women through all stages of their pregnancy.

We have all the essential items needed for your newborn during your hospital stay. This includes a crib, diapers, wipes, breastfeeding equipment (including breast pumps), Similac formula, newborn onesie t-shirts, burp cloths, blankets and bathing supplies.

Room service for food is included for patients and their partner and available from 7 am to 7 pm. Patients may order as often as they would like during these hours of operation and one support person meal is offered up to three times per day during your stay. The cafeteria is located on the second floor off the red elevator and open from 6:30 am to 7 pm. If you might deliver or desire food outside of these hours, please plan accordingly.

During your stay on the Maternity unit, expect various procedures involving the health of your newborn:

• Each night, your nurse will weigh your baby.
• At 24 hours of age, all newborns will have the CCHD (Critical Congenital Heart Disease) screening. This test may be performed in your room.
• At 36 hours of age, all newborns receive a bilirubin level check for jaundice. This test may be performed in your room.
• Prior to discharge, a metabolic screening panel to screen for serious, rare metabolic diseases. This test will be performed in the nursery.

Breastfeeding

L+M is a designated Baby Friendly Facility. This means that all staff members are trained and educated to promote the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This is an initiative supported by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. All mothers will be offered information regarding the 10 steps; including no pacifiers or artificial nipples while breastfeeding, encouraging rooming-in 24-hours a day and informing all pregnant women about the benefits of breastfeeding.

Rooming-in means your baby will stay in your room most of the time.

• When possible, baby care will be done in your room.
• Circumcision and some blood tests may be done outside of your room.
• “Rooming-in” helps parents to learn how to take care of their babies.
• A support person can stay with you to help with your baby.

We suggest that, once your baby is born, only close family members visit for limited periods during your stay in the hospital. You will need time to rest and learn to care for your new baby. It may be more comfortable for you and your baby to receive visitors once you go home.

Please see our current Visitor Guidelines. 

Anyone with a fever, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of an infectious disease should not visit, nor should you have visitors who may have been exposed to a communicable disease such as chicken pox. Also, please ask your visitors to wash their hands before holding your baby.

Your physician or nurse will inform you of your discharge time. We strive to discharge all patients who are medically ready for discharge by 11 am. We will not rush a discharge - the goal is a safe, timely discharge for all patients.

You will receive instructions about post-hospital care. If you have questions about your diet, medication, activities or other matters, please be sure to ask.

Car Seats and Clothing

Make sure you and your baby have a comfortable, seasonally-appropriate outfit to wear home.

You will need to have a car seat with you for your infant to be discharged from the hospital. Every car seat has a weight range printed on the label; your infant will need to meet these requirements to safely use the car seat. Every car seat has an expiration date printed on the device; car seats should not be expired and should be free from sustaining any previous accidents.

Learn more about car seat safety and how to spot counterfeit car seats here.

We provide comprehensive screening for jaundice (yellow pigment). Identifying babies early and reliably provides a high level of safety for newborns. In the procedure, a monitor is placed on your baby's forehead for a few seconds. The procedure is accurate, safe, quick and painless. This gives a reading, and if high, a blood test for bilirubin is done. Some jaundice is normal, but a high level can be harmful.

The Vitamin K injection is administered in your baby's thigh muscle in the first 4 hours after birth. It protects against a bleeding disorder in the first weeks of life until your baby can make his/her own vitamin K.

Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease affecting a child's mucus and sweat glands. Early diagnosis can improve care and quality of life. A small amount of blood is tested for a protein (IRT) that is increased in cystic fibrosis. A DNA test is also done on the same blood. If this is abnormal, your provider will be notified and will refer your baby for a sweat test.

An ointment is applied to both baby's eyes in the first hour after birth and protects against a serious eye infection.

This is a non-invasive test for early detection of hearing loss. It takes about 5 minutes. If your baby does not pass the test, a referral will be made for further testing after discharge.

The first injection of the Hepatitis B vaccine is administered in your baby's thigh muscle in the first 4 hours after birth. The vaccine protects your baby right from birth against a serious viral infection of the liver. Hepatitis B can be fatal or result in your baby becoming a carrier for life.

In addition, the state of Connecticut mandates certain tests and procedures be performed on all newborns before discharge from the hospital. For more information, visit the State of Connecticut's Department of Public Health.

Within 24 hours after birth a small amount of blood is taken from your baby's heel. It is sent to the State Laboratory to screen for multiple rare metabolic disorders. Your baby's provider will be notified of an abnormal result.

When you first come home, you may wish to just be alone with your new family. Accept offers of help, but leave enough time to rest. "Sleep when the baby sleeps" is also a good rule to follow.

See safe sleep guidelines for baby here

Many people have normal discomfort after giving birth. Below are common things you may experience:

• After pains: These slightly crampy pains in your uterus last a few days. Those who breastfeed may notice these pains coincide with feedings.
• Episiotomy or tear: If you had an episiotomy or tear, this area will be very sensitive when you first come home. Your doctor or midwife may recommend a cream or medication.
• Hemorrhoids: Because of pushing during labor, hemorrhoids may now be a problem. Drink lots of fluids and eat enough fruits and fiber to keep your stools soft.
• Breast discomfort: Whether you are breastfeeding or not, your breasts will become tender and enlarged as your milk comes in a few days after delivery. Breastfeeding frequently will relieve the discomfort. Even for those who are not breastfeeding, wearing a supportive bra—even when you sleep—will help.

Below are common things that are normal for newborns in the first days home:

• Sleep: Newborns sleep a lot,16 or more hours total in a day. You may wish for your baby to start sleeping through the night right away, but he/she needs to eat frequently and will likely want to sleep more during the day rather than at night.
• Feedings: Breastfeeding babies will need to feed 8 or more times in a 24-hour period. They naturally will want to feed more frequently between 3 pm and 3 am than at any other times. Formula-feeding babies usually eat at least 6 times in 24 hours.
• Diaper changes: Your baby's urination will increase each day, to the point when he/she will have 6-8 wet diapers per day. His or her stool will change color, from black/green, meconium, to brown or yellow stools. Especially in the first weeks of life, your baby's diaper will frequently contain stool.

Call your healthcare provider, physician's office or midwife immediately if you experience:

• Fever
• Increase in vaginal discharge
• Increase in vaginal bleeding
• Intense pain or cramping
• Feelings of depression
• Damaged nipples from breastfeeding
• Engorged/hard breasts that do not soften when breastfeeding
• Red parts of your breasts that are warm to the touch or painful

Call your baby's pediatrician or healthcare provider if you see:

• Sleepiness that leads to fewer than 8 feedings in 24 hours (if breastfeeding); or fewer than 6 feedings in 24 hours (if formula feeding)
• Fussiness or crying that lasts for long periods of time
• Frequent spitting up
• Less frequent urination or defecation than during the hospital stay
• Yellow or orange color to the baby's skin or whites of the eyes

You will need to see your health care provider about six weeks after the delivery of your baby or sooner if you had complications. During this visit, your doctor or midwife will check your weight, blood pressure, size of the uterus, any stitches or discharge you may have and your general health. It's a good time to ask questions and discuss birth control options with your health care provider too.

Your baby will need to be seen by a healthcare provider within days of going home. During this visit, your baby's healthcare provider will check the baby's weight and talk with you about your baby's feedings. This is a great time to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.