What is your Birth Plan ?
The postpartum follow-up is the last doctor’s visit you will have with your pregnancy doctor (OBGYN) until your yearly check-up. This visit will occur approximately 6-weeks post birth (postpartum). Your doctor will talk you about how and mental health.
AS A NEW MOM, WHO JUST HAD A BABY,
arrival in advance can lessen some of the worry that might
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO FEEL EMOTIONAL,
might decide to have someone take you to the hospital (recommended) and plan with them a “go-code.” It is not recommended, but sometimes necessary, for you to either take yourself to the hospital or utilize a taxi or Uber (Lyft). Make sure you have developed an emergency plan, which should include having emergency contact information. Having the essential contact numbers on hand of parents, relatives, your case manager, the biological father, or anyone else who may need to be notified, will allow you to share the news of the birth. It can be hard to remember who needs to be notified right after giving birth, because having a baby can be exhausting; so you should ask a trusted friend or relative with the essential contact list to share the news. Making a birth plan might seem like something that isn’t necessary. However, once you are in labor and delivery, your entire focus will be on having the baby. You should share this birth plan with your doctor and a trusted friend or relative who will be with you during the process.
MAKING A PLAN EARLY WILL ALLOW YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY YOUR
CONFUSED, OR UNSURE ABOUT THINGS. If you have concerns about your health or your baby, TALK to your doctor. Postpartum Depression affects roughly 1 in 7
women after giving birth and only a doctor can make this diagnosis. Remember, there is someone you can talk to, who will listen and be there for you when needed.
Resources
Watching your baby grow is exciting. They grow up so fast. Before you know it, your little tyke will be rolling over, smiling, cooing, crawling, walking, and running. But the fast-paced nature of their development can cause some worry, especially for first-time moms. The same apps you used for pregnancy can also be used during the first year or two of your baby’s life. For example, the What to Expect app has a great
on-line community for parents that can help normalize the experiences of being a parent, especially for first-time moms. There are also parent-specific apps for after baby arrives,
such as the Vroom app, which can track developmental
milestones and provide averages for when your baby will reach certain milestones. See additional information about
“PERFECT" BIRTH SCENARIO AND
creating a birth plan at the American Pregnancy Association:
ANY BACK-UP PLANS.
visit this website: https://bit.ly/2wFEWHO. Finally, there are
https://bit.ly/2kxEGoK. For more on Postpartum Depression sites available, such as this one https://bit.ly/2JW9I2e, which can provide you with some information on what to expect
A DETAILED BIRTH PLAN SHOULD INVOLVE: hh How you are going to get to the hospital hh A back up plan for gettting to the hospital hh Your plan for labor and delivery hh Your back up plan for labor and delivery hh Your after birth plan hh Emergency contact list
my Baby
things are going, check your healing, and assess your physical
Nine months can seem like forever, but preparing for baby’s accompany you during the labor and delivery process. You
About lo have
once you are home with baby.
You've got this mama!
DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS PAMPHLET ON OUR WEBSITE: FICW.FSU.EDU/TOOLKITS
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BEFORE YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL
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AT THE HOSPITAL
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HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL
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RESOURCES
Before you go to the Hospi lal
large pads for you to use during the post-partum period. Don’t be shy to ask for extra items, especially if you find them helpful.
early, approximately six-weeks before your due date. In the
No one expects you to be perfect at parenting, frankly no one
event that you go into labor
is the perfect parent, especially right after having a baby. Your
early, you do not want to be
nurses are there to help while you are in the hospital. They can
wondering or worrying about
answer questions about breastfeeding or bottle feeding, how
what things you might need
to soothe your baby or how to swaddle your baby, or anything
to bring with you. But what
else you might have questions about. Nurseries (like the ones
might you need? How much need?
there recovering from having your baby. Ask your nurses for the baby’s nose) for your baby and the mesh underwear and
an important task to get done
you
the Hospi lal
The hospital will have lots of items for you to use while you are extra items like diapers, wipes, the bulb syringe (for clearing
Packing your hospital bag is
do
Home from
A t lhe Hospi tal
in movies and on TV) are no longer used in most hospitals.
Thankfully,
This means your baby will be with you at all times, except for
there are helpful sites that
a couple of tests. You will not get much rest in those first few
give you tips for packing your bag Here is one such website:
days at the hospital and having the baby with you at all times
https://bit.ly/2iiBfMI. You will likely be in the hospital a day or so after delivery, so you want to make sure you have some “creature comforts.” Bringing your new baby home for the first time is such an incredible experience; however, you will need to get your home ready for baby’s arrival. One of the most fun things to do is creating the nursery or prepping baby’s sleeping area. You can check out the Bump’s Nursery Checklist here: https://bit.ly/2GmGDhF.
can be stressful or overwhelming, so use the nurses if you need rest. The good thing about having your new baby with
equipment you will need for your baby. To take your baby
and labor and delivery. But your job is just beginning.
Welcome to Parenthood! There will be take-home or discharge instructions, which you should follow closely. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, you should contact your pregnancy doctor (OBGYN). Make sure to have emergency numbers for the hospital staff available if you have questions about the baby, such as feeding or your recovery. Now that you are home with the baby and establishing a routine, make sure you contact your employer, if you are working, to provide an update on when you might return to work. If you are still in school, you should contact your
you is that you will have an opportunity to bond from day one.
advisor (or appointed school official) to provide an update
The first well-visit for your baby could vary depending on who
seeking childcare services, for once you return to work or
you select as your pediatrician and which hospital you use for labor and delivery. Be sure to ask if your pediatrician will visit your baby in the hospital or if the hospital’s on-call pediatrician will check your baby. If your pediatrician does not come to the hospital, you will likely make your first well-visit with them at their office within 24 to 48 hours after you get home. The well-
The car seat is one of the most important pieces of
Congrats! You made it through nine months of pregnancy
about when you might return to school. Finally, if you are school, you should contact the childcare provider to provide an update about when you plan to begin services and make sure you will have a safe place for baby to go when you are at work or in school.
visits are so, so, important. Your baby will have several well-
BEING A SUPER-PARENT DOESN’T MEAN
baby visits within the first year, and it is crucial that you go
YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING BY YOURSELF,
to all of these visits. This is how the pediatrician will track the
home from the hospital, a properly installed rear-facing infant
growth and development of your baby. Oftentimes, if there is
IT MEANS DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO
car seat that meets the current safety standards is needed.
an issue that is addressed early on, the issue will not become
GET THE THINGS YOU AND YOUR BABY
It can feel nerve-wracking to install the car seat for the
a problem later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics
first-time, especially since this is what
has a recommended schedule here: https://bit.ly/2BDyzIB.
protects
There will be several required forms you will need to fill
your
baby
while
traveling.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and have the installation checked by your community’s fire station
or
the
hospital
nurses.
Review this website for mistakes made when using a car seat: https://bit.ly/2S2byH2.
out, including the birth certificate and social security card
NEED, EVEN ASKING FOR HELP. Be sure to sign up for the services you qualify for such as
information. You will be tired for the first few weeks after your
Women, Infant, and Children (WIC): https://bit.ly/2MJ5aOY.
baby is born and it will be difficult to remember to complete
And speak to your case manager if you have questions about
all the forms and steps needed. Ask your trusted friend or
which services are available to you.
relative to help you remember to fill out these important forms while you are at the hospital.
You can do this but
you DON ’T have to do it alone!
You are NOT alone
in this process, nor should you feel like you have to do it alone. It takes a village—so surround yourself with people
and resources that will help you take care of your precious little one.