Many parents are surprised to see us again after the birth. But the postpartum period is also an important part of our work as midwives!
Of course, we love getting to admire the babies and see you as parents, but there are other reasons as well. Who does what during the postpartum period?
Postpartum Care Provider
The postpartum care provider does by far the most work during the postpartum period! This includes checking on the mother (taking her temperature, checking her stitches, and monitoring her uterine tone) and helping care for the baby (feeding, bathing, weighing, and changing diapers). If any checkup results are abnormal, she will contact us.
Midwife
What do we do? We’ll stop by a few times. How often depends on how things are going! We’ll discuss the delivery and may perform various checks, such as measuring blood pressure and removing stitches. For the baby, we’ll check their color, examine the tongue tie if necessary, or draw blood. If needed, we’ll refer you to a gynecologist, a pediatrician, or your family doctor.
Mental feelings are also an important topic of discussion.
Child Health Clinic
The community health nurse from the well-baby clinic will visit during the postpartum period to perform the hearing test and the heel prick test.
After 14 days, the well-baby clinic will take over care regarding weight, feedings, and vaccinations. They’ll visit you the first time, and after that, you can make your own appointments at the well-baby clinic.
On cloud nine?
Many men and women look forward to the postpartum period. And that makes sense! Finally, the baby is out of the belly and it’s time for cuddles. Unfortunately, you’re generally not on cloud nine the whole week. A lot of things happen that can make this period feel really tough.
For example, what might you encounter during the postpartum period?
- Sleepless Nights
- Nutritional Problems
- Stowage
- Blood loss
- Pain from the stitches
- Mental health issues (postpartum blues, coping with childbirth, depression
This isn't meant to make you view the postpartum period in a negative light. It's meant to give you a realistic picture, because while it's wonderful, it can also be intense!
Duration
The postpartum care provider will visit you for the first 8 days, but you are considered a new mother until 6 weeks after giving birth.
If you have any questions, problems, or special requests, feel free to call us for up to 6 weeks!
After 6 weeks, there is the option of a follow-up visit; a knowledge base article on this will be posted later.
