Postnatal care is the care provided to a woman and her newborn baby following childbirth. It’s a really important time where you get support with your physical recovery and help to bond with your baby.
At MSI, our postnatal care services kick-in a few days after your baby is born and we’ll continue supporting you until your baby is around 6 weeks old. If you’re already receiving maternity services from us, such as antenatal care, speak to us about moving over to our postnatal care service once you give birth.
The early weeks after giving birth are all about physically recovering and adjusting to being a parent – even if this isn’t your first baby. During postnatal care, we’ll help you navigate the ups and downs of being a new parent, giving you guidance on newborn care and breastfeeding, and making sure both you and baby are thriving.
Why should I get postnatal care?
Postnatal care plays a crucial role in helping care for mother and baby after birth, and ensuring you successfully transition into your role as a new parent.
Postnatal care has many advantages, helping on a physical, mental and social level. During your postnatal appointments you can expect:
Checks that you’re recovering well
The health of you and your baby is our top priority. Our expert medical team will monitor you after birth for any signs of complications and help you manage your pain.
Regular checks like this can help to prevent any long-term complications for you or your baby, and if either of you need any specialist treatment, we can ensure you’re referred to the right place.
Advice on your physical and mental health
Adjusting to life as a parent can be stressful and overwhelming, but you don’t have to feel alone. You can talk to us about any worries you have for yourself and your baby.
We’ll provide guidance on self-care, such as recommendations on nutrition and gentle exercises to help with your physical recovery. We’ll also give you emotional support and address any worries you may have about mental health and postnatal depression.
Support with caring for a newborn
We’ll weigh your baby, check their temperature and monitor their overall well-being. You’ll also receive guidance on feeding, changing diapers, and newborn sleep patterns.
Help with breastfeeding
We’ll give you support and guidance on breastfeeding techniques and feeding schedules. It’s not uncommon for new moms to experience breastfeeding challenges, but addressing these early on can lead to greater success and ensure your baby receives proper nutrition.
Family planning counselling
A really important aspect of postnatal care is talking through your family planning options. This can help with managing future pregnancies and ensuring you give your body enough time to heal before becoming pregnant again.
Help growing your support system
Having a strong support system that includes family, friends, and healthcare professionals is really important for your emotional well-being and will help you navigate the challenges of early motherhood.
As part of your postnatal care you’ll be invited to a postnatal group, which is a great way to meet and make friends with other new moms!
Postnatal care plan
To help you prepare for when your baby arrives, you should consider creating a postnatal care plan. This can help you keep track of appointments and guidance, and ensure you get the most out of any postnatal care services you receive.
A postnatal care plan basically sets out your preferences for the early weeks and months after your baby arrives, and helps ease your transition into parenthood. The plan could include things like:
- Decisions around feeding and sleeping
- How to manage household responsibilities and caring for other siblings
- Advice around self-care and mental health
- Guidance on physical health and recovery
- Important contacts, appointments and milestones
We recommend you write your plan down and discuss it with your partner. You should aim to do this before you give birth, otherwise it’s likely you’ll be too preoccupied to create one!
You can also share and discuss your plan with us during your antenatal and postnatal care appointments.
Summary
Becoming a new parent can be both a joyful and a stressful time, but our postnatal care appointments are here to support you on your motherhood journey.
If you’re expecting a baby and would like more information about our maternity services, or anything discussed above, please contact us or visit your nearest MSI clinic. We can help you with find clinic
- Okukebera embuto
- Pregnancy counselling
- Okulabirira nga tebannazaala
- Labour and delivery
- Okulabirira oluvannyuma lw’okuzaala
- Enteekateeka y’amaka
