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Early Care of Your Newborn & Postnatal Screening
For some parents, going home with your baby can feel overwhelming. For parents of multiple babies, going home with more than one baby can feel even more overwhelming.
Your midwife, health visitor and the wider team are all here to help. After birth, you’ll receive ongoing support as we help you to adjust to life with your new baby.
We’ll provide information on things like:
- what to expect when you go home, and when you will next be seen
- advice on looking after the umbilical cord and nappy changing information
- how to keep your baby safe while sleeping and information around your feeding choice
- changes and growth you might see in your baby
- and of course, who to contact if you have any concerns
The Newborn Physical Examination (NIPE)
This is part of a national screening programme and is often done before you leave the hospital, but it can also be done at home by a specially trained midwife or doctor.
They will have their heart listened to with a stethoscope, their eyes examined with an ophthalmoscope, and checks on their hips to ensure they are not dislocated.
Support and Routine Checks After You Go Home
After you’ve been discharged, your local community midwife will visit you at home on the first day. If you have any concerns before this visit, you can phone one of the emergency numbers provided.
The maternity team will offer further visits on days 3, 5 and 10 and your health visitor will see you at home between days 10 and 14.
On day 3 we may offer to weigh your baby and check for jaundice.
It currently screens for 9 disorders:
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Congenital Hypothyroidism
- 6 different inherited metabolic disorders
All of these conditions are genetic so cannot be cured, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve your baby’s health and prevent severe disability or even death.
Cord Care Advice
Although it may look uncomfortable, there aren’t any nerves in the cord so it won’t cause any discomfort when you clean it. If the area looks red or has an unusual smell, please get in contact for advice.
Nappy Changing Information
During each visit or appointment, you will be asked about the content of your baby’s nappies.
In the first 3 days, your baby’s poos will be mostly meconium which is black and sticky in consistency. We sometimes call this the early poo. Remember, you are still establishing feeding at this point, so there will be fewer wet and dirty nappies than you might expect.
Between days 3-5, the poos will begin to change colour as the first feeds make their way through the baby’s digestive system. They often turn green in this stage and you will notice the number of wet nappies start to increase. You would expect approximately two dirty nappies and five wet nappies in a 24-hour period.
Eventually, the poo will turn to a mustard yellow colour.
Please be aware that human milk contains a natural laxative which means your baby may have a dirty nappy with almost every feed and this is completely normal. Having regular wet and dirty nappies is a good sign that your baby is feeding well and receiving enough milk.
Newborn baby poo
First few days
In the first 3 days, your baby’s poos will be mostly meconium which is black and sticky in consistency. We sometimes call this the early poo.
Between days 3-5
Between days 3-5. The poo will begin to change colour. As the first feeds make their way through the baby’s digestive system. They often turn green in this stage.
5 days +
Eventually, the poo will turn to a mustard yellow colour. Human milk contains a natural laxative which means your baby may have a dirty nappy with almost every feed.
Changes to look out for
As your baby gets used to life outside your womb, you may notice some changes. Here are some of the things you can be looking out for.
Dry Skin
This is normal and there is no need to use any creams or oils. These can upset the good bacteria on your baby’s skin, which protects them from infections.
Skin Rashes
Sticky Eyes
Explanation point
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Genitalia | The outer sex organs, the penis or vulva |
| Stethoscope | A piece of medical equipment that doctors use to listen to your heart and lungs |
| Ophthalmoscope | An instrument used to examine the back of the eye |
| Dislocated | The medical term for bones in one of your joints being pushed out of their usual place |
| Jaundice | caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance produced when red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, are broken down. |
| Bilirubinometer | A piece of medical equipment that measures the levels of bilirubin in the blood. |