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What Happens After the Baby is Born?
After your baby is born your birth team, which consists of your Midwife and assistant, will remain with you for the first several hours until you and your baby have eaten. If you've given birth at the Birth Center you will go home approximately 4-6 hours after the birth. If you've had your baby at home, your team is with you at home for 3-6 hours or until Mom, baby, and family are ready to be on their own. During those first few hours the Midwife and Midwife Assistant will be assessing you and your baby for continued health and the Midwife will complete a full physical exam on your baby. Footprints are done on a decorative, framable birth certificate for your personal keepsake. Vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment are available for your baby if you desire. It is recommended that you have a Pediatrician available to see your baby within 48 hours of the birth. We will contact your chosen pediatrician after the birth to let them know that your baby has been born and fax the birth records to them. You will schedule your baby's visit with the pediatrician at your convenience.
We will visit 24-48 hrs after the birth to ensure that all is well with you and your baby, to assist you with breastfeeding if needed, and to answer any question that you may have. During this visit you will sign the birth certificate and we'll collect a small sample of blood from your baby's heel for the Infant Metabolic Screening (PKU) that is required by the State of Florida.
You will come back to the office again at 2-3 weeks postpartum. Usually by 2 weeks breastfeeding is going well and your baby is back to his or her birth weight (babies can often lose 10% of their birth weight in the first week).
Your six-week postpartum visit is the last of our visits together surrounding this pregnancy. You will receive a physical exam and can discuss your birth experience and your family planning options.
One of our home visiting midwife assistants or lactation counselors is also available for additional visits if needed for help with breastfeeding. Although these visits and phone calls are set at particular times during your postpartum weeks we are always available to you for any questions or concerns you may have.
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