What to expect soon after the birth

After the birth of your baby/s, the midwife (and doctor where required) will complete a thorough assessment of you and your baby. They will discuss with you what to expect during your stay on the postnatal ward in hospital and prepare you for going home. This varies based on your individual need, and ranges from you staying in hospital only a few hours up to a number of days.

Whether you stay in hospital or have an early discharge, you can expect:

Examinations of you and your baby
Screening tests for your baby
Feeding support and advice
Preparation for your transition home.

You baby may sometime require further monitoring or support, for example if they were born prematurely (born before 37 weeks) or they require monitoring of their blood sugars. Where possible the baby will receive special care on our Transitional Care Unit (TCU) or if they require closer observation this will be on our Neonatal Unit, where the staff will ensure that you receive the information, communication and support that you need.

Amenity rooms

Some wards have amenity rooms available. Please find more information here.

Information before you leave the hospital

In preparation of your discharge from hospital, the midwife will give you information about:

Who to call if you have a concern about you or your baby
What to expect, and what is normal soon after giving birth
How to know your baby is well and when to seek advice
Pelvic floor exercises
Contraception advice
Information about making an appointment to register your baby
Registering your baby with a GP and follow up care

You can find our leaflet Going home from Kingston Hospital here

Please see care at home following your birth for more information on what to expect when your have left hospital.

Whether you are in hospital or at home, the maternity team are there to guide and support you. Please do not hesitate to ask for help, we are here to answer any questions or signpost you to further support where required.

Find out about other sources of support after the birth, and getting in touch with other new parents

If you need to discuss your birth experience or require more information

Please contact the PMA (Professional Midwifery Advocate) team. They are able to:

Listen to any concerns you may have about your maternity care.
Help with any issues you may have about your maternity care in an unbiased and impartial manner.
Offer you the opportunity to discuss your experience, particularly if you feel you have had a traumatic birth. A PMA can go through your notes with you.

How to contact them

During your stay with us on the postnatal ward, if you feel you would like to talk to a PMA then ask your midwife to contact them. Alternatively, you can phone: 0208 934 6399 (Mon-Fri 9-5pm) and they will arrange to come and see you prior to your discharge home.
If you do not feel that this is the right time for you but would like the opportunity to discuss your care/birth at a later date then you can contact them on 020 8934 6399 and they will arrange an appointment for you.

Clinics are held every Tuesday afternoon in the Antenatal clinic at Kingston Hospital. They are run on a pre-booked appointment system.