Your physician or nurse will inform you of your discharge time. We strive to discharge patients who are medically ready as early as possible on the day of discharge. However, we will not rush a discharge for the saftey of you and your baby. Your nurse will give you a booklet of helpful information about your care as well as your baby's care when you are home. This book is a wonderful resource that can help guide you in the care of yourself and your baby for the first six weeks after delivery. If you have questions, please be sure to ask.

Car seats and clothes
Make sure you and your baby have comfortable, seasonally appropriate cloths to wear home. Also, your baby must ride home in an approved infant car seat as required by law in the state of Missouri.
Please review your car seat instructions for proper installation and have your car seat installed before you come to the hospital. Our staff are not experts in car seat installation, so please have your infant car seat and installation checked by experts.

Get some rest
When you get home, you may wish to be alone with your new family. Accept offers of help, but leave enough time to rest. "Sleep when the baby sleeps" is also a good rule to follow.

What to expect

• Crampy pains in your uterus will last a few days. These pains may coincide with breastfeeding.
• If you had an episiotomy, this area will be very sensitive when you first come home.
• Becuase of pushing during labor, hemorroids may now be a problem. Drink lots of fluids and eat fruits.
• As your milk comes in a few days after delivery, your breast will become tender and large. Breastfeeding frequently will relieve the discomfort. Even for women who are not breastfeeding, wearing a supportive bra will help.

Call your health care provider if you experience fever, increase in vaginal discharge or bleeding, intense pain or cramping, feelings of depression or difficulty breathing.

Postpartum appointments
You will need to see your health care provider about six weeks after delivery of your baby. This is a good time to ask follow up questions about your health after delivery.

You will also need to have your baby seen by his or her pediatrician for vaccinations and regular well baby check ups. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends selecting and visiting your baby's new physician within the last three months of your pregnancy.