MATERNITY WEEK

In summary

  • Maternity nurse comes daily
  • We come along 3 times
  • Call us day and night if you are worried
  • Read the brochure 'first 24 hours after delivery'
  • Declaration of birth within 3 days

The first 8 days after delivery is called the maternity week. This is a special period in which you get to know the baby; an intense and emotional week. Unfortunately, a baby is not born with an instruction manual, so it is the first week of searching for the needs of the baby. This is a fun discovery in which you get to know your baby better every day.

Physically, the mother and child have to recover from childbirth. Babies can suffer from nausea or headaches. A mother is often tired of giving birth and can have physical discomfort. Even if you have few complaints it is wise to stay in bed for the first few days so that your body can recover well from the birth. Let yourself be pampered by maternity care and your partner!

Usually, you will spend this week at home. Sometimes it is necessary to stay in the hospital for the first days after delivery, for example if you have had a cesarean section, you have lost a lot of blood or have high blood pressure. Then the nurses from the maternity ward will take care of you. If you are discharged from the hospital, we will take over the care again and visit you at home.

Who will pass by

  • Obstetrician - we will visit you three times on average in the first week. Usually on the 2nd, 4th and 7th day, but this dependent on how you are doing. If necessary, we come every day. During our visit we discuss the delivery, we assess how you and the baby are doing and we answer all your questions. We check your recovery by, among other things, assessing whether the uterus is recovering properly, whether any sutures are properly healed and how your breasts deal with milk production. We will also keep a close eye on the weight and the general condition of the baby.
  • Maternity care - the maternity nurse will be present several hours a day these days to help you take care of the baby, feed and ensure that you can recover from pregnancy and childbirth.
  • GGD - between the 5th and 7th day , an employee will visit the Youth Parent and Child Centre (OKC) do the heel prick. They take a few drops of blood from the baby's heel to examine 17 rare but serious disorders. A hearing test will also be done immediately with the baby. During the test, the baby receives a short stick in his ear which gives off a rattle sound, with the measuring device attached to it can be judged whether the baby's ears are working properly. This research is not annoying for the baby.
  • Visiters - it may be wise not to invite too many visitors during the first week. The days will largely be filled with the care of the baby, feeds and checks with explanations of the maternity nurse. In addition, it is highly recommended to go to bed in the afternoon because a baby will still be awake at night. Maternity visit in the first week is therefore sometimes experienced as a burden rather than a pleasure.

What you have to arrange for the maternity week

  • Have someone who was present at the delivery report the birth of the baby at the district office. This must be done within 3 working days after birth. Do not forget to schedule an appointment and bring an identity card and, if necessary, the marriage certificate or proof of recognition. There is no need to bring proof of birth.
  • Report the baby to the insurance within a week of the birth.
  • Keep all the diapers of the baby during the first few days. The maternity care wants to see this, in order to be able to assess how much the baby pees and poops. This says something about how much the baby gets into food.

Growth guide

You receive the 'GrowthGuide Kraam' from your maternity care agency. Here is a lot of useful information about the maternity week and all checks are kept. The maternity nurse will ask for this, so put it ready on the changing table.