Aftercare baby

In the days following childbirth, your baby is closely monitored. You get to know your baby and learn more about feeding and which care to administer. As a result, you create confidence so you can go home with peace of mind.

The first hours 

In order to promote bonding between you and your baby, it is important to have plenty of skin-to-skin contact. This also ensures a better breastfeeding start-up and proper regulation of your baby's temperature, heart rate and breathing. The first skin-to-skin contact takes place in the delivery room and continues quietly in the maternity room. We aim to allow you at least one hour of uninterrupted "skinning" with your baby and feeding him in the meantime. Measuring, weighing and dressing the baby is done after the first feeding. 

Health

In the first 24 hours after delivery (usually the day after birth), the baby is carefully examined physically and the baby's reflexes will be tested by the pediatrician. In the following days, the pediatrician will continue to visit daily for any questions and an additional examination before discharge if needed. During the stay at the maternity ward, vitamin D drops will be started. This is important for strong bones and teeth as well as supporting the immune system. It is recommended that your baby be given a daily vitamin D supplement until six years of age. Between 72h and 96h after birth, the baby will have a heel prick to check for rare metabolic diseases.  If you leave the hospital early, this will be done by the home care midwife. You will also be given a summary of necessary vaccinations upon discharge from the hospital and the pediatrician will follow up with Child & Family. 

In the video below, we explain (in dutch) why a newborn baby is put under a lamp. Prolonged jaundice or elevated bilirubin can present at birth. The baby will lay under a special lamp for a while. This is a treatment that is common, it does not hurt and is not something you need to worry about. 

Care

During your stay, you will learn how to change a diaper and how to give baby a bath. The first bath is usually given the day after delivery. Giving your baby a bath at home 2-3 times a week is sufficient so that the skin does not dry out. The bath is best given before a feeding. The umbilical stump that remains after cutting the umbilical cord should be kept clean and dry. If dirt is visible clean the stump with water. Drying well is a must! The stump is insensitive so you cannot hurt your baby by performing the care. The midwife will help you with this. 

In this video, Monique, one of our midwives, shows how to give a baby a bath as well as take care of the belly button. 

Practical Tips

It is mandatory to register your child within 15 calendardays after birth at the civil registry of the city of Sint-Truiden.

During your stay you can do this at the hospital on Tuesday or Friday morning. Ask for an appointment at the maternity ward. The declaration can also be done at the town hall of Sint-Truiden. For this you have to make an appointment: by telephone on 011 70 14 14 or online.

What do you need to bring with you?

  • The identity cards of the parent(s).
  • A fully completed and signed 'declaration of choice of name' document (if unmarried)
  • The marriage certificate or an excerpt from the prenatal recognition
  • Your baby's birth certificate will be digitally forwarded to the town hall by the maternity ward

The declaration may be made by the father or the (co-)mother, if:

  • The parents are married
  • Prenatal acknowledgment is established

Both parents must be present at the birth declaration, if:

  • No prenatal recognition has been established and the parents are not married
  • The parents are married but not living together at the same address

During your baby's first 3 years of life this organisation would like to assist you as parents with professional help, information and advice on development, health, parenting, safety,...

The health booklet for your baby will be ready for you in your room. The nurse from Kind & Gezin will contact you within 10 days of the birth for a first home visit.

You receive the health booklet for you baby during your pregnancy. It is important you save this. If you didn't get it during pregnancy, the nurse from Kind & Gezin will give it to you during the first visit. The nurse will contact you after the birth to shedule a first house visit. 

More info can be found at www.kindengezin.be or the Kind-en-Gezin line: 078 150 100. For some English documentation: EN | Kind en Gezin. 

Links

Breastfeeding
Aftercare childbirth
Childbirth
Caesarean section

Departments 

For more information, please visit the departments below:

Maternity
Pediatrics

Maternity 011 69 98 41 Pediatrics 011 69 96 30