How to prepare for discharge from the maternity hospital, useful tips

When does discharge from the hospital occur?

The length of stay in the maternity hospital for each baby and mother may differ depending not only on their condition, but also on the specific medical institution. In most cases, discharge occurs:

• after a successful natural birth - on the 3rd day;
• after a cesarean section - on the 7-10th day.

During their entire stay in the hospital, adult and newborn patients are under the supervision of doctors - an obstetrician-gynecologist for the mother and a neonatologist for the baby. It is these two specialists who make a joint decision on discharge - the condition of the woman and her child must be good. The following situations can delay a young family in the maternity hospital:

• complications during childbirth. If during childbirth there was bleeding, serious ruptures, or manual separation of the placenta, then the woman may be detained for 5–7 days to monitor her condition;
• complications in the postpartum period - inflammation of the suture after cesarean section, the inflammatory process in the reproductive organs also prolong the time spent in the hospital;
• an immature or premature child - such babies are nursed in the pathology department;
• excessive loss of body weight by the baby (more than the norm, which is 6–8%);
• infectious disease in a child.

When permission for discharge is given, all that remains is to pack your things and go home. However, you need to be well prepared for such a joyful event, because there are a lot of nuances.

Documentary support of the extract

Before the discharge itself, it is important not to forget about the formal side of the process. A woman must take the following documents with her from the maternity hospital:

• two pages from the exchange card: information about the child - the baby’s condition at birth, Apgar score, measurement data, blood type, notes on vaccinations and procedures, results of examinations by specialists, condition at discharge. This paper is given to the doctor at the children's clinic at the first appointment;
• information about the mother - time of admission to the maternity hospital, method of delivery, drugs and procedures used during the course, features of the postpartum period. The woman must take this document to the antenatal clinic where she was registered within two weeks;

Congratulations from doctors

As a rule, upon discharge from the maternity hospital, families “congratulate” the doctors who delivered the child. This is an unspoken rule, but you don't have to stick to it.

Everyone congratulates differently. Some give “meat baskets”, some get by with fruit baskets, some give money, some prefer to give chocolate, cakes, candies, tea, coffee and champagne.

It’s better to ask the staff in advance about the best way to congratulate them. This will help avoid unnecessary expenses.

Everything you need for your baby

It is better to pack a bag with things for discharge in advance, even during pregnancy, or you can entrust this to the new father or relatives after the baby is born. In clothing, you need to focus primarily on the time of year when the birth occurred.

Table: how to dress your baby for discharge from the hospital

Which envelope to choose is up to each parent. You can give preference to a practical blanket tied with a bow, or a special cocoon, in which you can then carry your baby in a stroller, or you can specially purchase a beautifully decorated envelope for the ceremonial discharge. There is an option to purchase a ready-made discharge kit. The big advantage of such a set will be the unity of style of all things, the ability to choose a set for a boy or a girl, and the absence of the need to assemble everything you need yourself. However, this path also has its disadvantages:

• some items from the set may not be suitable for the baby;
• some elements may not be useful;
• After being discharged, part of the holiday set will simply end up in the closet and will no longer be used.

Photo gallery: clothes for discharge for boys and girls

You can purchase an envelope exclusively for discharge with beautiful lace and a ceremonial design

Ready-made kits for discharge are also sold for winter - they usually include a warm person, an envelope and a hat that will be worn over light clothing on the baby

The most practical option for a discharge envelope is a blanket with a bow with an elastic band - it can then be used as a blanket for the baby

For discharge, you can buy a special set for the season, which will include clothes and a matching blanket or envelope.

For boys, parents usually choose envelopes in blue or green colors, discreet and without lace

In addition to clothes for your baby’s trip home, you will need other things:

• diaper;
• baby wipes;
• diaper product (powder, cream);
• baby car seat (this is an important safety element necessary for traveling with a child by car).

  

  In any case, the baby will need a car seat; you can purchase it in advance and take it to check out.

What is customary to give

Surely relatives will have a question about what can be given to a new mother on the day of discharge from the maternity hospital. If we talk about the most desired gifts, then most often these are clothes for the baby, for example, overalls, a suit for growth, a bodysuit or a set of rompers. Close relatives can present as a gift a playpen, a crib, a car seat, a bathtub, devices and appliances that will be useful for a family with a small child. These include: a thermal bag or thermos, a baby monitor, a bedside night light, an orthopedic nursing pillow, a sling backpack or a sling. A large package of diapers will never be superfluous.

List of necessary things for mom

The discharge bag intended for the mother should contain all the things in which she wants to appear before the relatives and friends who meet her. The set should look something like this:

• fresh underwear, including a nursing bra;
• highly absorbent sanitary pads - urological or night pads for menstruation (at the time of discharge, most mothers are in full swing with postpartum discharge - lochia);
• nylon or warm tights (according to the season);
• dress or suit. Here it is better to give preference to loose models, and the same size as in the last months of pregnancy - the tummy does not go away immediately after childbirth and the new mother is unlikely to immediately fit into her usual things ;
• comfortable shoes, preferably low-top ones;
• outerwear, hat and scarf, mittens (according to the season);
• cosmetics, comb, hair styling products - this will be needed so that the woman can get herself in order before the event.

The first days of a child’s life: Observation before discharge

To be born, the baby spends a lot of energy and strength, he loses weight, and therefore the first day after birth the body recovers and adapts to new conditions. The child sleeps a lot and practically does not need food, although the mother puts him to the breast. Even if the baby sleeps almost the whole day and does not wake up, this is considered absolutely normal, since in this way he gets used to the new environment for him.

Throughout the second day after birth, doctors closely monitor the baby. They monitor his current condition, look at how well his sucking reflex is developed when applying to the breast or consuming infant formula, and also determine whether he has problems with thermoregulation. The child's temperature is measured several times a day to avoid overheating or hypothermia. Specialists also monitor urination and bowel movements.

On the third day, the baby’s blood and urine are tested and the first vaccination is given. If all vital signs are normal. Blood is drawn from the big toe. This screening allows you to identify congenital diseases. The difference between current weight and birth weight is also recorded. Typically, children lose about 5% of their weight and this is considered normal.

If the baby feels well, his weight is normal, and the results of screening tests do not cause concern, then the baby and his mother are discharged home.

How is the discharge process carried out?

Usually, every maternity hospital has a special discharge room - a beautifully decorated room where relatives can meet mother and baby and take photographs or videos as souvenirs. Parents can either invite their own photographer and videographer, or use similar services that are often offered by the maternity hospital itself. The event takes place as usual:

1. A nurse takes the mother and baby from the room and takes them to the preparation room.
2. The baby is dressed in a holiday set and an envelope.
3. The ceremonial part begins. The mother is allowed to accept congratulations from those greeting them, and the nurse carries the baby out and hands him to the father.
4. Afterwards, if desired, a photo session, gift transfer, etc. takes place.
5. The collected things of the mother and baby are given to relatives in advance or after the ceremony. The family can go home.

Photo gallery: photo ideas for discharge

As a souvenir, you can take a photo of how the nurse will collect the baby before taking him to the discharge room and handing him over to his father.

You can start taking discharge photos in the ward, capturing the baby’s preparations.

A great idea for a group photo - signs with the “title” of each guest discharged from the maternity hospital

At discharge, the photographer will definitely take pictures of the new parents together, making interesting collages if desired.

Often a group photo with relatives and friends is taken at the sign with the name of the maternity hospital from where mother and baby are taken

When preparing for discharge, you need to remember an important detail - it is customary to thank the maternity hospital staff. Usually new fathers prepare sweets and flowers, or just an envelope with a financial thank you.

The relatives and father have the task of making the holiday memorable and beautiful. You should buy a bouquet of flowers for your mother, decorate the car, and you can also stock up on balloons.

Photo gallery: registration of the car for discharge from the maternity hospital

Large inscriptions and drapery with fabrics look neat and solemn - you can attach a sign “for your son” or “for your daughter” to your car.

The most common option for decorating a car for checkout is pink or blue balloons.

The scale of decorations depends on the father’s imagination - you can use ribbons, balls, and stickers all at once

The easiest and fastest option is to decorate your car with a themed set of stickers.

If you are faced with the question of what to give as a discharge gift, then it is best to ask the young parents what they don’t already have. If you don’t want to spoil the surprise or you’ve already bought everything for the baby, you can give things that will definitely come in handy - diapers, clothes for growing up, toys.

What should be the gifts for discharge?

Such an event involves a festive mood and gifts.

Personnel:

• bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, high-quality alcoholic drinks;
• gift boxes of tea, coffee, cakes;
• souvenirs.

To the woman in labor:

• baby monitor;
• breast pumps, sterilizers;
• toys or clothes for the baby;
• cake made from diapers.

Any woman, after going through her experiences, will gladly accept a subscription to a beauty salon as a gift. Also a great gift would be a certificate to a children's store, where parents can pick up everything they need themselves.

Diaper cake

Preparing and decorating your home

While mother and baby are recovering after giving birth in the hospital, preparations for welcoming a new family member should be in full swing at home. You need to go through all the points:

• clothes for the child, bed linen - everything must be washed and ironed;
• the house needs to be thoroughly cleaned, wet cleaned and dust removed even in the most inaccessible places;
• the apartment needs to be well ventilated, and then this procedure will have to be carried out regularly;
• The microclimate in the room where the baby will be needs to be analyzed using a hygrometer to measure humidity and a thermometer. Based on the results, it is worth taking measures to bring the parameters to the ideal - temperature 20 degrees and humidity 60-70%.

It is worth making sure that when the baby is at home, from the first minutes he has everything he needs, namely:

• clothing of the appropriate size in several copies - the child will have to change clothes often due to regurgitation, and it is also possible that the diaper will fail;
• diapers. It is advisable to buy several packages at once, and not only the smallest size, but also the next one - this way you can choose the most comfortable option;
• crib or bassinet with clean linens;
• a place for changing and changing clothes (usually a changing chest or table with a special mattress);
• first aid kit for the baby (medicines for fever in the form of suppositories and syrup, thermometer, healing cream, wound treatment products, etc.);
• formula for feeding (if the baby is bottle-fed).

The next stage is preparing a surprise for mom. After the tiring months of pregnancy and childbirth, any woman will be pleased if her room is beautifully decorated when she returns home. There are a lot of options, but usually dads prefer balloons.

Photo gallery: room decoration ideas for discharge for a boy and a girl

When greeting a boy and his mother from the maternity hospital, themed foil balloons in the shape of a stroller, baby’s legs, and compositions with them will come to the rescue

Any elements can decorate a room and time it for the arrival of the baby - pillows with inscriptions, soft toys, flowers

Balloons can be used in the classic version - just plain bunches filled with helium in a themed color, and costumes for the baby can be hung around the room

To decorate a room, you can use various elements of aerodesign - pacifiers, flowers, a baby, balloon angels

Description of the main procedure

Immediately on the day of discharge from the maternity hospital, the mother and her newborn baby are examined by specialists, final urine and blood tests are carried out, blood pressure and body temperature are measured. If there are no health problems, then the woman is drawn up and given all the necessary documents described above. As a rule, such a procedure lasts about half an hour.

After this, the new mother can be invited to a lecture, which explains how to properly care for the baby. After this lecture, she and the newborn should be taken to a room where she can change clothes herself and change the baby. Shoes and outerwear are taken from the wardrobe, and the rest of the things that are needed for the mother and child must be given by relatives. Don't forget to warn your family in advance what clothes are needed for you and your baby on this wonderful day .

As a rule, the decision to discharge is made during the morning rounds. Most often, relatives are allowed to come pick up the new mother and her child after lunch. Check-out is limited to visiting hours, i.e. from 14:00 to 20:00. But there are exceptions, for example, if the baby and mother can only be picked up before lunch or a little later than 20:00. Don’t worry if relatives are unable to come at the appointed time; the maternity hospital staff will always help.

Upon arrival, relatives must transfer the necessary things through the maternity hospital staff. They should immediately take these items to the discharge room for the mother and her baby. It is advisable that by this moment everything is ready for discharge. In principle, the mother will be given as much time to get ready as she needs . When she is ready , you need to report your readiness for discharge to the medical staff. After this, a nurse comes into the room and escorts the mother and her child to the discharge room. As a rule, the baby’s sister dresses him up, and the mother dresses herself. After this, a ceremonial meeting with relatives should take place.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that, according to tradition, it is the nurse who delivers the child to the relatives.