Postnatal Wards at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Welcome to the postnatal wards at RIE. Here you will find information about our wards.

Please ask your birth partner or visitors to use the maternity car park 1G.

The ward phone numbers are:
Ward 211 – 0131 242 2111
Ward 119 – 0131 242 1194

Welcome to our ward. Our team is here to support you throughout your stay and provide a safe and
friendly environment for you and your new baby. If you require assistance at any time please press the
orange call button on the handset by your bedside.

If you have any concerns regarding the wellbeing of yourself or your baby, please inform staff immediately. In the event of an emergency please use the red emergency pull on the wall behind the bed.

Senior Charge Midwife
The Senior Charge Midwife (Navy Blue uniform) is the ward manager in charge of the ward running
smoothly and ensuring that we provide the highest standards. They work office hours and are more than happy to speak to you or your partner about any aspect of your care. Outwith office hours, there will always be a Deputy Charge Midwife or a Senior Midwife on the ward who you can speak to and will pass on any issues to the Charge midwife.

Who’s who in the hospital?

You may also see medical staff in scrubs or their own clothes during your stay. As we are a teaching hospital, medical students will also be present on the ward.

Birth partners and family
It’s an exciting time for all members of the family and we are delighted to welcome birth partners to the
ward, you are an invaluable source of help when a baby is born. You may have things you want to ask us about and we are here to support you too. It may be you want help with facilitating skin to skin contact, supporting your partner, nappy changes, bathing demonstrations or advice about feeding your baby.
Please let us know if you have any questions or would like practical advice. If you are staying for a length of time, please ask the ward staff about a reclining chair.

Visiting Times
Please refer to the current visiting guidelines which are available from the midwife caring for you. These are subject to change.

Iced water/Juice and Tea/Coffee will be provided at points throughout the day but if you would like them at any time you can ask staff. Snacks are also available on request outside meal times.

Medication times can vary between patients. Extra medications are also available outside these times
if required. On admission to the ward staff will assess patient suitability for self administration of medications.

Safety
Please keep your bed space as clear as possible to allow easy access for staff. Please also keep your curtains open unless changing or feeding your baby. When changing the baby’s nappy please do so in the cot and not on the bed as it is a safer place. We advise that your baby sleeps in the cot by the bedside and not to share your bed with the baby.

Your Postnatal Journey

Day to day on the ward
Your midwife or maternity care assistant will perform daily examinations on you and your baby – this includes observations, updates on how feeding is going and how you are physically and emotionally feeling.

Checks to be completed
Your baby will have an examination of the newborn completed by a pediatrician or midwife which is a more in depth check before going home. Audiologists will come round to your bedside and test your baby’s hearing usually before home but sometimes this may need to be done in the community if they are not available (weekends or bank holidays). There is a ward round daily where medical staff review your progress if required. Some medications may also need to be prescribed and this can sometimes lead to delays in discharge home.

Your care after having a baby
After delivery we want to support your recovery so you feel well and are able to enjoy caring for your baby. We aim to help you out of bed as soon as you feel able to do so. Staff on the ward can support you with your baby’s needs such as nappy changes if you are not yet ready to mobilise. We are also able to support you with feeding your baby.

Mental Wellbeing
It can be normal to have the ‘baby blues’ in the first week after the birth of your baby but if your mental wellbeing does not improve or you feel you are not bonding with your baby, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.

Contraception
Contraception is important to think about after having a baby as your fertility returns and you can become pregnant before your first period. We can offer you different kinds of contraception before you go home.

You can scan the QR code with your mobile phone to be able to consider your options in more detail.

It’s a very busy ward and staff may not be able to attend immediately but will do their best to attend as soon as possible. So, if you can, please ask for assistance before the matter is urgent. Our Clinical support staff can help you with showering if required and will also change your bed sheets daily if you wish.

Taking care of yourself
Feeling unwell?
It is normal to feel tired after having a baby however, sometimes mothers can become unwell. You should seek advice from your midwife or GP if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fast breathing
• Foul smelling vaginal discharge/blood loss
• A rash
• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Abdominal or leg pain
• Headaches
• Feeling generally unwell
• A sore throat
• Raised temperature- over 38 degrees
• A fast pulse- over 100 beats per minute

Care of the perineum (area between vagina and anus)

Perineal pain and discomfort are very common in the first few days after delivery but the following may help:

• Keep the area clean and dry to prevent infection
• Change your maternity pads regularly
• A jug of warm water poured between your legs whilst passing urine may reduce the stinging
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe to take if you are able to
• Wash your hands before and after self care

Blood loss

All new mums will bleed vaginally after having a baby – this is called lochia. This will happen whether you have your baby vaginally or by caesarean section. The bleeding will start off dark red and may be like a heavy period and it will gradually become less and also lighter in colour. You may bleed for up to 6 weeks following delivery. To prevent infection, change your maternity pad regularly and ensure you wash your hands before and after changing.

You should call your midwife or GP if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Foul smelling discharge
• You develop a high temperature
• Your bleeding becomes heavier
• You’re passing large clots (larger than 50 pence coin)

Bowels
Constipation can be very common after having a baby. A high fibre diet is important including fresh fruit and vegetables. Drinking plenty of fluids can also help prevent constipation.

Breasts
Red or painful areas on the breasts can be caused by mastitis. Symptoms would be high temperature and flu-like symptoms. If infection is present then you will require antibiotics to treat this. It is important to continue breastfeeding but seek advice promptly from your midwife/triage or GP.

Mobilising after caesarean section
For information about mobilising after having a caesarean section, you can watch a short video on getting up and mobile after your caesarean section.

Taking Care of Your Baby

Your baby’s skin
Your baby’s skin should be a healthy colour and feel warm to the touch. It can be dry sometimes, especially if your baby has been born late. If your baby’s skin or the whites of their eyes look yellow please inform your midwife. Also inform your midwife if your baby is more sleepy than usual.

Cord care
The cord will dry up and fall off around 7-10 days after birth. It does not usually require any special attention but if it becomes moist or smelly then it may need to be cleaned. Saline solution can be used or if at home cooled boiled water and cotton wool. If concerned, please speak to your midwife or GP.

Soothing your baby

All babies cry sometimes as a way of communicating with you and will generally settle when picked up or cuddled. If your baby becomes distressed then these are a few things you can try:

• Holding your baby in skin to skin
• Offer a feed
• Speak or sing to your baby
• Gently rock or sway whilst holding your baby
• Try using a sling
• Take baby for a walk

Treatment for Jaundice
Jaundice is the name given to the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is very common in newborns. For most babies jaundice is mild, harmless and clears itself. However it is important to tell your midwife if you notice your baby is jaundiced:

Urgently if it happens within the first 24 hours of birth
The same day if your baby is more than 24 hours old

We can test for jaundice levels in two ways:

• Using a small handheld machine called a billimeter which is placed on your baby’s forehead
• By taking a blood sample from your baby’s heel (this will be done if less than 24 hours old or if the billimeter reads high)

Mild jaundice will resolve without treatment but if your baby requires treatment for jaundice then they will be given light therapy called ‘phototherapy’. This is a UV light that shines blue light onto your baby’s skin which helps to break down the bilirubin. This is then passed out of your baby’s system
in their urine and stool.

Going Home

Before you are discharged home into the care of the community midwives we want to ensure you are happy with the following:

• Handling my baby safely
• Choosing nappies for my baby
• Changing my baby’s nappies
• Caring for my baby’s cord
• A ‘Top and Tail’ wash/caring for my baby’s skin
• Bathing my baby
• How to reduce the risk of cot death
• Signs my baby is well
• Signs my baby may be ill
• Care safety and home safety
• Registering the birth
• Registering with a GP

General feeding:

• Baby’s feeding and sleeping pattern for the first few days of life
• Responsive feeding
• Sharing a bed with my baby
• Winding baby
• Signs my baby is thriving

You will be given additional advice and documentation specific to your chosen method of feeding.

On the day of discharge home, you will be given the paperwork needed for registering the birth of your baby, your discharge letter and any medication you may require. We will also check we have your correct address and telephone number

IMPORTANT
You will usually be seen at home the day after discharge by your community midwife. We let them know that you are going home and give them a summary of your care. We will ensure you have the contact details for them, if they have not been in touch by 2pm the day after discharge we ask you to call them.

At any time you can ask us to discuss these with you and if you require any demonstrations such as nappy changes or bathing then we can support you with these also.

Ready Steady Baby is a guide to pregnancy, labour, birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks. The NHS Lothian Parent Education pages also contain useful information about pregnancy, labour, birth and looking after your baby.