{"id":1906,"date":"2026-09-03T09:29:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T08:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/?page_id=1906"},"modified":"2026-09-03T10:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T09:09:11","slug":"midwifery-care","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/new-baby\/care-at-home\/midwifery-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Midwifery Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-scaled.jpg\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1900\" style=\"width:899px;height:599px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-1520x1013.jpg 1520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-scaled.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-1900\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/05\/Black-family-300x200.jpg\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our visits to you at home<\/strong>    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your community midwives will be visiting you and your baby at home over the next 10 days after the birth of your baby.&nbsp; Your midwife will do some checks to make sure that you are recovering well after the birth and that all is well with you and your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will have a home visit and postnatal checks the first day after you come home. This will take place any time between 0930 and 1600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will then have visits on day 2, 3, 5 and 10.&nbsp; Please ensure you are available for checks on these days as this is when routine checks must be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page describes what checks we will offer to do and gives useful information about the first days at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please have a supply of simple pain relief medicine (paracetamol and ibuprofen) at home for the early postnatal period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>At Every visit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your emotional well-being:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We will talk about how you are feeling and answer any concerns or questions you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your physical well-being:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Mum: healing of any birth trauma or caesarean wound; urine &amp; bowel output; lochia (blood loss); any swelling you have or abdominal or leg pain; breast or nipple condition or any other physical symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Baby: observing for jaundice; overall health and behaviour; urine and bowel output; cord observation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We will ask about baby\u2019s feeding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We will provide feeding support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other routine checks that we will offer on specific days<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Day 1<\/td><td>Day 2<\/td><td>Day 5<\/td><td>Day 7<\/td><td>Day 10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&nbsp; Postnatal Checks as above<\/td><td>&nbsp; Postnatal Checks<\/td><td>\u00a0 Postnatal Checks and \u00a0Blood Pressure<\/td><td>Wellbeing Telephone Call<\/td><td>Discharge visit (Unless baby jaundiced)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Top to toe check of baby + feeding<\/td><td>Baby check + feeding<\/td><td>Baby weight (weight loss is normal)<\/td><td><\/td><td>We will organise a further visit at day 14-17 if jaundice remains<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Discuss care plan, what to expect and what is \u201cnormal\u201d<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u00a0Baby blood spot screening test<\/td><td><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ensure you are aware of emergency phone numbers<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u00a0Caesarean suture removal<\/td><td><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>We will always offer more care if it is needed<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your community midwives are here to help. Please never hesitate to ask for help and advice.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No question is a silly question.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our visits to you at home Your community midwives will be visiting you and your baby at home over the next 10 days after the birth of your baby.&nbsp; Your midwife will do some checks to make sure that you are recovering well after the birth and that all is well with you and your<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":0,"parent":1899,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-1906","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"mathildepeace","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/author\/mathildepeace\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Our visits to you at home Your community midwives will be visiting you and your baby at home over the next 10 days after the birth of your baby.&nbsp; Your midwife will do some checks to make sure that you are recovering well after the birth and that all is well with you and your","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1906"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6435,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1906\/revisions\/6435"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}