What to Expect
In the postpartum recovery unit, nurses will help you get started with feeding your baby and will teach you child-care basics, such as bathing and dressing your newborn. A lactation specialist will consult with mothers who decide to breastfeed their baby. Nurses and lactation specialists have undergone extensive training in breastfeeding support, and both the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital have been recognized for excellence in lactation care by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
In addition to breastfeeding, Penn Medicine supports mother and baby "rooming in" together after birth. By keeping babies close to their mothers right after birth, mothers can breastfeed when their babies are ready. Healthy babies and their mothers stay together day and night and practice "rooming in" so they can get to know each other. This also allows new parents to understand normal baby behavior.
Prior to discharge, your obstetrician and nurses will provide you with postpartum personal care instructions. They will cover information such as perineal or cesarean section incision care, appropriate pain relief and when you should schedule your first postpartum ob/gyn visit.