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Postpartum Care

Mother carrying Baby

From certified lactation consultants to pelvic floor therapy, we offer the support and resources you need to navigate the postpartum period more easily.

From the moment your baby enters the world to the day you leave the hospital, our postpartum care centers are committed to providing the support you need to begin recovering.

Your Postpartum Stay

Additional security measures:

When your baby is born, a sensor is attached to his/her ankle or umbilical cord. This device sets off an alarm if your baby is moved near any of the exits, stairs or elevators in our area.

The Labor & Delivery and the Postpartum areas are always on “lockdown” mode. To enter these areas, visitors must identify themselves and the door must be unlocked by the staff inside.

Check for an official hospital ID badge. Release your infant only to staff members wearing the appropriate name tags. During your hospital tour, you will be told how to identify these badges. Otherwise, the baby should not leave your room.

Babies are transported in bassinets/cribs. No infants are to be carried in the hallways by staff, parents or visitors.

Postpartum Health

Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Many mothers experience the "baby blues," a period of time that includes mood swings, unexplained feelings of sadness and other emotional responses in the first few weeks of postpartum life. In fact, up to 80 percent of women reported negative feelings or mood swings after birth (American Pregnancy Association).

These mood swings are attributed to hormonal changes as the body readjusts after being pregnant. While the baby blues are very common in postpartum women, your OB/GYN is available to answer any questions and can offer guidance.

Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression is a more serious medical condition that can be treated with medication and therapy. Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 15 percent of women and usually involves more severe symptoms than the baby blues.

Comparing the baby blues and postpartum depression:

 Baby BluesPostpartum Depression
Symptoms
  • Crying spells
  • Feel overwhelmed
  • Loss of appetite
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Sudden mood changes
  • Feeling sad, worthless, hopeless or guilty
  • Feelings of unexplained anger or rage
  • Worrying excessively or feeling on edge
  • Loss of interest in hobbies or things you once enjoyed
  • Changes in appetite or not eating
  • Loss of energy and motivation
  • Trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep all the time
  • Crying for no reason or excessively
  • Difficulty thinking or focusing
  • Thoughts of suicide or wishing you were dead
  • Lack of interest in your baby or feeling anxious around your baby
  • Thoughts of hurting your baby or feeling like you don't want your baby
Symptom duration0-3 weeks after birthMore than three weeks after birth

If you believe you may be experiencing postpartum depression, we urge you to seek care from your OB/GYN, mental healthcare provider or primary care provider. Therapy, support groups and medication are all options for women living with postpartum depression.

If you experience a mental health crisis, call 9-1-1 or seek emergency care immediately.

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What If My Baby... ?

Babies don’t come with apps. That means you, the new mom, are often trying to figure things out on your own. And [yes, it’s true] not everything goes the way you imagined. What to do?!

Answers to common questions about “What if my baby . . . . .”

  1. Won’t stop crying?
    When it seems like your baby will never stop crying, 20 minutes feels like 20 hours. The truth is, infants normally cry about one to three hours a day. They cry when they’re hungry, tired, thirsty, lonely or in pain. Or, they may just fuss. Call your doctor if prolonged crying off and on lasts for more than a day despite all your best efforts to comfort. Also call if your baby has other symptoms, such as fever.
  2. Won’t breastfeed?
    Breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Up to two-thirds of mothers nursing newborns are unable to manage breast feeding for as long as they intended. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding only for the first six months. Your hospital has or can recommend a lactation consultant who will help make the transition easier and save you a great deal of frustration.
  3. Wants to be carried all the time?
    You may feel like you need to take care of other things. However, a study reported in Pediatrics magazine cited that six-week-old infants (a peak time in life for crying) cry and fuss 43 percent less overall when mothers spend additional time carrying them. The decrease in crying is associated with an increase in contentment. No matter how frustrated you may become, please do not shake your baby. About 25 percent of shaken babies die, and about 80 percent suffer lifelong disabilities.
  4. Ate something he/she shouldn’t have?
    Babies and young children put a lot of things in their mouth. If you’re not sure what went in, or if you even just suspect that it may not be good, call poison control.
  5. Is having trouble breathing?
    Breathing issues are nothing to delay about. If your baby has difficulty breathing, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
  6. Has a suspicious rash?
    Rashes are one of the most common reasons parents call a doctor. Most blotches and bumps on babies clear up by themselves. Call your doctor if your baby has fever or other unexplained symptoms, if the rash is red or oozes liquid, if the rash seems worse in the skin creases or if there is no improvement after three days of treating at home.