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Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

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Your hospital stay: Caring for your baby in the hospital

Keep your baby with you as much as possible. All of your baby's care can be provided in your room. You can participate as much as you wish. This is a good time for you to learn your baby's cues for feeding and comfort.

Tip

  • Diapers, clothing and extra baby supplies are kept in the crib drawer.
  • Your nurse will show you what to do with dirty linen.
  • When you want to walk outside your room with your baby, put your baby in the crib.

You will have the help of experienced nurses. If there isn't a family member staying with you, talk to the staff about how to handle your baby when you are in the shower or napping.

Ask your nurse any questions you have about baby care.

Your baby's security

Your baby's identification and your name are printed on your baby's ankle and/or wrist bracelets. The same information is on your bracelet and your husband or partner's bracelet.

Each time your baby is brought to you, your baby's bracelet will be compared with yours. Hospital staff members will always have name badges identifying them as hospital employees.


 

Source: Allina Patient Education, Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, sixth edition, preg-ahc-90026, ISBN 1-931876-25-8

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 08/22/2011

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts