Breastfeeding may not always come naturally, so we are here to support new mothers to learn this healthy and nurturing skill, even from the early weeks in your pregnancy. Then, when you have consistent support and advice in the early postnatal days breastfeeding becomes easier and with time your confidence will grow. Mothers and babies room-in and are encouraged to enjoy skin to skin cuddles as often as they wish whilst here at RHW. According to the Royal Hospital for Women Maternity Care Survey for 2017 more than 87% of mothers from our Hospital were still breastfeeding at 3 months.

There is a range of support services offered to women who birth at the Royal Hospital for Women. We encourage all women to talk to their health care provider about breastfeeding during their pregnancy.  If you have any concerns, your health care provider will be able to refer you to the Lactation Service or you can self-refer. Please phone (02) 93826341 if you would like to talk to our Lactation Consultant.

Reasons you may want additional support in pregnancy or post birth are:

• If you have any concerns about breastfeeding
• If your previous breastfeeding experience was complicated
• Pre-existing medical problems or previous surgery that may hinder your wish to breastfeed 
• If your baby requires more time to establish breastfeeding
• If you have a baby who was born before the expected birth date

The Breastfeeding Support Unit (BSU) is a unique service offering outpatient and inpatient consultations to postnatal mothers. Days of operation are Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Each afternoon during the week our BSU provides outpatient follow up which is available to women who have had their baby at the Royal Hospital for Women and are in the first 2 weeks after the birth of the baby. This service is provided by appointment only.

Each day there is a Lactation Consultant to offer extra support for breastfeeding women and their babies whilst an inpatient at the Royal Hospital for Women. Your midwife can make the 45min appointment for you whilst you are on the ward as needed. This is a complement to the breastfeeding support offered by midwives during your stay.

The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is an initiative/project launched by The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) which guides maternity health services to protect, promote and support breastfeeding internationally. For more information, visit the BFHI page. 

The World Health Organization recommends babies are breastfed. If you are unable or choose not to fully breastfeed, it is important to give your baby an infant formula if they are under 12 months old. Cow’s milk-based formula is suitable for most babies and is recommended over others such as goat or soy formula. Formula must be prepared according to the instructions on the label. Use utensils that are clean and sterilise all equipment for the first 12 months. Incorrectly prepared formula, unboiled water and unsterilised equipment can make a baby ill. If you are formula feeding from birth, your midwife will advise you what you need to bring to the hospital. You may need to bring a tin of formula suitable for a newborn baby and sterilised bottles.

For more information, please refer to the Formula Feeding Fact Sheet

Antenatal Breastfeeding Education Session

This one and a half hour session is for pregnant women and their partners who want to learn more about breastfeeding. If you are having your baby at the Hospital the service is free of charge. If you are having your baby at another hospital there is a fee. 

Postnatal education sessions

During your stay in hospital, after the birth of your baby, you will be able to attend free postnatal education sessions on breastfeeding. Please ask our staff for more information.

Lactation support in the Newborn Care Centre

The lactation service in the Newborn Care Centre assists you to initiate and maintain your breastmilk supply so you can take your baby home feeding according to your baby’s needs .

There is a designated Lactation Consultant, whose role is to assist you if your baby is born prematurely or becomes unwell.

Sometimes either due to neonatal or maternal complications or maternal choice breastmilk is not an option. In this case the staff are always there to support your decisions in a safe manner that enhances your relationship with your baby.

Australian Breastfeeding Association

Mother-safe Medication in Pregnancy and Lactation

Raising Children Network

The National Health and Medical Research Council

Postnatal Services is located on level three at the Royal Hospital for Women. It comprises of the Paddington and Oxford Wards and has a combination of shared and single rooms available.

We are a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hospital (BFHI). Our maternity service encourages, respects, and supports mothers’ informed choice of infant feeding. We adhere and practice the ‘10 steps for successful breastfeeding, which is beneficial for all mothers and babies. We practice rooming-in to help mothers become familiar with their baby’s behaviour and needs. We don’t have a designated well baby nursery. 

Staff

The postnatal ward is staffed by an array of healthcare disciplines and providers, spanning a wide spectrum of specialties and professionals. This encompasses experienced midwives and student midwives, reflecting our role as a teaching hospital.

The Paddington and Oxford Postnatal Wards have a combination of shared and single rooms available.

Single rooms are prioritised for women who have babies in the Neonatal intensive care. They are also available for women who are under the care of a private obstetrician with private health insurance. However, it must be noted that this is subject to availability.

Consult the Patient Liaison Officer at front desk for further information.

Partner Accommodation

Partners are welcome to stay if you are in a single room. There is a boarder fee for overnight accommodation attached to this which includes breakfast only. Please discuss this with the midwife caring for you. Children are unable to stay overnight.

Dietary Requirements

Please inform the staff of any dietary requirements you may have.

On booking you will be given a flyer with information as to what to bring into hospital. 

Facilities for Families

We have mini fridges in each room and a patient kitchenette for you to store food and beverages.

Please ask staff for stickers to label your food and beverages.

4:00pm - 8:00pm  

Quiet time 1:00pm-4:00pm  

Children must be supervised at all times 

Partners are welcome all day and can stay until 10:00pm

Only 2 people are allowed at the bedside at the same time

Mother – What to Expect

Postnatal check

A midwife will do a daily head to toe check and assessment of your postnatal wellbeing. They will ask you a series of questions regarding your health and if you have any concerns. They will discuss management of postnatal issues and plan your care for the day.  A physical assessment may be conducted by a midwife or doctor. Please ask your midwife if you have any questions or concerns about yourself or your baby.

Baby Wellness Check

This will be completed prior to your discharge by a midwife or paediatrician.

R.E.A.C.H

If you are worried about a recent change in your condition or that of your loved one please REACH out.

Six-week postnatal check

Your six-week postnatal check-up is either with your local GP if you were on the GP Shared Care Program, your obstetrician if you had your care privately or midwife with the Midwifery Group Practice. This is an opportunity for your health care professional to check that your body is returning to its pre-pregnant state, your lactation is established and you’re coping with life and your new baby.

Baby – What to Expect

Baby Wellness Check

This will be completed prior to your discharge by a midwife or paediatrician.

Birth registration

Once your baby enters the world the birthing midwife will give you your birth registration package. This contains information you will need to fill out to register your baby with Births Deaths and Marriages. Only one set of papers are given to you. If you lose them you will need to consult Birth, Deaths, and Marriages for a replacement copy.

You will have 4 weeks to fill it out and send in it. A Medicare and Centrelink form are also in the package. You will need to lodge this form so they can add and issue you a new card with your baby’s details.

Centrelink payments are made at discretion and are means tested. For further information contacted Centrelink to see if you are eligible for any allowances.

Personal Health Record- Blue book

After birth your midwife caring for you will give you your Personal Health record, otherwise known as the ‘blue book'. This keeps a record of your baby details, child and family health visits, milestones weight and height charts, and immunisations. It is important that you don’t lose it as it contains important information concerning your baby. You will need to have it with you when you visit your GP and Child and Family Health Centre and all health professionals.

Postnatal Follow-Up Services.

So it’s now time to go home – you have the car packed, the baby seat secured on the back seat and a newborn in your arms. You are probably asking where I go next and who I can contact if I need assistance.

Rest assured there are a variety of services that are available to follow up with.

• Child and Family Health Centres
  • The Child and Family Health Centres are available in all areas and a great resource to access. They provide free health, growth and development checks for babies and children from birth to five years. Please call the central booking number within the first week of going home to make the first appointment. They can often offer this as a home visit
  • To see where your closest centre is click this link.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
  • The Australian Breastfeeding Association is a service offered to new breastfeeding mums who offer support with lactation and breastfeeding. It provides telephone help line for peer counselling support, groups for breastfeeding women lots of online resources who need advice during this.
  • Contact ABA on website www.breastfeeding.asn.au or by phone on 1800 686 268 (1800 mum 2 mum) – this hotline is 24/7 and a free service.
• General Practitioner/ Obstetrician/ Paediatrician
  • If there any medical issues for your newborn or yourself it is best to consult with your local GP and/or, Obstetrician or Paediatrician or immediate support can be found at Sydney Children’s Hospital Emergency.
• Sydney Children’s Hospital
  • Once your newborn is discharged from the Royal Hospital for Women and your child is unwell, it. It is advisable to take them to Sydney Children’s Hospital High St.
  • Contact SCH on (02) 9382 1111 or visit Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.

Postnatal education is our primary focus to support your transition to parenthood. We offer a number of classes including bath, settling, fourth trimester, breastfeeding to name a few.

Check out the timetable for details.

Free to air TV education channel is available in each room.

Lactation

In a BFHI facility, breastfeeding mothers are given consistent information and support with breastfeeding by midwives. Our lactation service provides additional support and assistance for new mothers who are having difficulties with their breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Support Unit

The Breastfeeding Support Unit (BSU) is a unique service offering outpatient and inpatient consultations to postnatal mothers. For more information, click this link. 

Our Midwifery Support Programme is a service offered to new mothers.

To be eligible for the program, you must leave within the time periods according to your method of birth.

To qualify you must live within the designated boundaries for the Royal Hospital for Women catchment area postcodes 2000- 2036 + 2060. If you live out of this area, other hospitals offer home visiting programs as well and we can get in contact with them and see if they have availability.

A safety check will be discussed on discharge to ensure it is a safe work environment for the midwife to visit. The midwife will acquire your details and give you information on the program. They will not phone you but should arrive between the hours of 9 am and 3:00 pm. Please give accurate details on parking, cross streets, pets and any safety concerns.

A midwife will come to your home and spend up to one hour a day with you and your newborn. They will individualise their visits according to your needs and support you through this period. They will visit you over a period of 4 days. Three visits will be offered. The first two will be consecutive then we will miss one day, and the final visit will be granted on the 4th day of your visits. You will still be under the care of the hospital during this time so if any complications arise or follow up is required, then the midwife caring for you can contact the hospital to arrange follow up or review of care, for you and your newborn.

A week following your discharge from the program, the midwives will contact you via phone to do a final wellness check and feedback questionnaire. If you have any questions during this phone call, the midwives will direct you to suitable follow-up.

Discharge planning

We start planning your discharge as soon as you arrive to our postnatal service. Your midwife caring for you will guide and discuss this with you. They will help you plan and prepare for your discharge home as well as assist you in your transition into parenthood.

Length of stay

Some women may stay up to 3 days (72 hours) for a vaginal delivery or 5 days (120 Hours) after a caesarean section. If other complications arise each individual will be assessed, and length of stay will be assessed accordingly.

Some women may prefer to go home earlier (6-8 hours after vaginal birth or 24 hrs after a caesarean) with the support of the midwives visiting them at home. Depending on the type of antenatal care you may be followed up by different midwifery support. If the antenatal care was with a GP or private obstetrician, then the Midwifery Support Programme (MSP) with visit at home.

Alternatively, some women may have received antenatal care and are followed up by the Midwifery Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS) or Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) program for their home visiting postnatal care.

If you have been followed up by Midwifery Group Practice or Midwifery Antenatal Postnatal Service, we encourage discharge as a soon as possibly unless you are experiencing other issues that forgo early discharge, so your midwifery team can follow you up with care at home.

It is normal for you to have pain after your surgery. Your nurse will give you pain medicines. Treating your pain helps you move around, take deep breaths and be more comfortable. It also helps you recover from your surgery.

You may be given pain medicine regularly or you may need to ask your nurse for pain medicine. If you normally take pain medicines at home, please let your doctor know. Do not take your own pain medicine while you are in hospital.

For mild to moderate pain, you may be given paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory. For severe pain you may also be prescribed an opioid. 

When you leave hospital ask your doctor for a written pain management plan. This will help you manage your pain medicines when you are at home.

If you are having a big operation, such as open abdominal surgery, your anaesthetist may prescribe you Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA). This is a machine that delivers pain medicine to you when you press a button. Your Doctor will order the amount of pain medicine to be delivered by the PCA machine. 

Our health staff will tell you if you had an epidural and/or spinal injection during your surgery. This would have been to give you medicines to help relieve your pain during or after surgery.

One of the most important things you can do after your surgery is gentle movement such as walking and sitting out of bed. You can start this the morning after your surgery.

Early movement helps to:

• improve blood flow around your body
• exercise your lungs and prevent a chest infection
• maintain muscle strength and length
• support digestion.

This video demonstrates the exercises you can do before and after your surgery to help prevent complications.