The first step in a new beginning

The birth of a child is a magical moment, but it only marks the beginning of a new and exciting phase of life. The maternity week is the first week after the birth of your baby, in which you not only have to go through your own recovery, but also have to get to know your baby and find your way as a family. Here you can discover what you can expect during this maternity week, including the role of maternity care and the medical checks that are part of this special period.

The important role of maternity care

Maternity care plays a central role during the maternity week. The maternity nurse offers support, advice and personal care for you and your baby. In addition, she is responsible for carrying out medical checks and passing this information on to the midwife. Her duties include:

• Supporting feeding the baby
• Learning to change diapers
• Help with giving a baby a bath
• Ensuring a safe sleeping environment, which is extremely important
• Carrying out medical checks, such as checking your blood pressure, uterine condition and blood loss

Role of the midwife during the maternity week

As midwives we also provide maternity visits, where we:

• Inquire about the medical checks carried out by maternity care
• Assess the baby's health and vitality, which provides insight into the baby's nutritional progression and ability to process waste products in the blood. We therefore also ask questions about the baby's stool and wet diapers.
• Inquire about your physical and mental well-being

The first visit: day 1 or 2

The first visit usually takes place on the day after the birth or a day later if you are not immediately home. During this visit:

• We measure your blood pressure
• We inquire about the medical checks carried out by maternity care
• We will discuss the birth and any concerns you may have

The second visit: day 4-5

The second visit usually takes place on the fourth day after delivery, but the timing may vary depending on when you leave the hospital if, for example, you had a medical indication during your delivery. During this visit:

• We check the overall health of both the baby and the mother
• We will address any questions or concerns you may have
• We inquire whether the Youth Health Organization (JGZ) has come by for the heel prick and hearing test
• We check for signs of jaundice (jaundice) in the baby
• We discuss possible medical interventions if the baby appears too yellow

The last visit: day 7-8 (or 9-10 for extended maternity care)

The last visit usually takes place on day 7 or 8. In case of indications for additional days of maternity care during the maternity week, the last visit can be moved to day 10. During this visit:

• We are wrapping up the maternity week
• We provide information about this birth control
• We schedule an appointment for the follow-up, which takes place six weeks after delivery

Mental well-being

It is completely normal to experience a variety of emotions after giving birth. We are here to listen to how you feel and discuss any concerns you may have. It is very common not to experience a pink cloud right away. We encourage you to talk about this, both with the maternity care provider and with us, so that we can be there for you.