​While we are fortunate in this health district to have many single rooms available on the postnatal ward, they cannot be guaranteed for everyone and are allocated based on clinical needs. Single rooms also cannot be pre-arranged, they are allocated at the time of transfer from birth unit. We understand this is important to you and will try to accommodate this whenever we can.

​Visiting hours differ between hospitals. Maternity wards can be noisy places and are popular with visitors. Each service tries to allocate quiet times, without visiting, at some stage of the day to ensure the mums get some rest. As you are likely to have a short stay, we recommend minimising visitors to enable you to get the most out of your postnatal stay. Partners are welcome anytime.

Royal North Shore Maternity Unit visiting hours: 10am to 1pm / 3pm to 8pm

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Maternity unit visiting hours: 10am to 12pm / 2pm to 8pm

​Newborn Bloodspot Screening is a free blood test offered to all babies within two to three days after birth. This test checks for 25 different medical disorders such as cystic fibrosis, primary congenital hypothyroidism and other rare diseases.

No. Formula, bottles & teats will be provided for your baby while you are in hospital. Prior to the your baby’s birth we do recommend that you purchase the formula, bottle & teats you wish to use

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital:

Yes. Please bring the formula you plan to use, bottles and teats, so we can support you preparing your baby’s feeds for when you go home

​Many women will have stitches in their perineum after birth. Maintaining regular hygiene is important for healing.

Here are some recommendations for a good recovery:

• Change pads regularly
• Wash perineum regularly with soap and water and gently pat dry
• Ice packs can assist in pain relief
• Rest in elevated positions – lying flat on stomach with pelvis on a pillow
• Speak to your doctor or midwife if you are concerned or would like some further information

​Many women find it beneficial to engage with a women’s health physiotherapist following a birth assisted by forceps. Where possible this can occur during your inpatient stay. There are several women’s health physiotherapists in the community who you may wish to follow up with at 6-8 weeks post birth.

• ​Squeeze yourpelvic floor muscles prior to coughing, sneezing, or lifting to protect against increases in pressure
• Perform regular pelvic floor exercises

TheContinence Foundation of Australia have educational videos and resources for pregnancy and after birth.

• Recovery is different for every woman. We encourage gentle movement following surgery.
  
• The midwives and medical staff are here to help, and you will be offered regular pain relief.
• It may be worth considering reducing visitors when you are in hospital and when at home to help you rest.
• More information onrecovery after a caesarean can be found here
  

​Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally is good for you, and it’s good for your baby. When you’re well, you can give your baby the loving attention they need to grow and thrive. You can also cope better if your baby is crying a lot.

Remember that part of looking after yourself is asking for help, especially if you’re feeling tired, stressed, anxious or angry. There are many people who can support you and your baby, including your partner, friends, relatives, child and family health nurse and GP.

​As new parents you will learn to understand your baby's  cues and become more confident in caring for your baby. 

For more information on newborn behaviour and what to expect in the first few weeks at home we recommend the

Raising Children website

​Crying​ is how your newborn baby communicates their needs. Such as:

• hunger
• tiredness
• discomfort
• sickness or in pain
• they need a change of scenery or
  
• they need to know you’re there

Babies cry on average for almost 3 hours a day however some cry for a lot longer than this. Crying peaks at about 6-8 weeks. And as babies get older, they spend less time crying. The crying is also more likely to be spread throughout the day. And it’s easier to understand what babies need when they cry.

It is sometimes hard to work out what your baby needs when they cry. But even if your crying baby isn’t sick, hurt, uncomfortable or hungry, it’s still important to comfort them. For example, you could try cuddling or rocking them, taking them for a walk, or giving them ababy massage

Newborns usually sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours each. Some newborns sleep for up to 4 hours at a time. Newborns wake frequently to feed because they have tiny tummies. Your baby might go straight back to sleep after feeding, or they might stay awake long enough for a short play.

​In the early days, newborns typically need to feed every 2-4 hours.

It might help to know that most babies establish a manageable pattern of feeding over the first few weeks of life. They learn to do most of their feeds during the day and have fewer at night, so it will get easier.