Congratulations on the arrival of your newborn.

We have prepared this to give you useful information on coping with the first few weeks after your delivery.

Keep your baby's cord clean and dry at all times. Use a cotton wool or bud (dampened with cord spirit) to clean the cord. Always clean from base upwards each time after baby's bath or when the cord is wet. The cord will dry gradually and drop off within a week.

Episiotomy is the cut made at the perineal region during childbirth. The stitches take about two weeks to heal and dissolve. The area should be kept as clean as possible by washing with water and applying procaine spirit twice a day.

Always keep the dressing on your operation site dry. You may remove the dressing as advised by the nurses.

You are advised not to carry or lift heavy objects for about two months. This will allow your wound to heal adequately.

Go to the nearest polyclinic or general practitioner if the wound is red or there is smelly discharge.

Lochia is the 'bloody' discharge which begins right after delivery. During the first couple of days, the bleeding can be quite heavy but it will gradually decrease.

The colour of lochia usually changes from bright red to pink to brown, and may become yellow before it disappears completely, which is usually three or four weeks later.

Please consult your doctor should the lochia suddenly become heavy and red again after disappearing.

You should wear a supportive nursing bra during breastfeeding. To prevent breast engorgement, you may:

If in doubt, please contact the lactation consultant / counsellor at tel: 6394 8232 or through the Hospital's operator at tel: 6293 4044. You may also make an appointment to see the consultants at our Lactation Clinic.

Eat a variety of foods from the 4 food groups (rice and alternatives, fruits, vegetables, and meat and alternatives) to maintain a healthy diet.

If you are breastfeeding:

• Continue having 2 - 4 servings of milk or high-calcium foods daily
• Do no go on a strict diet to lose weight until your baby has been fully established onto semi-solid foods (at about 6 months of age)
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Keep to 2 cups of tea or coffee a day
• Avoid alcohol and tonics containing alcohol for the 1st week after delivery or if your baby has jaundice. From the 2nd week onwards, if your baby doesn't have jaundice, you may consume up to 20 ml (2 dessertspoons) a day of alcohol or tonics containing alcohol, after you have breastfed your baby.

If you are not breastfeeding, and should you wish to lose weight after delivery, you may wish to find out more about our Weight Management Programme (please follow this link).

It is important for you to relax and rest during the confinement period.

You should rest your back as much as possible to recuperate from the delivery. Try to catch some rest when your baby is asleep. If you have other children, you may want to engage them in quiet activities such as reading stories to them.

You are encouraged to some postnatal exercise as it will help firm up the abdomen and muscles around the hip and thighs. Regular postnatal exercise classes are conducted during the weekends at the Hospital. For enquiries, please contact the Patient Education Center at tel: 6394 1268. A fee applies.

Before you leave for home, you will be given an appointment for a postnatal check-up, four or six weeks after your delivery. The check-up may be done at our women's specialist clinic, the KK Women's Clinic (Ang Mo Kio) or the polyclinic.

As a Pap smear is done during the check-up, you should notify the clinic if you are menstruating. For change of appointments, please call tel: 6294 4050 for appointments at the Hospital or the KK Women's Clinic.

You and your husband should decide how soon to resume sexual activity. You may resume as long as you are up to it.

If you are tired or feel sensitive on the perineum after a tear or an episiotomy, you may wish to discuss with your spouse and explore other ways of expressing your affection.

You can register your baby's birth at the Birth Registration counter located at Level 1, Women's Tower (opposite the Training Centre). You are advised to register within 14 days of your baby's birth.

You are required to bring the following documents for registration: