Women's Wellness

Mother and Child

After Your Baby is Born

Taking care of yourself and your baby after delivery is equally important. Here are a few important tips.

• Schedule a follow-up postpartum appointment to see your OB/GYN. This appointment must be made 4-7 weeks after childbirth, but NO LATER THAN 8 weeks.
• Make an appointment for your newborn to see his/her pediatrician within two weeks of your baby's birth. If you are breastfeeding your newborn, you should make this appointment 48-72 hours after hospital discharge to ensure that your baby is receiving proper nutrition.
• You should start protecting your baby right after he or she is born with regular visits to the doctor. Over the next two years your child needs to get immunizations (shots) to be protected against childhood illnesses. Click here for HIP's Childhood Guidelines. It provides the schedule for well-child visits and immunizations.
• It is common for new mothers to feel overwhelmed by the stress and lack of rest that accompany caring for a newborn. If you have persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, speak to your doctor. Postpartum depression is a treatable illness. Click here to take the Postpartum Depression Self-Evaluation survey.