You will spend the first few days looking at your baby. You will notice every detail – the colour and texture of their hair, the shape of their hands and feet, and the different expressions on their face. The final colour of your baby’s eyes will not be clear until they are six months old or more.
The Rotunda Hospital Dublin
Caring for Baby
The first few days and weeks of your baby’s life is a very exciting time. It is also very busy, so it is important to take plenty of rest and to avail of the help and support which is offered to you. We will show you how to care for and look after your baby in the early days and we will ensure that some early screening tests are carried out. We will give you information on important issues including early childhood immunisations, prevention of cot death and registering the birth of your baby.
Providing Care For Your Baby At The Rotunda Hospital
Caring for Baby
Birth Notification & Registration
The birth notification staff will visit you to complete a ‘notification of birth’ form. It is very important that you provide the correct information as any errors will delay the registering of your baby’s birth.
You will receive a “birth registration form” which you must complete and take with you to your local civil registration office. The information leaflet on registering the birth outlines what documentation you must have with you when you are registering the baby’s birth.
If you do not meet a member of the birth notification team before you leave hospital, the ward staff will give you a yellow card that contains their contact details. You can contact them by phoning 01 817 1726 or 01 817 1755. You can leave a short message and they will return your call.
Please wait at least ten working days before going to your local civil registration office to register the birth. The birth must be registered within 3 months of the date of birth.
Further information can be found on the HSE website at the link below.
Caring for Baby
Going Home with your Baby
How long you stay in hospital will depend on the type of delivery you had or if you or your baby had any complications following birth. We recommend that you stay in hospital for at least 24 hours unless you are going home under the care of the community midwifery team (DOMINO and ETH). If you are breastfeeding for the first time and are not living within the community midwives’ area, we recommend that you stay in hospital for 48 hours. While in hospital, try to get as much rest as possible.
Please note that your expected time of discharge is 11.00 am, unless otherwise indicated. We would ask that you please arrange to be picked up by this time.
Caring for Baby
Role of Public Health Nurse (PHN) & GP
The role of the public health nurse (PHN)
Once you have been discharged from our hospital we will pass on your details to your local PHN. The PHN will contact you and arrange to visit you and your baby at home. This visit will normally take place within 48 hours of you leaving hospital.
The PHN will arrange to carry out weight and development checks on your baby until school going age. The PHN will give you lots of information about local support groups and services. If you are under the care of our community midwifery services (DOMINO and ETH) then your first visit with the PHN will be after the community midwife has finished caring for you and your baby – usually around seven days after the birth.