Coming to GOSH

Coping in hospital

Coming to GOSH soon after birth

A mum from our Consultation Panel has told us what it was like to come to GOSH soon after having a baby.

“My son was transferred to GOSH within hours of birth. It was not planned. Although I was a second time mum, it was not easy to cope with my own still bulging tummy, bleeding, bruises, stitches, swollen legs and so on, and post labour weeping on top of everything.”

Whether the transfer was planned or not, you are bound to feel overwhelmed by all that you’re feeling. Some mums have to stay in their local hospital for a day or two so that they can recover from the birth. We know this can be difficult, but we will arrange transport for you to visit your baby and take you back afterwards. We have adult-sized wheelchairs if you don’t feel up to walking just yet.

Coming to GOSH

When you are able to come to GOSH, we know you’ll have a lot to take in and that it might take a while to understand how your baby is doing. You may have a lot to catch up on, particularly if you have been staying in your local hospital. It can help if dad or someone else can keep a notebook to remember what has happened and when. We will explain to you exactly what has been happening since your baby was transferred to us. If you want us to repeat anything, please ask us. We don’t mind having to repeat ourselves. It is important that you understand your baby’s condition.

Staying here

If your baby is in intensive care, parent accommodation is available for two of you. The parents’ unit is adjacent to the hospital to the hospital. If your baby has been transferred to another of our wards, we can offer parent accommodation to one of you. We can also give you details of hotels in the local area.

Breastfeeding

We encourage all our new mums to try to breastfeed, and our neonatal nurse advisor is here to help you. If your baby isn’t able to feed directly from your breast at the moment, there are breast pumps available in the hospital. We also provide sterile bottles and attachments for the breast pumps to make it easy and safe for you to express. We will teach you how to use them so your baby can still have breast milk even if breastfeeding isn’t an option just yet. Ask a member of staff to help you. We also can provide information on breast feeding and expressing milk. Food vouchers are provided for you to use in the GOSH cafeterias and coffee shop.

Visits from a midwife

Community midwives from a nearby adult hospital are available for any postnatal care you need. If you would like to see one of our community midwives, please ask your nurse to fill in a request form. We have a postnatal clinic at GOSH, three afternoons a week, especially for new mums. The clinic is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30pm in the Mother’s Accommodation Unit in the Main Nurses’ Home Building. You will be able to see the midwife on your own, and during your first visit, we will see how you are doing and plan your following visits to the clinic.

Supplies

If you need any special toiletries, it might be easier to see if someone could bring some in to you. We stock some items in our shop, and there are local chemists in the area, but if you prefer a specific brand, it could be easier to bring them from home.

Keeping in touch

Your family and friends are bound to want to know how you and your baby are doing but it can seem overwhelming to have to tell the same thing to lots of people over and over again. Some of our parents have found that nominating one person to pass on information helps, as they only have to call one person. If you do want to have a chat, there are card phones in various places around the hospital, or you could use your mobile phone in designated safe areas.

Time out

While we want you to be as involved in looking after your baby as you feel able, we want you to have some time out too. Please do not feel you have to spend every minute with your baby. It is important that you have some time out too. It can help to have a walk around too. It doesn’t matter if you are still in your pyjamas or dressing gown.

Keeping your strength up

We know that you might not feel like eating much, but you need to keep yourself well. Please make sure you eat regularly. Remember that most wards have a kitchen so you can make yourself tea and coffee. There are places in the hospital to eat, such as Costa Coffee, the Restaurant and Peter Pan Café. If you feel up to going out to eat, the Family Services department can give you some suggestions.

Finally

Remember, although we are looking after your baby, we also want to make sure you are alright too. We have a neonatal nurse advisor who has lots of experience of looking after new mums and their babies. Ask your nurse to contact her if you would like a chat. If you think things are getting too much, there are people throughout the hospital who are there to listen and help, like your ward nurses, the social workers, chaplain and Pals (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). We are all here to help.

Links

Coming to GOSH as a new mum (PDF, 127KB)