Going Home
Taking Baby Home - Now What?
You may be leaving Saint Elizabeth with your new baby, but we at Saint Elizabeth have some helpful tools so you will stay in touch with us. We have useful tips for parenting and keeping track of baby’s development after you go home. Even our online Child Care Topics will be a big help to you now and as your baby grows! You’ll use them for treating minor illnesses and injuries. We hope you’ll continue thinking of us as a trusted friend.
First ---some tips for planning to leave the medical center
There are a few things you should keep in mind when it’s time to be discharged from our medical center.
Car seat
We hope you purchased your baby's car seat in advance—and if possible, had it fitted at the Saint Elizabeth SECURE car seat fitting station. See our section on Keeping Baby Safe. Also---keep this helpful 45-minute fitting station in mind for your other car and for grandma and grandpa’s vehicles! You want baby safe there too. Call 219-7000 to set up your appointment.
Your Clothes
Plan to bring loose-fitting clothing for yourself with a drawstring or elastic waste because you most likely won't yet fit into your pre-pregnancy outfits yet.
Baby outfit
Babies are frequently overdressed for the first trip home. In warm weather, it's practical to dress your baby in a T-shirt and diaper and wrap him or her in a baby blanket. Hats aren't necessary, but they can be a cute finishing touch, especially for the first picture in the hospital. If it's cold, add a snowsuit and an extra blanket. Chances are much better that you'll bring home a calm, contented baby if you don't spend a lot of time at the hospital trying to dress your baby in a complicated outfit that may require pushing and pulling your baby's arms and legs to get him or her dressed.
More Tips
• Baby’s first checkup
• NICU
• Nervous is normal
• Siblings
• Pets
• Friends/Family
Baby’s first checkup
If you haven’t already made the arrangements with your baby’s health care provider, make sure to ask when the baby's first checkup should be scheduled before you leave the hospital. Ask your Saint Elizabeth nurses and others if you have any questions about caring for your baby on the ride home or after you get there.
NICU
When it’ time to take your baby home from the NICU, our wonderfully experienced team of nurses will provide you with all the information you need to make sure your baby travels home safely and you are prepared to care for that new addition appropriately.
Nervous is normal
Don't be surprised if you have a mixture of emotions as you bring your baby home, especially if this is your first child. You'll likely be nervous. In fact, you may actually feel terrified as you realize that you've given up a certain amount of control over your life.
If your baby wasn't with you much at the hospital, you may not know what sort of schedule your little bundle of joy will keep. But you'll know before long - although babies' schedules do change a lot during those early months. You'll be less stressed if you don't over-schedule yourself and can go-with-the-flow.
Siblings
You may have other children awaiting the arrival of this newest family member. Or you may be dealing with a pet who's wondering what's suddenly drawn everyone's attention. Frequently, the expectations of new grandparents, competitive siblings, or friends can also make the homecoming stressful. Again, try not to over-schedule things and go-with-the-flow.
Introducing your baby to others at home can be challenging. If you have other children, be sure to spend some quality time with each of them during this time also. Some parents bring home gifts from the new baby for big brothers and sisters. At first, you can expect some jealousy, especially if the main focus of your attention for several years suddenly has new competition. Encourage siblings to "help" you care for this newest family member.
Pets
If you have a pet, bring home a blanket with the baby's scent on it and place it near the pet - even before leaving the hospital. Then, when you come home, the pet will already be somewhat familiar with the baby. But remember to never leave pets alone with newborns.
Friends/Family
It's a good idea to have dad or a friend serve as the gatekeeper for visitors, and to limit the number of guests at first. You'll be glad later on if you take some time now to rest and become comfortable with your new situation. Although babies typically aren't shy around strangers for the first 3 months or so, they may become over-stimulated and tired if there are too many people around.
If you have voice mail or a telephone answering machine, you should consider changing your message to give the vital statistics of your new arrival. You might want to say something like: "Our newest family member has arrived. Her name is Jill Michelle; she was born on the first of June, and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. We're all fine and adjusting to our new life. If you'd like us to call you back when it's convenient, please leave your name and number."
Don't be shy about accepting visitors slowly. Ask anyone who's ill to wait until they're feeling well and no longer contagious before they visit. It's also a good idea to ask visitors to wash their hands before holding your baby because a newborn baby's immune system is weak.