Taking your baby home from the Neonatal Unit

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions that parents have about taking their baby home.

When will my baby be ready to go home?

To go home with your baby, you generally need to be confident about any special care that they may require. Your baby must also be:

• Able to maintain temperature in an open cot
• Able to suck all feeds
• Gaining weight
• Medically well.

What can you do to prepare before taking your baby home?

In hospital

• Spend time with your baby to learn and recognise their feeding cues and behaviour
• If breastfeeding, learn to recognise an effective breastfeed. Your bedside nurses and lactation consultant can assist you
• If bottle-feeding, learn how to feed your baby. You will need to know how to prepare infant formula and clean the equipment
• Participate in the general care of your baby so you learn how to change nappies, bathe your baby and position your baby in their cot
• Ask your bedside nurse to teach you how to give medicines and special care if this is required
• If at KEMH attend the ‘Getting ready for home’ talk given by the home visiting nurse on Thursday mornings at 10.30am
• You may wish to attend a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation training session (CPR). Ask your bedside nurse to book you in for a session
• Ready the safe sleeping guidelines – if you need a copy ask your bedside nurse
• Confirm your discharge address to the neonatal staff
• Write down any questions you have regarding discharge and discuss with your bedside nurse.

At home

• Organise car seat installation. Organise a cot/bassinet for your baby to sleep in at home. Prepare the house – make sure it is clean and safe
• Find a family doctor/GP if you haven’t already got one
• Whooping cough and influenza vaccinations should be up to date for those people coming into contact with your baby
• If you smoke, visit your GP or the QUIT Line 13 78 48 for advice on stopping smoking
• Make sure you have registered your baby’s birth, added them to your Medicare card and to your private health insurance (if applicable).

When my baby is at home what should I consider?

Babies are more likely to pick up infections. In the first few months after your baby comes home you should ask family/friends who are unwell to wait and visit when they are well. Good hand hygiene by those visiting and caring for your baby is important to lower the risk of infections for your baby.

Zero exposure to cigarette smoke also lowers the risk of your baby getting an infection.

If you have concerns about your baby’s health after discharge then take them to your GP or nearest hospital emergency department.

What follow up will my baby have?

• All babies are referred to their local child health nurse on discharge
• Watch our video on Taking your baby home presented by Eliza, one of our nurses
• Babies born less than 32 weeks or 1,500g will be seen by the home visiting nurse and reviewed in the neonatal follow up clinics. Some babies are also seen in the Neonatal follow up program
• If your baby is eligible you will be informed. Ask your bedside nurse for more information
• Some babies required ongoing follow up with medical specialists at Perth Children’s Hospital.

How will my baby’s information be shared?

A discharge letter will be sent to your baby’s GP. It is important to ensure the GP you want the information to go to is the GP on your baby’s record. Please check with the ward clerk if you have any concerns about this.

A referral is also sent to your local child health nurse and any specialists at Perth Children’s Hospital.

Further information

Visit the Perth Children’s Hospital website.

This document can be made available in alternative formats on request for a person with a disability.