Postnatal care at the Clayton ward 

Holistic support, information and advice 

Our care doesn’t have to stop when your baby is born. We offer optional paediatric and postnatal support to give you peace of mind and support you through the early days with your baby. 

Our postnatal care packages will provide you with holistic support, information and advice, so that by the time you are discharged from our care you are feeling confident and happy about looking after your baby and ready for the on-going joy of parenthood. 

We will provide five postnatal check-ups in the days following your baby’s birth, which will take place in your home. These are: 

• within 48 hours of your discharge from hospital, we will take the time to visit you at home to see how you are adjusting to life with your new baby 
• at day five we will check that you are all still doing well and that feeding is well established. We will also carry out the newborn blood test (heel prick), check baby’s weight and also remove your stitches if necessary. This will also take place in your own home. 
• around day 10 we will make sure that you and your baby are happy, that your baby is gaining weight and you are recovering well from the birth. For the remaining two appointments you can have virtual appointments, home visits or come into hospital.  

These sessions can take place at a conveniently agreed time and will be with one of your trusted team of Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea midwives. 

If your home address is outside of the Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea catchment, we may still be able to offer this service depending on your location, but there may be an additional charge – the midwifery team will be able to advise. 

Neonatal care

As part of your obstetric care package, you will have access to a neonatologist during your stay at The Clayton ward. Our neonatologist can support you if you have any concerns about your newborn and they will be able to direct you to any specialist consultant colleagues, should they be needed. 

The neonatologist will carry out a newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE check) on your baby within 72 hours of birth. This is a thorough ‘top-to-toe' assessment and will check for any immediate concerns relating to their heart, hips, eyes or genitalia. 

Should your baby require any urgent care after their birth, our NHS neonatal service is on site, providing swift access to an expert team of neonatal specialists. We are able to offer treatment for your baby on the NHS at this point if your baby is eligible for NHS care.