Postpartum Checklist

Do you know what steps are necessary to expedite your hospital postpartum discharge with a newborn? Most hospitals start morning discharges as early as 11 am. But they can continue for hours due to incomplete paperwork or procedures. Here is our handy step-by-step postpartum discharge checklist to help you get home quickly and reduce unnecessary anxiety.

• Standard hospital newborn tests and procedures after birth 
  • Erythromycin eye ointment
  • Vitamin K injection
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Newborn bath 
• Hospital newborn tests and procedures  before discharge
  • Newborn metabolic screen
  • Circumcision (if requested) 
  • Newborn hearing test 
  • Lactation consultation 
  • Infant weight and jaundice assessment 
• Newborn paperwork
  • Get discharge notes and instructions
  • Get prescriptions (if needed) 
  • Fill out birth certificate paperwork
  • Fill out social security paperwork or answer Social Security question(s) on birth certificate paperwork 

Once you get home you will need to schedule two-three more appointments after a nap in your own bed!  One (1) is to call your pediatrician and schedule your initial office visit.  You will also need to call your provider and set up your next office visit per their instructions (2).  The third (3) appointment is with your doula or lactation consultant per their recommendations,