The emergency room is not the best place for a newborn and his "newborn" mom. However, in many cases, they end up going to this service for problems that are not really emergencies such as hyperbilirubinemia (increased level of bilirubin in the blood), difficulties with breastfeeding or because the baby cries without stopping and the parents are distressed.
With the aim of offering assistance to parents in the first 48-72 hours after birth, a Hospital in Getafe was put in 2011 a Early Discharge Consultation to solve the small complications that may arise when we "land" alone at home with the baby and (especially if it is the first) we feel totally lost. We talk to the two nurses who have This service that avoids unnecessary visits to the ER.
Home with the baby
When the baby is born, it is normal to only have to be in the hospital 48 hours for vaginal births and, when it is by caesarean section, three or four days. After, a visit with the pediatrician at 48-72 hours is recommended. The problem is that, due to the saturation of the health centers, sometimes this visit cannot be carried out in that period or, even if we have it, a problem arises that requires attention before, explains one of the two nurses who carry the service Teresa Corcoles
In addition, premature or low-weight babies need special vigilance and breastfeeding may cause problems at first. To meet these demands, there is the Early Discharge Service in the Maternity Area of Getafe Hospital, which has already served more than 4,600 babies and is a service very well valued by families.
Doubts resolved
The consultation resolves above all problems and doubts related to parenting. As Yolanda Cantos explains, the other nurse in charge of this service:
"The consultations that arise are fundamentally related to feeding and basic newborn care: sleep patterns, how to take care of the navel, how often you have to eat, how to shelter it ... and many problems with breastfeeding, for example problems with the hitch, cracks ... If you give a bottle we also explain the kassing method so that it is the closest thing to breastfeeding. "
According to this nurse, parents come to the consultation with many mistaken beliefs about newborns (for example, who have to eat every three hours) and lack of practical information about breastfeeding:
"People think that everything that is related to breastfeeding is instinctive, however it is cultural. There are many mothers who have never seen a newborn, they have an idea in the head of what breastfeeding is and then they find that the child behaves differently. Our advice is to go to the breastfeeding workshops from prenatal. "
More breastfeeding support
Some of the mothers who attend the Early Discharge Consultation are derived from telephone service to answer breastfeeding questions They have implanted in the hospital since last year.
Calling 638 49 54 24, a midwife solves all doubts that may appear about breastfeeding such as duration, technique, frequency ... Many times the consultation can be solved only by phone (sometimes moms just need to be given a little confidence and support) and others will have to resort to other more specific aids.
Psychological Support
In the Early Pregnancy Consultation it is not just about caring for newborns: it offers comprehensive support to the family, because parenting is everyone's business. Is about make the transition between the hospital and house more bearable. Having someone to turn to at those times when you feel overwhelmed with thousands of "will this be normal?" in the head and the stress that can cause to take care of a newborn when you are not yet recovered from childbirth.
Make families feel more supported in those first days at home with the baby and desaturate medical services, the main advantages of this consultation for newborns that avoids unnecessary emergency visits.
