Postpartum & Newborn Care

The postpartum stage — after childbirth — marks a new chapter in your life. It can be both an exciting and challenging time as your body heals and you adjust to life with a newborn. At MultiCare, we continue to provide comprehensive support after delivery.

In the birth center, our postpartum teams closely monitor the health of you and your baby. We check your vital signs and pain level, offering medications as needed. We also provide feeding evaluation and support, whether you choose breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a mixture of both. The hours after birth are an important opportunity for you and your baby to bond, and we aim to facilitate family bonding as much as possible.

Following discharge from our birth center, most patients attend a postpartum appointment with their doctor or midwife approximately four to six weeks, (or sooner depending on your circumstances) after delivery. During this appointment, your provider will assess your physical and emotional health, answer any questions or concerns you have, discuss your contraception needs and make referrals to specialty care as needed.

Whether you are receiving care in one of our birth centers or outpatient clinics, our goal is to support your recovery and help your newborn thrive.

Some of our postpartum services include:

• Breastfeeding support. Breastfeeding is a personal choice, and it does not always come easily. If you choose to pursue breastfeeding, we have board-certified lactation consultants and nurses with specialty training in this area available to help.
• Breast milk donations. Donating surplus breast milk can save the life of fragile infants. There is no cost to you and we take care of sending the donations for you.
• Cord blood banking. A baby’s umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells that can be used to treat many medical conditions, including some types of cancer. We offer families options to donate or bank (save) their baby’s umbilical cord blood after delivery.