The midwife's postnatal home visit takes place after discharge from the hospital, on average 5-7 days after the birth.
 

During the home visit, the following important information is collected:

• the parents' most important complaints and observations;
• the woman's feedback on the course of her pregnancy and delivery, including her experience of giving birth;
• the health status of the newborn and mother (including emotional state);
• screening tests and vaccinations performed on the newborn and the prophylactic administration of vitamin K;
• in addition, feedback is requested on adaptation to home conditions and coping with the new situation.

Regardless of the method of delivery, a new mother needs time to recover both mentally and physically. Your body has just gone through something remarkable; you have given birth to a new life. After nine months of waiting, you are probably excited to finally be home with your baby and everything is so new. Much of your attention and energy will be focused on your baby in the coming weeks and months, but don't forget to take care of yourself too.

Early detection of various physical and mental conditions can affect your health and well-being after childbirth, including your ability to take care of yourself and your newborn. This is where the midwife's postnatal home visit and postnatal check-up play an important role in supporting your health and well-being.

What happens during a postnatal check-up?
Before resuming sexual activity, it is recommended that you visit the gynecologist or midwife who monitored your pregnancy for a postnatal check-up 6-8 weeks after giving birth.

The purpose of the postnatal check-up is to assess your mental and physical recovery after childbirth, reflect on your experience of pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, plan future contraception, and provide recommendations to support your health and well-being.

During the appointment, the midwife will examine you to assess the condition of your vagina and perineum, the postpartum recovery of your cervix and uterus, the healing of any tears, and the condition and recovery of your mucous membranes. She will also examine your breasts and abdomen.

The timing of resuming sexual activity after childbirth is very individual. In general, it is not recommended to resume sexual activity before the postpartum discharge from the uterus and vagina has stopped, which usually takes about 6-8 weeks.

For women who are not breastfeeding, ovulation begins about 4-6 weeks after giving birth, at which point it is possible to become pregnant again. For mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding, ovulation and menstruation are usually delayed for up to a year or more after giving birth. However, sometimes breastfeeding women ovulate, menstruate, and become pregnant as quickly as mothers who are not breastfeeding, so it is very important to avoid unwanted pregnancy. That is why we will discuss the various options for preventing pregnancy. Once you have decided which method you want to use, we will write you a prescription. Until you have made your decision, we recommend using condoms. You can start using an IUD 6-8 weeks after giving birth.