Babies

As a first-time parent, nothing can fully prepare you for bringing your newborn home from the hospital. But these helpful tips from three parents who gave birth at different Mediclinic hospitals might make things a little easier.

Whether you carefully planned everything, or your baby arrived as a surprise, it’s often the simplest tasks that turn out to be the most stressful. That’s exactly what happened to these three moms, who share their tips for bringing baby home.

Practise using the equipment

You must have a car seat to transport your baby home from the hospital – and you also need to know how to use it. “Practise putting the car seat in the car before the baby arrives,” urges Monika Simpson, who had her baby at Mediclinic Panorama in Cape Town.

Monika learnt this the hard way on discharge day, as she and her husband struggled with straps and clips in the busy pickup area. “We thought it would be easy to use, but we didn’t realise how tricky buckling the car seat would be,” she says. Luckily, a kind stranger saw them struggling and offered assuring words: “Take your time, no need to rush. It’s more important to get it right.”

Breastfeeding

All three mothers agree on one thing: breastfeeding is hard. “Don't underestimate the difficulty of breastfeeding. It’s not as easy as it seems and is probably one of the most difficult things to cope with postpartum,” says Monika.

Natalie Whitburn, who delivered at Morningside Mediclinic in Johannesburg, puts it bluntly: "Everyone thinks you pop a baby on the breast and Bob’s your uncle. Breastfeeding isn’t that easy."

Monika says she recommends that all expecting mothers take a breastfeeding class before giving birth and see a lactation nurse right after.

Accept the help – all of it

All three moms give the same advice: accept help when it’s offered. Jean Mhizha, who had a C-section at Mediclinic Vergelegen, planned carefully. “My partner slept over and stayed with me for three days; you can budget for it and reserve the room in advance,” she says.

“When the nurses offer assistance, take it as much as you can,” says Natalie. “Let them bathe your baby and take them off you for a few hours so you can spend time with your partner and unpack and unwind.”

Jean agrees: “Feel free to call for a nurse to watch the baby if you and your partner are tired. You’ll miss opportunities like this once you are back home.”

Monika learnt this lesson too late: “I wanted to do everything by myself and ended up being extremely stressed all the time soon after birth, which affected my milk supply and mental health,” she says.

Home survival guide

Jean’s practical advice: “Buy enough frozen meals and soups if you don’t have anyone to help you with meals. After a C-section, they tell you to move around—it does help, but don’t overdo it! Discuss pain management with your doctor.”

Natalie’s tip for bathtime: “Nurses say to test the water with your elbow, but that makes it feel colder than it really is. Instead, use a temperature duck or a temp gun to keep the water between 30-38°C.”

Over to you

These moms gave birth at different hospitals and had different experiences, but their advice is the same: be prepared, accept help, and do what works best for your family. Traditional advice doesn’t always fit everyone, so the most important thing is to find your own way through the exciting, messy journey of bringing your baby home.