Delivery

Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

At the hospital

You will be advised to rest in bed for a while to rest and regain your strength. The nurses will then ask you to get up and walk around as soon as possible to prevent blood clots from forming in your veins. Start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Your blood pressure and pulse will be monitored regularly until you are discharged.

Before you go

Before leaving the hospital talk to your doctor or nurse about:

Recognising the signs of infection
Whether you can use tampons
Any medications you may need
Cleaning and caring for your perineal area, if you have had a tear or episiotomy
How much rest you will need in the coming weeks

Back at home

After returning home with baby, be sure to:

Take warm, shallow baths to help relieve soreness and speed healing
Change your sanitary pads often so that you can observe the color of the discharge
Tell your doctor if you notice anything out of the ordinary

Returning to Normal - your changing uterus.

As your uterus returns to normal your womb will gradually shrink back to normal size; by the 14th day, your doctor will no longer be able to feel it from the outside of your abdomen. You will have a bright red, bloody discharge from your vagina, which will gradually change to pale brown, then yellow over the next 10-14 days. You may then have one of your normal periods.