Postpartum Care
From certified lactation consultants to pelvic floor therapy, we offer the support and resources you need to navigate the postpartum period more easily and the moment your baby enters the world to the day you leave the hospital, our postpartum care centers are committed to providing the support you need to begin recovering.
Your Postpartum Stay
At each of our locations, nursing staff is trained to assist new mothers with their breastfeeding goals.
The Mother’s Milk First Lactation Center at North Central Baptist Hospital in Stone Oak offers a warm, comfortable and supportive environment where families can discuss their breastfeeding goals and concerns with trained lactation consultants. These consultants are available to patients during their stay in the hospital and also after discharge through outpatient services.
The Mother’s Milk First outpatient lactation center also offers:
- Breast pumps for rent in hospital gift shop
- Breast pump parts and accessories
- Lactation consultations (by appointment only)
- Weight checks
- Bra fittings
- Telephone assistance
- Mother’s Milk Bank Collection Site
Mother’s Milk First Lactation Center
520 Madison Oak, 3rd Floor ~ Atrium Entrance
San Antonio TX 78258
Phone: (210) 297-4086
Monday – Friday
9 AM – noon and 1 – 4 PM
Closed some holidays
While some of our hospitals offer nursery services, all our postpartum units encourage families to practice "rooming in" with the baby from day one. This encourages additional bonding with your new arrival and allows you to more easily get to know your newborn's needs with 24/7 access to assistance from our expert nursing staff.
With locations around San Antonio and two Level IV NICUs providing the highest level of neonatal care available, Baptist Health System is proud to provide high-level neonatal care to families in San Antonio, New Braunfels and the surrounding communities.
Your NICU team will work with you in planning developmentally appropriate care based upon the needs of your baby and family, and you will receive additional instruction at the time of discharge to prepare you for life at home with your baby.
Whether your newborn is rooming in with you or staying in the NICU, we practice a high level of security when it comes to your child. All newborns are given a patient identification band to match their parents' and IDs will be confirmed before every care session while in the hospital.
Additional security measures:
- When your baby is born, a sensor is attached to his/her ankle or umbilical cord. This device sets off an alarm if your baby is moved near any of the exits, stairs or elevators in our area.
- The Labor & Delivery and the Postpartum areas are always on “lockdown” mode. To enter these areas, visitors must identify themselves and the door must be unlocked by the staff inside.
- Check for an official hospital ID badge. Release your infant only to staff members wearing the appropriate name tags. During your hospital tour, you will be told how to identify these badges. Otherwise, the baby should not leave your room. Security cameras are located at elevators, stairways and exits for your baby’s safety.
- Babies are transported in bassinets/cribs. No infants are to be carried in the hallways by staff, parents or visitors.
At the Nest, we practice evidence-based care. When medically possible, we encourage mothers to spend the Golden Hour with their newborns.
The Golden Hour is the period in a baby's first hour of life in which important events take place. Mothers and babies who spend the Golden Hour together may experience better neonatal thermoregulation, decreased stress levels in both mother and child, and improved bonding. Additionally, increased rates and duration of breastfeeding have been linked to the implementation of this time in mothers and babies.
During the Golden Hour, you may participate in skin-to-skin contact and your nurse will be available to answer any questions you may have.
After you arrive home with your newborn, it's important to continue caring for yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. Should you need medical care related to your recent childbirth, you can contact your OB/GYN or visit one of our emergency rooms for immediate care.
Postpartum Health
For many women, the postpartum period is all about baby. However, paying attention to and taking care of your postpartum body is important too. In fact, physical therapy is available to new mothers who hope to speed up the physical recovery process.
Baptist Health System's outpatient physical therapy program, Healthlink, offers a comprehensive treatment plan for women after childbirth. This treatment plan includes assessing and treating bowel and bladder difficulties, pelvic pain, back pain and changes in posture that could have long-term effects on the mother.
Many mothers experience the "baby blues," a period of time that includes mood swings, unexplained feelings of sadness and other emotional responses in the first few weeks of postpartum life. In fact, up to 80 percent of women reported negative feelings or mood swings after birth (American Pregnancy Association).
These mood swings are attributed to hormonal changes as the body readjusts after being pregnant. While the baby blues are very common in postpartum women, your OB/GYN is available to answer any questions and can offer guidance.
Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression is a more serious medical condition that can be treated with medication and therapy. Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 15 percent of women and usually involves more severe symptoms than the baby blues.
Comparing the baby blues and postpartum depression:
| Baby Blues | Postpartum Depression | |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms |
|
|
| Symptom duration | 0-3 weeks after birth | More than three weeks after birth |
If you believe you may be experiencing postpartum depression, we urge you to seek care from your OB/GYN, mental healthcare provider or primary care provider. Therapy, support groups and medication are all options for women living with postpartum depression.
If you experience a mental health crisis, call 9-1-1 or seek emergency care immediately.