POSTPARTUM CARE
HONORING THE GOLDEN HOUR
The immediate postpartum period is a time of immense joy, awe, and exploration. Therefore, we take pride in welcoming babies graciously with tenderness, honor, and love. We believe that the first moments after your baby joins us earthside are just as important as the moments that brought your baby into the world. We hold reverence for and have a continued respect for the natural process of the postpartum period.
It is during this “Golden Hour” after birth that a newborn has intense natural instincts to make eye contact, breastfeed and bond. Love hormones peak in both mother and baby during this time, allowing the pair to fall deeply in love. Both are extremely impressionable, and this initial bonding experience creates a foundation for the continuing mother-baby relationship. Respect for this bonding time is of the utmost importance to us.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER BABY IS BORN
Beyond the Golden Hour, we are honored to perform baby’s initial assessments in your arms. We will do a full physical examination of your little one right on your chest and on the bed next to you. There is no nursery and no warmers here at our facility . . . we believe that skin to skin is the best place for Baby to transition to life outside the womb; therefore, your baby will never leave your care during your postpartum stay at Authentic.
Your birth team will remain with you for the first 2-3 hours post birth, until you are ready to be on your own with your family. During these first few hours, you and your baby are closely monitored for continued health and wellness. Once we are assured that all is well both emotionally and physically, and that all are tucked in for some bonding and rest, we leave you in the care of Authentic’s amazing postpartum staff who will pamper and serve you during your 24 hour stay at the center. These amazing attendants are committed to anything you might need . . . from assisting with breastfeeding, answering questions, monitoring guests, preparing tea, or drawing a relaxing postpartum bath. Ultimately, it is their goal to make your postpartum experience as comfortable as possible as you bond with your new baby. And if you just want to rest without interruption, they are committed to protecting that space for you as well.
-2.jpg)
HEADING HOME
We will do a thorough physical assessment of both Mom and Baby to ensure total health and wellness before sending your family home. We will discuss postpartum instructions, physical care for your recovering body, and the importance of emotional care and support. It is our hope that after this initial 24 hours at the center, you will feel rested, confident, and empowered to embark on the next steps of your journey at home.
At your discharge, in addition to thorough assessments and postpartum education, we will offer the following newborn screenings for your baby:
-
Newborn Metabolic Screening (sent to the WI State Lab of Hygiene)
-
Hearing Screening
-
Critical Congenital Cardiac Defect Screening
SUPPORTED BY YOUR AUTHENTIC FAMILY
Following the birth of your baby, we ensure that you are healthy, well, and supported as you transition into life with your new little one! Not only do we want to support you in your physical recovery process, we also want to encourage you in your parenting journey, offering you resources to the providers, classes, events, and communities that you need to feel nourished and whole, physically, and emotionally.
Following your discharge, in addition to continued access 24/7 to the on-call midwife, you will have a few postpartum follow up visits:
-
A phone call check-in at 24 hours
-
A two-week postpartum office visit
-
A six-week postpartum office visit
During each of these visits, we will do a physical assessment of Baby, as well as a physical and emotional assessment on Mom, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We also encourage ongoing conversation to process any thoughts, emotions, or questions you have about your birth experience.
POSTPARTUM TIMELINE
24
HOURS
HEADED
HOME
48
HOURS
PHONE CALL
POSTPARTUM CHECK IN
WEEKS
2
OFFICE VISIT
POSTPARTUM CHECK UP
6
WEEKS
OFFICE VISIT
POSTPARTUM CHECK UP
THE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE
Heidi
We never felt rushed at a visit and were free to ask all the questions we had (of course a lot for our first child). I called the on-call midwife number so many times that I thought they had to be getting annoyed, but they were always patient and helpful. I even had a couple off hours visits with them at the birth center to make sure everything was okay. All peace of mind that I would never have gotten from a hospital!
Meghan
When I became pregnant with my daughter, I was interested in birthing at Authentic but honestly lacked the confidence that I could really have a beautiful, peaceful and totally natural birth experience. My husband and I brought our rambunctious boys to an info meeting at Authentic and decided that night to give it a try. For anyone on the fence about where to deliver your baby, this is what I want to say to you. If you want to be truly educated about all of your prenatal and birth options, Authentic is the place for you.
Alexis
For the first half of the pregnancy, I was being seen at an Aurora facility. When I went to each appt (at Aurora) everyone seemed upset to even be there, including staff, and everyone brushed off my concerns. My husband actually ended up finding Authentic for us, as I was looking for a more natural birth. From the very first meeting we had, I almost cried tears of joy. Authentic’s basic plan for birth was exactly the plan I had, and would’ve had to fight for birthing at a hospital. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, personable, and really care about you as a person.