DESCRIPTION: |
Post natal services become available after the mother and her newborn have been discharged from the MOU or clinic. This usually happens six hours after the birth if both mother and baby are in good health. After the birth, the infant's umbilical cord should be checked at follow-up visits to the clinic every day for three days to make sure it does not become infected. Clinic staff assist mothers with breastfeeding or other feeding options to ensure that the baby is getting enough milk. If the baby has a low birth weight, mothers are trained in Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). This form of care involves dressing the infant in a nappy and a cap and placing the baby in an upright position on the mother's bare chest, between her breasts and inside her blouse at all times. If possible, the infant must be fed mother's milk. The baby's progress is monitored at follow-up visits to a special KMC Clinic. The infant's father or other members of the family can do KMC as well. The mother's health is regarded to be as important as that of the newborn. Mothers are examined at the clinic on follow-up visits to check that the uterus (womb) has returned to its original position. The clinic staff will also offer mothers counselling on available contraception /family planning options. Some women struggle with the demands of being new mothers and clinic staff are trained to assess them to see if they are suffering from the "baby blues", Post Natal Depression or Post Natal Psychosis. If there is a problem, the mother may be counselled, given medication or referred to secondary or tertiary hospitals for further assessment or treatment. |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
If you are a first-time visitor to a health facility, you will be asked to fill out a form and a folder will be opened. Bring your ID book, any medication you are taking and a clinic or hospital card, if previously registered at the facility. Bring the child's Road to Health Chart. |
PROVIDED AT: |
These facility categories: |
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GOVERNMENT BODY:
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Department of Health (Provincial Government of the Western Cape) |
PRICE: |
Maternal Services are free of charge. |
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Cape Gateway is a government service aimed primarily at citizens of the Western Cape, providing information on local, provincial and national government |  |