Postpartum Care

We help you build your confidence as a new parent with breastfeeding support, parenting classes, baby immunizations, car seat safety and more. Caring for your baby includes:

Car safety

Car seats reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury to your baby. But you need to use them properly.

We offer an infant safety class that reviews car seat safety and other safety issues. To keep your new baby safe, you should:

• Install a rear‑facing, infant-only car seat in your vehicle.
• Secure the car seat with the vehicle seat belt or a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.
  
• Test the seat’s harness by pinching it at your child’s shoulders from top to bottom. If you can’t make a vertical fold, it fits correctly.
• Use the car seat in your vehicle’s backseat only.

Immunizations

You can help protect your baby by getting them vaccinated for infectious diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends getting your baby’s first checkup and immunization at birth, then starting the rest of their vaccination schedule at 2 months old.

Newborn hearing screening

Your newborn should receive a hearing screening while still in the hospital or no later than at 1 month old. The screening is easy and painless—some babies even sleep through it.

If your baby doesn’t pass this screening, schedule a full hearing evaluation as soon as possible. Early intervention is important for your baby’s health and their ability to develop communication skills.

Breastfeeding offers your baby the best nutritional start, but you may have questions or face challenges. The Cedars‑Sinai Lactation Program can help you feel more confident and overcome nursing issues, even if you’ve struggled before. We provide support:

• Before delivery: We offer a short class that explains what to expect in the first few days after your baby is born. Learn more about the pros and cons of breastfeeding and bottle‑feeding. Attending the class can help lessen anxiety about feeding and other issues.
• After delivery: Your postpartum nurse will show you breastfeeding basics and answers questions while you’re staying in our Mother/Baby Unit. You’ll also be given written guidelines on breastfeeding in the first four days and a log book to track feedings. If questions or difficulties related to lactation arise, your nurse or doctor can assist in setting up a consultation with our in‑house lactation consultants.
• Breast Pumps: Hospital‑grade double electric breast pumps are available for use during your stay. Your nurse or lactation consultant will assess your needs and help set you up with one as needed. 
• After going home: We have many resources available and our team can continue to support your breastfeeding journey after you've gone home.
  • Lactation Message Line: If you have non‑urgent questions about breastfeeding, you can call out lactation message line at 310‑423-5312 and a lactation consultant will return your call within 24 hours.
  • 24‑hour Warmline: You may call the Breastfeeding Information Warmline at 800‑972-6003 or 310‑423-2599 at any time after taking your baby home. Listen to prerecorded messages about early feedings, breast milk supply, using a breast pump, collecting breast milk and more.
  • Outpatient Lactation Consultations: Our lactation consultants are available for outpatient visits. To schedule a lactation consultation after you've been discharged, please reach out to our Outpatient Lactation Clinic at 310‑423-7779.

If you have any medical concerns about your baby or yourself, please contact your pediatrician or obstetrician.

Pregnancy and childbirth take a toll on your body. It’s common to feel pain and fatigue when you get home. Taking care of your newborn will take a lot of time after childbirth, but it’s important not to neglect yourself.

After a vaginal or cesarean delivery, you may have:

• Cramping as your uterus shrinks back to its pre‑pregnancy size
• Vaginal discharge while your body gets rid of what surrounded your baby in the womb
• Wounds or incision to care for, if you had vaginal tearing, an episiotomy (surgical cut) or a cesarean section

You need at least six to eight weeks to heal from labor and delivery. Get as much rest as possible, and check with your doctor before returning to your usual activities. During your healing, it’s important to:

• Avoid alcohol
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a nutritious diet
• Get as much sleep as you can
• Lean on your partner or other family members for support

It’s common for new moms to have the “baby blues” in the days following delivery. These occasional feelings of sadness or anxiety are natural with all the hormonal and life changes you’re going through.

But if you continue to feel down after a week or more, you may have postpartum depression (PPD). PPD is common and treatable—and help is available at Cedars‑Sinai.

When you’re recovering from childbirth, your nurse evaluates you for signs of moderate to severe depression. If needed, the Postpartum Depression Screening Program can refer you for a variety of treatments, including:

• Lifestyle changes
• Medication
• Support groups
• Talk therapy

We also offer a range of outpatient services through our Reproductive Psychology Program. An entire team of psychologists, reproductive psychiatrists, clinical social workers and counselors helps you get the appropriate care for PPD.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, seek help immediately from your partner, family or a close friend, and call 911.