Your postnatal care
Postnatal care is given after the birth of your baby. Our midwives, doctors and healthcare staff are here to make sure you are well looked after, once your baby has been born.
If everything has gone well, this will mean making sure you are confident with feeding and looking after your baby before you go home.
If you or your baby needs to stay in hospital, we will make sure you both receive the best possible care.
If you and your baby are both well, you can go home within a few hours. Our midwives and healthcare staff can help you start to feed your baby, as well as supporting you with any immediate issues or concerns you might have.
Should you or your baby need to stay in hospital, you will be transferred to our postnatal ward.
If your baby needs more specialist care, they might be transferred to our Neonatal Unit.
Our care does not stop once you leave hospital. You should have a home visit from your community midwife within 24 hours. They will plan more visits to you, usually over the next 10 days.
Bassett Ward - Northern services
Bassett Ward is a mixed antenatal/postnatal ward on the first floor of the Ladywell Unit at North Devon District Hospital. We have three beds in each bay, plus single rooms, some of which have en suite facilities. We also have an overnight room for women and their partners if circumstances require.
Postnatal Ward - Eastern services
If you need urgent advice or think you or your baby are unwell then please contact the maternity triage on 01392 406616
After the birth of your baby, if you and your baby are both well and feeding is established, you might wish to go home within a few hours of birth. Should you or your baby need to stay in hospital, you will be transferred to our postnatal ward.
We will give you support to make help you to recover from the birth and make sure you are confident with feeding and looking after your baby before you go home.
Our antenatal/postnatal ward has 37 inpatient beds, four transitional care beds and four triage beds.
To contact the ward, call 01392 406680, 01392 406684 or 01392 406688. You can find out more about visiting times here.
Leaving hospital
Our care does not stop once you leave hospital. You will have contact from a midwife from your community team the day after you come home from hospital. They will plan when you and your baby need to be seen next. We usually discharge you to the care of the Public Health Nursing Team (health visitors) when your baby is about ten days old.
All babies receive a newborn examination (NIPE check) by one of our specialist trained midwives after they are born. This might happen while you are staying with us on the ward or you can be offered an appointment to return for this check.
What to do if you feel unwell
If you feel unwell or have any of these symptoms, please get in touch on 01392 406616:
- If your bleeding is becoming heavier or you are passing clots
- You are concerned that your wound site is becoming infected (red, inflamed, painful, swelling, oozing)
- Your vaginal discharge is offensive, or your stitches become more painful
- You are concerned about your baby feeding or your baby is sleepy and not waking for feeds
- You feel unwell and/or feverish
- You have pain or swelling in your legs or feel short of breath
- If you have any other concerns
Please contact this number for both the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and North Devon District Hospital.
Devon Perinatal Pelvic Health Service
The Devon Perinatal Pelvic Health Service cares for all women and birthing people from pregnancy to 12 months after having a baby. The service has been set up to provide support, advice and treatment for those with or at higher risk of pelvic health concerns in Devon. You can self-refer into the service or talk to your midwife.
More information about the service is available on the Devon Perinatal Pelvic Health Service website.