Whether you're in hospital or at home, a midwife will check to make sure both you and your baby are in good health in the first few days. 

Your community midwife will look after your for about 10-14 days, or up to 28 days in some areas. How often she visits will depend in part on how well things are going.  Ask her if there's a Surestart Children's Centre programme locally for extra support.

Your midwife will:

• Ask how you are feeling, physically and emotionally.
• Check your temperature and pulse to check for an infection.
• Check there are no problems with your breasts, whether you are breastfeeding or not.
• Check your blood pressure.
• Feel your tummy to ensure your uterus is shrinking back to normal.
• Check your pad to ensure your loss is normal.
• Check your legs for swelling, tenderness or pain, which are signs of a blood clot.

Your health visitor will take over from your midwife. She will also visit you, check your baby's health and development, and introduce you to the baby clinic, where you can go to have your baby checked and weighed.