Going Home After Your Delivery in KKH

• Keep the wound clean by washing with water, dry and dab gently after every toilet visit.
• Change sanitary pads every two to three hours.
• Reduce discomfort by:
  - Using Epikool (pads with cooling gel)
  - Lying on the bed or resting on your side every few hours. Avoid sitting for long periods.
  - Taking prescribed painkillers to help control any pain.
• Use a sitz bath:
  - Add two teaspoons of salt into cool/lukewarm water in the sitz bath basin.
  - Ease yourself in the basin until water touches your perineum.
  - Immerse yourself for approximately 20 minutes, three times a day.
• The stitches will dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed.
• Please consult your doctor if you experience any of the following:
  - Pus-like/foul-smelling discharge from vagina
  - Bleeding from episiotomy wound
  - Fever and/or chills
  - Severe or increased perineal pain
  

• In the first week after operation, always keep the dressing clean and dry.
• If it gets wet, visit the nearest GP clinic/polyclinic to change it.
• Removal of dressing is to be advised by nurses or as indicated by your doctor.
• Removal of stitches depends on the type of sutures used and is to be done according to the doctor’s instructions.
• Observe for bleeding, redness or pus around the wound area, which may suggest wound infection. Please return to the hospital if you have any of these symptoms and/or fever.
• Do not lift heavy objects for at least two months.
• Avoid strenuous activity that may cause injury or pain. This will allow your wound to heal promptly.
  

• Lochia is the “bloody” discharge which begins right after delivery.
• During the first couple of days, the bleeding can be quite heavy but it will gradually decrease.
• The colour of the lochia changes from bright red to pink or brown and may become yellow before it disappears completely.
• Most mothers find that the bleeding stops within three to four weeks. However, for some mothers, lochia may continue for up to eight weeks.
• Please consult your doctor if the lochia suddenly becomes heavy after decreasing.
  

• "Afterpains" or postpartum cramp is a mild ache felt in the lower abdomen in the first few days following delivery.
• It is most intense in the first few days after giving birth, and may last from a few days to between four to six weeks after the delivery.
• It is caused by contractions of your uterus as it returns to its pre-pregnancy size.
• If you are breastfeeding, you will feel the uterus contracting when the baby is suckling.
• Painkillers (NSAIDS) are commonly prescribed after childbirth to reduce pain and lochia flow. You are advised to take them as prescribed by your doctor.
  

• Wear a supportive bra during breastfeeding.
• Breastfeed your baby on demand every two to three hours, including night feeds, to prevent breast engorgement.
• Express your breast milk every three hours if your baby is not able to feed directly from the breast.
• Massage your nipple and areola before every feed to promote a good flow of your milk.
• Apply a cold pack or cold cabbage leaves once or twice over the breasts in between feeding or expression, to reduce swelling if your breasts feel hard and painful.
• If any part of your breast is red and painful, and/or if you feel shivery or feverish, seek medical attention or consult the Lactation Consultant immediately. There may be a breast infection.
  
  Please refer to the breastfeeding booklet for more information.
  
  If in doubt, you may call the Lactation Consultant through the hospital main line at 6-CALL KKH (6-2255 554). The Lactation Consultant may arrange an appointment for you at the Lactation Clinic.
  

• Eat a variety of foods, especially green leafy vegetables and fruits to regain your health.
• If you are breastfeeding, ensure adequate fluid intake and avoid alcoholic drinks.
• Taking Vitamin C tablets daily will aid in wound healing. 
  

• Take prescribed medications regularly, as advised by the pharmacist.
• Look out for any drug allergy reactions.
• Seek medical attention if you experience any rashes, swollen eyes and shortness of breath.
• Consult a doctor if you wish to take any traditional or complementary medicine.
  

• It is important for you to relax and rest during the confinement period.
• You should rest your back as much as possible to recuperate from the delivery.
• Try to catch some rest when your baby is asleep.
• You are encouraged to do some postnatal exercise as it will firm up your abdomen and muscles around the hips and thighs.
• Do pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises to strengthen your lower pelvic muscles and prevent leakage of urine.
  - Try to contract the pelvic muscles involved during urination, when you are not urinating.
  - Tighten your pelvic muscles. Hold for three seconds, and then relax for three seconds.
  - Start with three seconds and increase gradually till you are able to hold for 10 seconds.
  - Do these for 15 minutes each session, three times a day.
• Regular postnatal exercise classes are conducted on weekends at the hospital. For enquiries, please call Patient Education Centre at 6394-1268.
  

• Before you are discharged from the hospital, you will be given an appointment for a postnatal follow-up as determined by your doctor.
• The follow-up can be done at our Women’s Specialist Clinic, GP Clinic or a Polyclinic. 
  

• Women resume sex at varying times.
• Abstinence from sex until the wound is fully healed is recommended.
• Consult your doctor during your postnatal review before you resume sexual intercourse.
• This may be around six weeks after delivery.
  

From 29 May 2022, parents will have to register the birth of their newborns via the LifeSG app within 42 days of birth.

With this, in-person birth registration services will cease at hospitals and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building. Collection of a physical birth certificate is no longer needed.

Following the registration on LifeSG, parents will be notified to download their child’s digital birth certificate via an ICA e-Service known as the “electronic Retrieval of Certificates and Instant Verification”, which can be accessed on the ICA website or via MyICA Mobile.