In this section you can find information on the support available to you when you have had your baby. 

If you and your newborn baby require a stay on our postnatal ward there are a team of midwives, midwifery support workers and infant feeding team to support and care for you both.

Our postnatal ward is called Burstow Ward, it has 28 beds within 6-bedded bays and we also have several private amenity beds.

Ongoing support from the community midwifery team at the mother’s home takes place from the day after discharge to a minimum of 10 days, and up to 28 days if required, until handover to the health visitor. New mothers can phone the emergency numbers in their notes for advice.

Click the below link to access the Burstow Ward information pack.

Welcome to Burstow Ward

Burstow Ward visiting times

  • Those present at the birth are welcome 8am – 8pm.

  • Maximum of one birth partner overnight 8pm – 8am. We encourage birth partners to rest at home overnight when possible.

  • Quiet time is between 1pm – 3pm. Birth partners are welcome to stay in this time but please limit moving around the ward, entering and exiting the ward and keep noise to a minimum. No other visitors are permitted during this time.

  • Between 4pm – 6pm, siblings of the baby are welcome to visit. All other children (under the age of 16) are not permitted on the wardat any time.

  • Family and friends are welcome to visit between 4pm and 8pm.  

  • No more than 2 adults are permitted at the bedside at any time. This includes in our side rooms.

Children under 16 that are not your own children are not allowed to visit – there are no exceptions, as this is an infection risk for the babies on the ward.

When your baby is five days old they will be offered a screening test called the Newborn blood Spot (NBS). This is usually performed in a postnatal clinic, alongside your babies weight and full postnatal check. The NBS screening programme enables early identification, referral and treatment of babies with 9 rare but serious conditions. These are:

The last six conditions are inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs).

Screening for Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type 1 (HT1) as an additional condition within the NHS Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme, is expected to start in July 2025.

Each laboratory will test 2000 anonymised residual NBS samples (no more than 14 days old) to validate the testing process for HT1 screening before July.

It is important to know that: after screening, blood spot cards are stored for at least 5 years and may be used:

  • To check the result or for other tests recommended by your doctor (if the results could affect the health of your baby, you will be contacted)
  • To help improve the screening programme or upgrade the existing testing methods for conditions already approved for screening in England (if the results could affect the health of your baby, you will be contacted)
  • For research to help improve the health of babies and their families in the UK (this will not identify your baby and you will not be contacted)

In addition, there is a small chance that researchers may want to invite you or your child to take part in information gathering linked to the newborn blood spot screening programme. Researchers undertaking any additional studies would explain what is being done and you would then be asked if you wish to take part in that study. Please let your midwife know if you do not want to be contacted to discuss taking part in any additional information gathering.

All use of the blood spots is governed by the code of practice. Any research will have been approved by an independent research ethics committee.

For more information see this online leaflet Blood spot - GOV.UK, or speak to your Healthcare professional.

Pelvic floor exercises

Baby traffic lights

Safer sleep advice from the Lullaby Trust

Best Beginnings – support and understanding for mums-to-be, new mums, dads, partners and families. Download the app from your usual app store by searching on ‘Best Beginnings’.

Baby Buddy - a free multi-award-winning, interactive pregnancy and parenting app now available in Surrey to support parents, co-parents and caregivers. It features fun, engaging interactive features and tips. Download the app from your usual app store by searching on ‘Baby Buddy’.

More information about pregnancy and birth is also available on the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists website.

Postnatal care and going home from the hospital

These videos provide more information about life at home following your birth, including how to care for yourself and your baby.

You are advised to discuss these videos in more detail with your named lead professional. These videos are guides and any specific circumstances regarding your health or that of your baby should always be discussed directly with your midwife.

Support for partners

Coparentpad

 

Birth reflections poster