Postnatal services
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
If you gave birth at home, the midwife caring for you will stay a couple of hours after the birth to ensure you and your baby are both well. Then they will leave you to bond as a family, having arranged a time to come and see you again.
If you gave birth at one of our midwifery-led units, you and your baby are both well and there are no issues, you can expect to go home a few hours.
Care at the JR
If you gave birth on Delivery Suite at the John Radcliffe Hospital Women's Centre, you and your baby are both well and there are no issues, you may be able to go home shortly after giving birth.
If your baby's birth is straightforward, we encourage you to go home between two and 24 hours after the birth.
Sometimes you or your baby may need may need some further monitoring, or you may choose to stay longer for support.
If you stay in hospital after giving birth at the Women's Centre, we will transfer you to Level 5 or Level 7
Level 5: 01865 221880 / 1
Level 7: 01865 221663
Some women may spend some time on Observation Area, a ward to the side of Delivery Suite, before transfer.
Most of our wards comprise bays each with four beds; we will do our best to maintain your privacy and dignity at all times.
Visiting hours
Partners / main companions: 9.00am - 9.00pm (or at any time when women are in active labour)
Other visitors: 3.00pm - 4.00pm and 6.00pm - 8.00pm
A mother's older children are welcome to visit, but unfortunately we are unable to allow other children (nephews, nieces, friends etc.) to visit her; this is to reduce the risk of infection for newborn babies.
Only three visitors at the bedside at any one time, please, so that we can maintain a calm, supporting environment. (We may agree to other arrangements in exceptional circumstances.)
Breastfeeding
Midwives, maternity and breastfeeding support workers provide breastfeeding support for mothers in hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After mothers go home, we visit and offer feeding support when necessary.
Staff in our midwifery-led units are happy to help with feeding problems during the night that cannot wait until the morning. If feeding problems persist, specialist breastfeeding clinics run in Oxford four days a week.
For further information please see 'Infant feeding'.
Birth Afterthoughts
Birth Afterthoughts offers women and their families a chance to reflect on their birth experience with an experienced midwife. It is available to women who have given birth in the care of our Trust within the last 12 months, or who are currently pregnant.
Appointments can be made at the Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, the Horton Midwifery-led Unit or the Cotswold Birth Centre. For more information or to book an appointment please call.
Tel: 01865 220605
Registering the birth
If your baby is born at the John Radcliffe Hospital Women's Centre, you can register the birth at the Registrar's Office on Level 4.
You may only register your baby here if you have not yet been discharged. Please bring your baby's Red Book and a form of identification (this could be a passport or ID card).
A full birth certificate is available on the day at a cost of £11 per copy.
Opening hours:
- Monday and Friday 9.00am - 12 noon and 1.00pm - 3.30pm
- These hours may be subject to change at short notice
For information about who can register a birth please visit:
Care in Banbury
Newborn Hearing Screening
Newborn Hearing Screening is provided at the Horton by one of our Hearing Screeners. We try to schedule this to tie in with other postnatal appointments, for your convenience.
Paediatric Clinic
Monday to Friday
Neonatal doctors review babies who require initial checks (NIPE), those with acute jaundice or requiring prolonged jaundice screen, those with feeding issues who have already had input from the infant feeding team, or any other babies about whom there are concerns, but who are not acutely unwell.
Care at home
If you are going home by car, you must have an approved baby's car seat with you: a car seat for a baby is a legal requirement and necessary for their safety.
After you go home (or if you gave birth at home) midwives from your community midwifery team will visit you.
These visits are according to need, however, the 'Newborn Blood Spot' screening is usually completed on day five. We may offer to see you in your local maternity unit or community setting.
If you need advice outside office hours and cannot speak to your community midwife please contact our Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU).
Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU): 01865 220221
We will usually transfer your care to the Health Visitors on, or around, day 10.
Do make an appointment with your GP for both yourself and your baby to have a check-up at around six to eight weeks after the birth.
Oxford Newborn Care Unit
Oxford Newborn Care Unit provides specialist medical, surgical and cardiology care to newborn babies.
They examine babies born in the John Radcliffe Hospital along with specially trained midwives, and follow up babies after they leave the unit.
Oxford Newborn Care Unit