Postpartum Unit Discharge (Newborn)
First 48 hours after discharge
This handout has resources and information to support you and your newborn in the first days after you leave the hospital. Learn what to expect, what to watch for, and when to call for help.
Important phone numbers
- Call 911 for any medical emergency.
- Call the New Parent and Newborn Line at 1-833-805-2229 (1-833-805-BABY) anytime day or night for expert postpartum information for babies under 2 months old.
- Call Health Link at 811 for other medical concerns or if you need health advice.
- Call or text 988: Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline if you have any thoughts of hurting yourself.
Public health follow-up
A public health nurse or your midwife provider will contact you after you go home from the hospital. You will usually get this phone call within 1 to 2 days after leaving the hospital (after discharge).
If you have not gotten a call from a public health nurse or your midwife provider by 72 hours after discharge, or if you have any concerns before having a public health follow-up, call the New Parent and Newborn Line at 1-833-805-2229 (1-833-805-BABY).
Follow-up care
After leaving the hospital with your newborn:
- Arrange follow-up appointments for your newborn with your family doctor, midwife, or the healthcare provider looking after your newborn.
- Follow the schedule and instructions that you got for your newborn at discharge (when you left the hospital).
- Help is available at any time, day or night, by calling the New Parent and Newborn Line at 1-833-805-2229 (1-833-805-BABY) or by calling Health Link at 811.
Reach out for support if you have questions or concerns about your newborn.
When to call for help
Learn when to call for problems in newborns and learn how your newborn looks and common concerns.
Call 911 if your newborn:
- is having difficulty breathing
- has blue or grey skin, lips, mouth, or face
- is limp or not moving
Get medical help if your newborn:
- has a temperature (measured in their armpit) that stays higher than 37.5°C or stays below 36.5°C after 30 minutes of skin-to-skin contact
- is not waking up to feed
- has fewer wet and dirty diapers than expected
- has any big change in crying or behaviour
- has signs or symptoms of an infection
Parenting information and newborn resources
General information
For general information, see: Your newborn at home.
Healthy Parents, Healthy Children is Alberta’s guide for pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, and child development. Ask your healthcare provider how to get a copy.
Feeding
Newborns may be fed a variety of ways.
If you are breastfeeding, feed your newborn 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period—or every 2 to 3 hours. Wake your newborn to feed if it has been more than 4 hours since they last fed.
If you are bottle feeding, sterilize feeding equipment until your baby is 4 months old. Use a slow-flow nipple when feeding with a bottle. Responsive and paced feeding lets your baby control the flow of milk.
Learn more:
Newborn poops and pees
Tracking your baby’s diapers helps you understand if they are getting enough milk or formula.
- On day 1 after birth, look for at least 1 pee (1 wet diaper) and at least 1 poop.
- On day 2 after birth, look for at least 2 pees (2 wet diapers) and at least 1 to 2 poops.
- On day 3 after birth, look for at least 3 pees (3 wet diapers) and at least 3 poops.
- Your newborn’s pees and poops will increase. By day 4 and later, look for 6 or more pees and 4 or more yellow, seedy poops.
Learn more:
Jaundice
Feeding your newborn often helps clear jaundice. The public health nurse will check your newborn for jaundice when they see you.
Learn more:
Safety, sleep, and baby care
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in their own crib or bassinet.
- Don’t use pillows, loose blankets, or wedges. Use a crib or bassinet that is free of clutter.
- Make sure you have a car seat for your baby that is installed correctly, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Never leave your baby unattended in the bath.
Learn more:
Vitamin D and vitamin K
All babies need oral vitamin D drops. Learn more about vitamin D for babies.
Vitamin K prophylaxis is recommended for all newborns in the first 6 hours after they are born. This is given as an injection. Learn more about vitamin K for newborns. If your baby did not get a vitamin K injection, talk with your healthcare provider.
Umbilical cord care
Keep your baby’s umbilical cord clean, dry, and out of their diaper.
The umbilical cord usually dries, shrivels, turns brown or black, and falls off in about 2 weeks after birth. You may notice a small amount of bleeding when the cord is ready to fall off.
Learn more:
More information
To see this information online and learn more, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_postpartum_discharge_newborn_inst.
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
Current as of: August 27, 2026
Author: Provincial Perinatal Group, Women’s Health
This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.
