Going Home

Getting Ready
Written orders from both your doctor and the baby's doctor must be written before you and your baby may be discharged. Your nurse will give instructions for you and your baby, prescriptions, and/or patient lab slips to you. Before you leave the hospital you should do the following:

• Be sure all your questions have been answered to your satisfaction.
• Have appropriate clothing to dress baby in for the trip home (T-shirt, sleeper, blankets).
• Have the baby's car seat properly installed in the car. You will be accompanied to the hospital entrance by a staff member.
• Have the person taking you home take your personal articles downstairs to the front of the hospital (carts are available).

Family Adjustment
Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents and others in the family all go through an adjustment period when a new baby joins the group. One of the best pieces of advice is: "Be patient with each other." As time goes on, family members will get used to their new role.

Car Seats
The State of Michigan requires infants to be secured in an approved restraining seat in any moving vehicle. Purchase seats manufactured after 1/1/1981 and labeled "dynamically tested". The infant must be strapped into the seat and the seat securely and properly belted to the car. The strap securing the infant in the car seat should be snug; loose enough to put two fingers between the baby and strap but not your whole hand. For more information visit our Health Library.