Bringing your baby home

There is no magic weight for going home.

He or she will be ready to go home if:

  • His or her breathing is stable
  • He or she is feeding by breast or bottle responsively
  • He or she is gaining weight steadily, and
  • He or she can maintain their temperature in a cot

We will give you plenty of warning that your baby is nearly ready for home.

You will be taught to care for your baby at home - things like:

  • Bathing
  • Feeding
  • Making up feeds
  • Giving medication

You will be invited to 'room in' with your baby, to care for him or her for 24-48 hours, with staff support if needed.

Yes, if one is much further ahead than the other, it's likely that that baby will go home before his or her sibling.

The other twin may return with you to visit.

Yes, your Health Visitor will be your main support once you are home.

He or she will have been regularly updated on your baby's progress during your baby's stay in the Neonatal Unit.

Hopefully, you will have met or made contact with them before going home.

They will visit you at home within 48 hours of your discharge.

Your baby will then be followed up regularly at clinic visits.

If your baby was born before 32 weeks, and if they weighed 1.5Kg (3lb 5oz) or less, generally they will have follow-up appointments from around 6-8 weeks after discharge, right up until they are at least two years old; some will be seen right up to school age.

Babies who have had specific medical problems will also have follow-up appointments.

No, if your baby needs to be re-admitted to hospital, he or she will be admitted to the Children's Unit at Great Western Hospital.

Your baby's development

This is the age a baby would have been if they had been delivered at full term, or the age calculated from your estimated date of delivery.

This is used when monitoring premature babies' physical and speech development, such as sitting, walking and talking.

It is also used for deciding when to wean a baby and introduce solid foods.

This is used for immunisations.

When your child is two years old.