Resume sexual intercourse when you feel it is right for you. Using KY jelly to start with may help.

Family Planning http://www.familyplanning.org.nz He whakamarama mo nga mahi a Family Planning Family Planning provides sexual and reproductive health information, clinical services, education, training and research.

Natural Fertility website www.naturalfertility.co.nz provides information on sexual and reproductive health

• Have a store of large maternity pads as blood loss is heavy in the first few days. Let your LMC know if you are changing your pad more than every hour or have passed large clots. Ring an ambulance if severe. You can bleed (lochia) up to six weeks after the birth. It is bright red like a heavy period, then becomes pink in colour and then clearer. The amount reduces gradually.
• Let your LMC know if you feel unwell, have a high temperature, a smelly vaginal discharge, tender abdomen, or have pain or swelling in the calf (leg).
• For Episiotomies or tears, soaking in the bath with 1 cup sea salt may help, or 1-2 drops of lavender oil as this acts as an antiseptic. Support your bottom area with your hand when you laugh/cough. Other things that may help: Witch hazel, keep knees together when sitting and avoid constipation. Ural sachets and cranberry juice may reduce the sting on the stitches when you pass urine.
• You may have tearful days. It is hard work looking after a new baby. sometimes you will feel exhausted and overwhelmed. You may feel you don't get much time to yourself and sometimes feel lonely if you are unable to get out of the house. It is normal to have "bad days" but if you feel tearful all the time and depressed it is important to talk to someone. Please read the article on BabyWebNZ about postnatal depression PND.
  

• Be prepared antenatally as you will not have much time when baby arrives, and remember baby may arrive early.
• It is important to go outside as you can get cabin fever. Some days will feel like ground hog-day. It is good to go see people or have antenatal group get togethers. You will also need some time to yourself away from the responsibility of looking after the baby. Time with baby, time by yourself and time with your family/friends/partner provides balance in life.
  
• Find out about baby friendly cafes, parents rooms, baby in arms at the movies sessions in your area. See the baby friendly section on BabyWebNZ.
  
• If given baby clothes, leave labels on until you have checked that it will fit your baby as you may need to exchange them.
  
• Box of baby keepsakes - baby name bracelet, cot card.
• If you are really tired limit visitors the first 2 weeks: need to sleep or rest when baby sleeps!
  
• Rest is more important than housework.
• A large box in the living room is handy to throw all the toys in at the end of the day
• Offers of food are great.
  
• Stock up on groceries and frozen meals. Consider ordering groceries online, some suppermarkets will provide free delivery if you state you have a new baby.
  
• Think about preparing dinner early eg use a crock-pot or peel a pot of potatoes in the morning. Life gets busy around 5pm
• Group your messages to people re the birth eg message by email, answer phone message.
• Often you will be given a lot of advice. Only use what makes sense to you. You are the parent you are the one who is looking after your child and know them better than anyone else.
• Raising your child shouldn't be a complicated exercise. Reading all the books and trying to be a perfect parent is exhausting and you will stop having fun if you do this. Do the best you can and seek help if you are having difficulty. Children grow up fast take time to enjoy them.

Midwives provide free maternity care to all eligible women in New Zealand and over 75% of women today have a midwife as their Lead Maternity carer (LMC). Midwives in New Zealand work in a partnership model of care with women.

Services provided by midwives postnatally are listed on the the www.midwife.org.nz website.

• This information states that after your baby is born (from the birth until your baby is 4-6 weeks old) the following services are provided:
• detailed clinical examination of your baby within the first 24 hours if you are in hospital, a daily postnatal visit prior to your discharge (unless another arrangment is made with you and with the facility)
  
• one home visit within 24 hours of your discharge from hospital
  
• a further detailed clinical examination of your baby within 5 days of the birth
  
• a total of 5 - 10 midwifery home visits and more if clinically needed
• a minimum of seven postnatal visits in total
  
• assistance with and advice about breastfeeding and nutrition for mother and baby
  
• assessment for risk of postnatal depression and/or family violence with appropriate advice and referral
• provision of the Ministry of Health information on immunisation access to screening programmes for your baby as outlined in the Well Child Tamariki Ora National Schedule
  
• advice about contraception
  
• parenting advice and education
  
• a final detailed clinical examination of the baby prior to transfer to the Well Child Provider (Plunket or other service)
  
• a postnatal physical examination of you prior to discharge from the LMC
  
• service transfer of your baby's care from the LMC to the Well Child provider at a date agreed with you between 4-6 weeks after the birth, and formal notification of this transfer to the Well Child provider notification to your General Practitioner of your discharge from LMC services

• If you wish to visit us in Hospital prefer this to be ...(day and time)
• If you wish to visit us at home please wait... (1-3 weeks)
• Please ring before you come in case we need to catch up on sleep.
• All food very much appreciated.
• The midwife said to say if you have a cold or flue could you wait till better. This is important to sometimes state if you have a premature or unwell baby. Babies immune systems are immature.