When the day arrives to take your baby home, you will want things to run as smoothly as possible. It helps to be prepared before you go home:
- You are required by Texas law to have completed the birth certificate before going home. If you want your baby’s name on the official birth certificate, you must call the birth certificate office at your hospital before the baby is five days old. You will receive a complimentary certificate from the hospital as a keepsake (this is not an official copy).
- If you have any concerns or questions about paternity issues (legal father) during your pregnancy you may contact the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office has forms and information for acknowledgement of paternity by your baby’s father. Acknowledgement of paternity is very important to ensure that your baby becomes eligible for benefits such as Social Security, veterans benefits, child support, and health care.
- Your baby will be registered for a social security number when the birth certificate information is completed. You will need to ask for a receipt of the application especially if you are currently on, or will be applying for, any public assistance such as Medicaid or WIC. The social security card will be mailed to your home address in 3 to 4 months.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home.
- Check with the business office before you leave the hospital to make sure all the billing records are accurate.
- Make sure you get clearance from your nurse before you leave. Your nurse will need to make certain you have signed all the necessary forms, have complete and signed the birth certificate, and that you have been given written instructions on mother and baby care at home. You must be discharged by your doctor, and your baby must be discharged by baby’s doctor before you both go home.
- Make two follow-up appointments, one for yourself and one for your baby. Mother will need an appointment with her doctor or clinic provider 6 weeks after a vaginal delivery or 2 weeks and 6 weeks after a cesarean section delivery. In addition, an appointment for staple removal may be required if you had a cesarean section and your staples were not removed prior to discharge. You will be instructed by your discharge physician when to make your appointment. Baby will need an appointment with your chosen doctor prior to discharge. The baby will need an appointment anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks after discharge. Again, you will be instructed by the baby’s discharge physician when to make the appointment. It is best to call before leaving the hospital to arrange your baby’s appointment.
- You will be given the choice of walking to your car, or of having an escort to push you to your car in a wheelchair.
- Buckle your car seat securely in the car so baby will ride safely home.