Welcome to the Postnatal Ward

Accommodation for partners

Partners/support persons are welcome to stay on the postnatal ward throughout the admission, as long as you have a single room. During periods with a high number of births, sharing a room with another woman may be necessary. In such cases, partners are not permitted to stay overnight in the room.

Partners/support persons are required to pay for accommodation and meals.
The accommodation fee is NOK 300 per night. The maximum charge is NOK 1,200 (up to 4 nights). If you need to stay longer in the hospital, you will not be charged for any additional nights beyond the first four.

Meals are charged separately: support persons may choose to have meals provided for NOK 250 per day, or arrange their own food. It is not permitted to prepare food in the ward area.

Payment is made via Vipps to #31143 (Stavanger University Hospital).

Advice for partners/support persons

• Help with practical tasks, such as fetching food and drinks.
• Take an active role in the postnatal period by supporting the mother, providing care and spending time with the baby.
• Use the time to get to know your newborn. Learning to interpret your baby’s signals will help you understand their needs.
• Be mindful of whether the mother needs rest and quiet.
• Keep the room tidy.
• Use cupboards and bedside tables; do not place items on the floor.
• Use the bin and laundry basket. Place used laundry bags in the red linen sack in the corridor.
• Return meal trays to the dining area after each meal.
• Return used breast pump and bottle equipment to the milk kitchen.

Visiting hours

Siblings may visit the room between 4–5 pm daily. Siblings who are unwell or may be contagious must not visit. Please avoid staying in the corridors.

We recommend limiting visits as much as possible. Visits from other family members should take place in the reception area on the 1st floor of the A building.
We ask that mobile phone and social media use be kept to a minimum during your stay in hospital. Please do not take photographs or record staff or other patients.

Please feel free to ask staff if you have any questions or need assistance.

Going home

Healthy mothers usually go home after 48 hours (during daytime hours). If you have given birth before, you may – if you and your baby are well – go home the day after birth.

You must stay in hospital for at least 6 hours after birth before discharge. This is to ensure that both you and your baby are well. If you wish to go home early, this will be assessed individually, taking into account your physical condition, breastfeeding experience, travel distance and support at home. It is also important that you and your partner know what to look out for and where to seek help if needed.

Newborn screening and examinations

A paediatrician will examine your baby the day after birth, or earlier if you wish to go home the same day.

Newborn screening

All newborns in Norway are offered screening for 30 serious congenital diseases and disease groups. To detect conditions that require early treatment, a blood sample is taken from the baby’s heel as soon as possible after 48 hours following birth.

Babies are usually born without signs of illness, so screening is the only way to detect these conditions. Early diagnosis makes it possible to start effective treatment quickly and prevent or reduce complications. The blood sample is sent to the Newborn Screening Programme at Oslo University Hospital for analysis.

The screening is voluntary, and parents must give consent. After analysis, the blood sample is stored in a diagnostic biobank for long-term storage.

Time Municipality, Bjerkreim GP clinic, and Nærbø Medical Centre in Hå Municipality also carry out newborn screening.

Newborn screening and examination in Norway - Helsenorge