Another focus of postnatal care is to make sure that the new mother is healthy and capable of taking care of the baby and knows how to breastfeed correctly and adjust to a new life with her baby.

National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines state the following about postnatal care in UK hospitals:

1. Women and their families should always be treated with kindness, respect and dignity
2. The views, beliefs and values of the woman, her partner and her family in relation to her care and that of her baby should be sought and respected at all times
3. The woman should be fully involved in planning the timing and content of each postnatal care contact so that care is flexible and tailored to meet both the mother's and baby's needs
4. Women should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and any treatment needed
5. Where a woman is unable to make decisions due to coma or unconsciousness, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health guidelines outlined in the Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment
6. Good communication between healthcare professionals and the woman and her family is essential and should be supported by information offered in a form tailored to the needs of the individual woman
7. Care and information should be appropriate and the woman's cultural practices should be taken into account
8. All information should be provided in a form accessible to women, their partners and families, taking into account any additional needs, such as physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities, and people who do not speak or read English
9. Every opportunity should be taken to provide the woman and her partner or other relevant family members with the information and support they need