Antenatal visit - Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

All children and families are entitled to a universal service and the level of support offered is assessed on each individual families health, development and social need.

The antenatal contact is the first contact you and your partner are likely to have with your Health Visitor. This appointment will usually take place within your home around 28-36 weeks of pregnancy and the appointment tends to last about an hour depending on what you discuss. A lot of Mum’s ask us if partners should attend this appointment and the answer is yes! As health visitor’s we look after and support the whole family so it is important to meet all parent’s and for all parents / partners / family members should know they can access support through us too.

The purpose of this visit is for you and your health visitor to get to know each other, explain what you should expect from the 0-19 service and determine any needs you and your family may have whilst also providing you with some public health information relating to having a new baby.

Your Health Visitor will ask you lots of information and complete a Health Needs Assessment, this will include questions relating to you and your families physical and emotional health as well as your childhood, any involvement with professional services and any smoking, drugs or alcohol consumption. Please be reassured every family will be asked the same questions.

Some of the important information we give you at this appointment will include safe sleeping for babies, an introduction to infant feeding (although you do not need to make a decision about feeding method at this stage) and some information on the childhood immunisation programme. We will also discuss how to bond and interact with your baby before and after they are born to aid brain development, and ways to cope with the transition to parenthood. We will also discuss services available for support alongside your health visiting team, such as GPs, pharmacy first and 111 as well as current provision of well-baby clinics within the area you live.

Your next routine visit with the health visitor will be the New Birth Visit.

Reminder: You have open access to the health visiting service (Mon-Friday 08.30am-4pm) by calling the Single Point of Access on 0191 282 3319 if you need support or guidance. Or you can text a health visitor using our Chat Health service on 07480635888 (parents / carers of ages 0-5 )

Useful Links:

Basis: BASIS – Baby Sleep Information Source (basisonline.org.uk)

Benefits and financial support for families: Browse: Benefits and financial support for families – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Breastfeeding Network: Home – The Breastfeeding Network

Breastfeeding Peer Support: Antenatal & Breastfeeding Support – Healthworks (healthworksnewcastle.org.uk)

Child Action and Prevention Trust: Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk)

First Steps Nutrition: Eating Well: Eating Well resources — First Steps Nutrition Trust

From bump to breastfeeding: From Bump to Breastfeeding | Best Beginnings

Health for Under 5’s: Health for Under 5s | For healthy, happy early years

Healthy Start: Healthy Start – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

ICON: coping with the crying baby ICON – Ecosia

Maternity Grant: Sure Start Maternity Grant – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)