You have open access to the health visiting service (Monday – Friday, 8.30am-4pm) by calling the Single Point of Access on 0191 282 3319 if you need support or guidance
Hello Baby!
The new birth visit is carried out approximately 2 weeks after your baby has been born and tends to coincide with your discharge from community midwifery services. This visit takes place at home and lasts around 1 hour. As with the antenatal contact, partners and/or other parents are very welcome to attend and it is preferable that all parents are present if able.
This visit allows your health visitor to assess the health needs of you, your baby and family. We will discuss your labour and birth experience, how well you feel you are recovering physically and emotionally and whether you require any follow ups with Maternity or your GP. We will also undertake a top to toe examination of your baby including reviewing their weight and documenting any birth marks. There are some common mild issues babies can suffer from including ‘sticky’ eyes’, new born spots, dry skin and baby rash that we can discuss management of and we will also complete a feeding assessment.
Feeding assessments are important whether you breast or bottle feed your baby. If you choose to breastfeed we can observe a feed, help with positioning and attachment and help you understand what to look for to ensure your baby is getting enough milk. If you choose to formula feed we will still discuss how much and how often your baby is feeding and with all babies – a lot of parents find it useful to keep a chart or note in their phone documenting frequency and duration of feeds. We also like to know how many wet and dirty nappies they have each day.
We will discuss emotional well-being for all the family and the transition to parenthood with helpful tips for bonding with your baby, recognising when you need support and how to cope with a crying baby. Please remember it’s important to access support if you’re struggling with anything, having a baby is a big event and we will support you without judgement.
Like with all contacts your health visitor carries out we will also discuss generic health information including bonding and attachment with your baby, immunisation schedule, safe sleeping, smoking cessation, contraception, and diet and exercise.
Depending on what you and your health visitor discuss at this appointment or feel is needed for your family going forward we may arrange a further follow up at home or at a local baby clinic prior to the next standard contact at 6-8 weeks.
Your next routine visit with the health visitor will be the 6-8 Week Check.
Useful links
BBC Tiny Happy People
Child development and milestones – BBC Tiny Happy People
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)
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
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Tel: 0300 100 0212
Solihull Approach
Free Downloads (solihullapproachparenting.com)
Start4life
The Little Orange Book
CCG_Booklet_v3_aw_pr_v1.8 (newcastlegatesheadccg.nhs.uk)
Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust – Safer sleep for babies, Support for families
UNICEF: Developmental Milestones
Your baby’s developmental milestones | UNICEF Parenting
UNICEF: Infant Feeding support for Parents
Support for parents – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
