New birth visit

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

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. 

Wellbeing

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.

Health information

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.

Moving forward

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

Start4Life (www.nhs.uk) 

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)