New baby and parent resources

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Health Visiting

Our health visiting teams work with mothers and fathers, their families, and community groups to promote the health and wellbeing of children and reduce inequalities from the antenatal period until your child starts school.

Health visitors are nurses/midwives who have undertaken additional training in community public health nursing.

When your baby is 10-14 days old a Health Visitor will be contacting you to complete the new baby revmq1.jpgiew. We have developed this resource so you have the key information you need for you and your new baby all in one place. If you haven’t heard from your health visitor yet please follow this link to find your local team.

In 2023, our health visiting team created a new online antenatal session video aimed especially at expectant parents.  The video covers many of the topics, from childbirth, sleep in the antenatal period and caring for a new baby, that would be covered in NHS antenatal classes. Click on the image to view our online antenatal session video, which contains subtitles. 

You can also watch our Sleep in the Antenatal period video for more information. 

Whilst coronavirus is infectious to children it is rarely serious. If your child is unwell it is likely to be a non-coronavirus illness, rather than coronavirus itself.

Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured. Remember that NHS 111, GPs and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done. See some advice to help taken from The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPH).

Further information for expectant mothers and parents of newborn babies:

The CLCH health visiting and school nursing service is operating a 7 day a week 9am-5pm duty line for parents and young people to call for support and advice. Please find contact details below for each borough:

Your health visiting antenatal contact is your first introduction to the support, advice and services you can access from the health visiting team. You and your baby will have a health visitor until they start school so it's important you know what your local health visiting team offer and how you can contact them. Watch our Antenatal session video to find out more. Subtitles are available for this video.

You can also watch our Sleep in the Antenatal period video for more information. Or you can access the two below resources:

Pregnancy - vitamins and mineral supplements

Pregnancy and Coronavirus resources

NHS conditions - Pregnancy and Coronavirus

NHS Maternity leaflets relating to Coronavirus 

Pregnancy and Coronavirus - Youtube video

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Coronavirus infection and pregnancy

The eRedbook is the digital version of the paper red book. This is a record of your child's health and development including their growth and immunisations. The eRedbook allows you to securely record your child's firsts and share their health record with significant others in your child's life as well as health professionals.

Register for your free eRedbook here.

Once you have registered for your eRedbook it can be connected to your child's health record. You can do this by asking your midwife or health visitor to 'vouch' your child's record. CLCH health visitors have a simple form for you to complete which can be sent to your health visiting team. Once your child's record is vouched you will be able to see their new born hearing test results, new born blood spot results, new born and infant physical examination (NIPE) and their immunisation records.

Clinics are an opportunity for parents to weigh their baby and speak to a member of the Health Visiting Team about any concerns. For more information on dates, times and locations of clinics in your area or to book an appointment, click here.

Introducing solid foods to your baby can be an exciting but also daunting time. Your health visiting team is available to help you with advice and discuss any concerns you may have. 

For health reasons, we recommend that babies are fed solely on breast milk or infant formula for the first six months.

Here are some helpful resources to support you and your baby with introduction to solid foods.

Safer sleep for babies resources:

You can download the Basis app where you can find further information on safe sleeping practices for you and your baby.

You can also download The Baby Check app by The Lullaby Trust which features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness and further information regarding safer sleeping practices.

 

CLCH have produced a video about normal sleep and how to promote sleep in the antenatal period as well as the postnatal period, up to the first six months.

New baby, New Feelings

Pregnancy and the period after childbirth are significant times of change in a person’s life. It is common for women and their partners to experience many different emotions during this time. You can access our New Baby, New Feelings resources here.

Other helpful information can be found on these sites.

Chelsea and Westminister Hospital Digital Living Library 

This is a peer support program for parents who have faced unexpected birth experiences/challenges. This is currently available through video/audio services and is not postcode based. Find out how to access support from the digital living library here find out how to support other parents here

  • Antenatal contact
  • New baby visit at 10-14 days
  • Six week contact at 6 - 8 weeks
  • Health and developmental review 9-12 months
  • Health and developmental review 2-2.5 years

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