New Birth Visit

We will visit you at home when your baby is around 10 -14 days old, this tends to be about the time when your Community Midwife discharges you.   This visit is  a chance to ask any questions you might have, explore how you are feeling physically and emotionally,  as well as assessing your baby’s health and wellbeing.  The Health Visitor will also discuss contact plans going forward and what to expect.

If you have not had contact with a Health Visitor before and would like to understand our role further please find further information here.

During this visit your Health Visitor will:

• Discuss and support feeding your baby
• Check if you have any concerns about the health of your baby including baby behaviour and interaction
• Provide information and advise on relevant topics including safer sleep, crying baby, safety and vaccinations
• Discuss how you are feeling emotionally and physically.

As part of this visit the Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) is offered which allows you to explore your baby’s individual behaviour.

You should have received your baby’s child health record (red book) from the midwifery service. This is your  book to record details about your child’s health, growth, immunisations and developmental milestones.

Any marks, such as birth marks or marks from assisted birth will be documented on the body map in your child’s red book.

If their any  marks that can’t be identified as a birth mark or birth injury, there is a process the Health Visitor will need to follow, known as safeguarding. This is to make sure your baby is safe. For more information this leaflet explains the process. 

For further support on topics discussed at your new birth visit and information and advice regarding your newborn baby please take a look at our ‘You and your newborn baby collection’