Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

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We will visit you when your baby is around 10 -14 days old at home and tends to be about the time of  discharge from the Community Midwife.  This visit is  a chance to ask any questions you might have, explore how your 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.

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’

ChatHealth Logo

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-5 years called ChatHealth. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a health visitor within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the service reopens.

  • ChatHealth messaging service:

    text

    07480 635164
  • Family Centre Service (Health Visiting and Family Support):

    phone

    0300 123 7572

Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.

This page was last reviewed on 18-09-2024

This page will be next reviewed on 18-09-2027