Care of Next Infant (CONI)

When it comes to having another baby, parents who’ve already suffered the devastation that the unexpected death of an infant brings are often overwhelmed with anxiety and fear.

The Care of the Next Infant (CONI) scheme provides specialist support, information and advice to bereaved parents who’ve lost an infant to Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS) during their next pregnancy and for the first six months of their new baby’s life.

The CONI scheme also provides specialist support and advice to other health professionals working with bereaved families who are expecting another baby.

In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and the City and County Councils’ public health teams work together in partnership with the Lullaby Trust to deliver the CONI programme.

The referral process

Referrals are usually made by the midwife at initial booking of pregnancy, but can also be made by public health nurses (health visitor), GPs, other health professionals and by the parents themselves. Referrals can be made by calling the Diana Service on 0116 2955080.

What the scheme offers

A named CONI coordinator will work alongside the public health nurse (health visitor) to care for a family. As part of the scheme, weekly contacts will be offered for up to six months or for two months after the age of the baby who died.  After six months, contacts will be offered on a monthly basis up to the age of one year. The CONI coordinator will also liaise with the family’s GP, informing them of enrolment onto the CONI scheme.

Parents will also be given:

1. A daily symptom diary which they can use to record their baby’s health. It contains a simple checklist designed to help parents notice any changes so that they can seek appropriate advice and support from health professionals where necessary
2. A baby check booklet which can be used on its own, or alongside the daily symptom diary to assess signs and symptoms in a baby
3. A room thermometer and guidance on safer sleep products, bedding, clothing and smoke free environments.
4. A Sheffield weight chart to plot their baby’s weight on a weekly basis. That way, unusually slow weight gain (which can be associated with ill health) can be picked up at an early stage
5. Resuscitation training
6. A movement/apnoea monitor designed to detect a baby’s movements as they breathe. An alarm sounds after 20 seconds if breathing movements stop, thereby alerting parents. Many parents say using a monitor, particularly at night, helps them feel reassured.

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At the end of the scheme, families are invited to complete a feedback questionnaire.

Useful links

• Lullaby Trust – Bereavement helpline: 0808 8026868 and the Baby Check app
• Little Lullaby – Website for young parents
• The Laura Centre – Specialist bereavement counselling
• Cruse Bereavement Care – Helpline: 0808 8081677
• University Hospitals of Leicester Bereavement Support Service