- A new birth visit from your Health Visitor.
- To offer support, advice and a general health and well-being check-up for you and your baby.
Child development
All children develop at their own pace as they learn about themselves, their family and their world.
For information on how your child will grow from being new born and up to being aged two years:
- Visit: Your baby's development milestones (UNICEF).
During this time, your baby's care will move from your Midwife to your named Health Visitor.
Parental support to child
- Take time to adjust to the arrival of your baby and to get to know each other. From their birth to them being 12 weeks is known as the fourth trimester.
For some useful advice about the changes that you, your baby and family will experience, visit: fourth trimester (BabyCenter).
- Watch and learn from each other. This will help you to read your baby's emotions, feelings, needs and contentment.
- Listen to your baby's noises and talk to them about what you are doing and going through together. This helps them to learn your voice, the usual noises of their home and environment. It also helps you to learn the differences in their noises too.
- Reassure and respond to your baby's needs. This helps them to feel safe and secure, which develops their confidence and independence. Skin to skin contact and cuddles can help to soothe you both.
- Postnatal depression (Mind). This is more common than people think. It can begin within days of giving birth or up to 12 months after.
- It does not always mean having low mood or feeling sad, but can often create feelings of too much anxiety.
- Some mums feel overly anxious about themselves, their baby or other issues (like money worries).
- Poor sleep/eating and staying away from family/friends can be signs to discuss with your Heath Visitor or GP.
- Seeking help is important to reduce the length of time a mum is unwell/affected by this illness. This includes things like talking therapies, practical support and medication.
- Treatment for mum does not mean separation from her baby.
- Get help. Talk to your GP or Health Visitor.
- In the early days, often a lot of support and focus is on mum (how she feels and is coping).
- This is really important, but partners need some support too.
- Becoming a parent can be an exciting and overwhelming experience.
- New parents may find they are struggling to cope with the pressures.
- Make sure you take care of yourself too. Speak to your GP or Health Visitor if things are difficult.
- Can partners experience perinatal mental health problems? (Mind).
Advice and support
- Register your child's birth within 42 days of their birth.
For general health and learning, see: Advice and support. (New born to 5 years old).
Other key information
Things to think about
If you think you need urgent help (day or night), before you go to any other health service, phone: 111.
- You will be directed straight away to the local service that can help you best.
- It is available anytime, everyday and is free to call from a mobile or landline.
You should phone: 111:
- When you need help fast, but it is not life threatening.
- When you think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service.
- When it is outside of your GP's surgery hours.
- When you do not know who to call for medical help.
- If you do not have a local GP to call.
Important note: For serious and life-threatening emergencies, phone: 999.