Soon after the birth of your baby, around day 10 to 14, a Health Visitor will make contact to offer to meet you at home. This is an opportunity to review together how you and your infant are doing and ensure you have the support you need during these early weeks with your new baby.
The health visiting service is now offering face to face appointments to all our contacts and health reviews. If required they can also see you and your baby or child via a virtual consultation.
Why is it important?
The new birth visit which is part of the Healthy Child programme is offered to all new parents by a health visitor (a qualified nurse who has undertaken additional training in public health and child welfare, 0-5 years).
This contact is an opportunity for you to talk about your experiences of parenthood, including your emotional health, your baby’s health and welfare and your family environment/social support. Your health visitor will talk to you about safe sleeping arrangements, including the importance of always placing your baby on their back to sleep.
Your health visitor will also provide you with information about services in the Hackney and City area, including Children Centres and family support services. They will also help you to agree a plan of support suitable for you and your baby (this may include additional contact(s) or access to other health services including well baby clinics).
First point of contact
The Health Visiting service works closely with midwifery services and GP practices to ensure that they can contact you 10 and 14 days after your baby’s birth. This service is offered to all children from birth until 5 years of age.
Local services and information
- Hackney and City Health Visiting service
020 7683 4151 (9-5pm Monday–Friday)
huh-tr.hackneyandcityhv@nhs.net - Get help for your mental health (Talk Changes)
- Parenting and mental health support for children, young people and their families
- Hackney Support for Early Years (Local Offer)
- Find a Children's Centre in Hackney
- Appointments and immunisations information postcard
Useful Hackney and City Health Visiting web pages
- Your appointments
- Becoming a parent
- Your physical health
- Your emotional health and well being
- Baby cues
- Safe sleeping - important information
- Sleep
National resources
- Your baby's health and development reviews (NHS)
- Your baby's height and weight (NHS)
- Start 4 Life (Baby)
- Physical activity for woman after childbirth poster
- Mental wellbeing after childbirth video
Safer sleep
Feedback
We value your feedback about the birth to five resource and the information we provide.