Portal: Children’s Centres websites by borough
Newborn initial physical examination (NIPE)
Newborn initial physical examination (NIPE)
All newborn babies are offered a top-to-toe examination within 72 hours of birth. This includes screening tests to assess eyes, heart, hips and in boys, testes. This examination is performed by a specially trained midwife or a neonatal doctor, ideally before you go home. This check is important as it screens for rare, but serious conditions.
At six to eight weeks your baby will need another detailed check-up. This is a repeat of the initial newborn screening test (undertaken between six and 72 hours of age) to confirm that there are not any concerns with the heart, eyes, hips and testes which may have emerged since birth. Usually your GP carries out this second examination.
Hearing test
Hearing test
All newborn babies are offered a hearing screen. This test identifies the very few babies (one to two in every 1,000) with hearing loss in one or both ears. Having this test early provides prompt access to services to improve long term child development, should they be needed.
Your baby may have his/her newborn hearing screen in the maternity unit before you go home. If your baby missed this screening in the maternity unit, was born at home, or requires a follow up screen, you will be sent an appointment to attend your local baby hearing screening clinic within the first month after birth.
Newborn blood spot test
Newborn blood spot test
When your baby is between five to eight days old, your community midwife will offer the newborn blood spot test. The test involves collecting four small samples of blood from your baby’s foot on a card.
The test screens for nine rare but serious conditions, such as sickle cell disease, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and congenital hypothyroidism.
For those babies identified with any of the conditions screened for, we know that early treatment can improve their health and prevent further serious or life threatening complications.
If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks gestation) the test may be done in the maternity unit by the neonatal team. More information can be found in the ‘Screening tests for you and your baby’ booklet.
Screening tests for your baby
Screening tests for your baby
When your baby is 5 days old, your health care professional will routinely offer screening tests for your baby. These may be offered to you at home or in a local postnatal clinic.
More information about screening tests can be found in the ‘Screening tests for you and your baby booklet’. This is available to download in many different languages.
Multidisciplinary professionals
Multidisciplinary professionals
Depending on your personal needs and circumstances, you may have a wider team to help and support you and your family. Other professionals that may be involved in your care could include family nurses, social workers, perinatal mental health/outreach teams and family support workers.
Children’s and Family Centres bring together a range of professionals to help, guide and support you through the parenting journey until your child starts school. There are a number of agencies and staff working in the Centres who can support you.
You will meet family support workers in every Children’s and Family Centre you visit. They may be delivering sessions or providing outreach opportunities in community centres, voluntary sector groups, clinics and libraries. Accessing a Children’s and Family Centre will give you the opportunity to meet other parents and provide an opportunity for your children to grow, play and make new friends.
Other professionals you may find in a Children’s and Family Centre include:
- Midwives
- Health visitors
- Family support workers
- Family nurses
- Speech and language therapists
Pelvic health (women’s health) physiotherapists
Pelvic health (women’s health) physiotherapists
Pelvic health physiotherapists may be involved in your care, if you:
- experience bladder problems including on-going postnatal incontinence
- have given birth to a baby that weighs more than 4 kilograms
- had an assisted birth or sustained a third or fourth degree tear.
Portal: Pelvic health physiotherapists
Obstetrician
Obstetrician
If you require a physical follow up with an obstetrician and/or have had a difficult or traumatic birth, an appointment will usually be made for you at approximately six weeks after the birth. In the meantime, any concerns that you have can be discussed with your midwife, health visitor or GP.
GP
GP
For any non-urgent concerns about you or your baby you should contact your community midwife, health visitor or GP.
You will need to register your newborn baby at your GP surgery as soon as you have a birth certificate. It is important to do this as early as possible so that you have access to care if and when you need it. In some circumstances (such as requiring urgent care) you can register the baby with the GP with your baby’s NHS number.
You need to make an appointment to see your GP six to eight weeks following birth. This appointment is for you and your newborn baby and is an opportunity to check how you are after the birth. Your GP will also conduct some routine checks on your newborn. If you were due to have a smear test just before or during your pregnancy, this needs to be scheduled for at least 12 weeks after birth.
Health visitor
Health visitor
A health visitor is a nurse or midwife who has undertaken additional training. You will have access to support from your health visiting team with your child’s health and development until they start school.
Your health visitor will be notified that you are pregnant when you book with the midwife in the first few months of your pregnancy. They will contact you before your baby is born; you may be invited to a group or an appointment with the local health visiting team during your pregnancy.
Once your baby is born, your health visitor will contact you. The first check (New Baby Review) will usually occur 10 to 14 days after the birth. The health visitor will check on the health and wellbeing of the parents and baby, provide support with feeding and give important advice on keeping safe. They will also discuss early bonding with the baby, talk about feeding, check the baby is putting on weight appropriately, explain the immunisation programme and talk about important safety measures, such as car seats. At this point, parents often seek advice on establishing a routine, as well as information on sleep, crying and colic.
Health visitors are linked to Children’s and Family Centres, Health Centres or GP surgeries. To contact your health visitor and find out which health visiting team you have been allocated to, contact your Children’s Centre, Health Centre or GP surgery.
Health visitors can offer baby clinics, health checks and opportunies to talk about any concerns you may have in Children’s or Family Centres. Children’s and Family Centres will also offer parenting workshops and developmental workshops, helping you to understand how your baby develops and how to play and interact with your child. You can also meet other parents with their babies at the Centres.
At six to eight weeks old, the health visitor will assess the baby’s growth and your health, particularly looking out for signs of postnatal depression. This is also an opportunity to find out about the childhood vaccination programme.
What do health visitors do?
