Core Contacts

Antenatal Health Review

From 28 weeks onwards you will be offered an appointment with one of our health visitors. Pregnancy, birth and the first few months of parenthood can be a challenging time. Health visitors have a valuable opportunity to support you at this time, and provide you with information to help you make informed and positive choices for you, your child and family. You will be able to discuss your pregnancy, your baby’s wellbeing and preparations for your little ones arrival. During this appointment they will explain the role of your Health Visitor, provide you with information on local services you and your family can access, and answer any of your questions.

The antenatal appointment also helps them to understand and discuss the support you may need in the future, how you feel about becoming a parent , and what to expect after your baby is born. Our Health Visitors also offer support to partners to help them prepare for becoming a parent.

You will often receive your baby’s Child Health Record (red book) at this visit. It is a good idea to take your baby's red book with you every time you visit the baby clinic or GP. The health visitor will use it to record your child's weight and height, vaccinations and other important information. You can also add information to the red book yourself. You may want to record any illnesses or accidents your baby has and/ or record your child’s developmental milestones.

Some of the topics we may discuss with you include:

Safer sleep
Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding
Healthy eating
Immunisations
Skin to Skin Contact
Alcohol in pregnancy - The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
The effects of smoking in pregnancy and support to quit smoking
Medicines in pregnancy - most medicines taken during pregnancy cross the placenta and reach the baby. Before taking any medicine when you're pregnant, including painkillers, check with your pharmacist, midwife or GP that it's suitable.
Your emotional wellbeing

Additional Information:

7-14 Days Health Review

You will be seen at home when your baby is between 7-14 days old for the new birth visit. This is around the time when the care of you and your baby will transition from the midwife to your Health Visitor.

At this visit your Health Visitor will:

Discuss the birth of your child
Assess your emotional wellbeing
Discuss any concerns you may have about your own health, your partners health and your baby’s
Explain the immunisations your baby requires

You will be given information about your nearest Children Centre, Child Health Clinics and other services you may find useful where you could meet other parents and join in with local activities.

The Health Visitor can also give you advice on:

Safe sleeping
Feeding your baby (breastfeeding and bottle feeding)
Caring for your baby
Getting to know your new-born
The impact of passive smoking

Additional information:

6-8 Weeks Health Review

6-8 Week Health Review

You and your baby will usually be invited for a physical examination at this time, and this is completed by your GP.

At this time you will also be offered an appointment with one of our Health Visitors. This contact is important for assessing your baby’s growth and wellbeing and to see how you are feeling. The health visitor will also remind you that the immunisation schedule is about to commence and answer any questions you and your partner may have.

The health visitor may discuss about the following:

Breastfeeding and Infant feeding
Baby’s sleep and reducing the risk of SIDS
Baby’s crying and any other worries you may have
Immunisations
Assess your emotional health
Vitamins and minerals
Car seat safety
You will also be reminded about other local services that provide help and support

Additional Information:

3-4 Months Health Review

This Health Review is often delivered as a group session.

Your baby’s 3-4 months health review may be completed by your health visitor, but is usually carried out by one of our experienced nursery nurses. This review offers parents an opportunity to discuss topics such as:

Getting ready to start solid food at 6 months.
Summary of information on your baby’s continued growth and development.
Discuss how to encourage future communications, speech and language development from a young age.
Provide advice on keeping your baby safe such as home safety and safer sleep advice.
Discuss how to manage minor illnesses and when to call the doctor including immunisation stages.
Assess your emotional wellbeing and your partner's emotional wellbeing.
Provide information about groups and activities in your area.

Please remember to bring your red book to your appointment.

Additional Information

9-12 Months Health Review

This review may be completed by your Health Visitor, but is usually carried out by one of our experienced Nursery Nurses. They will talk to you about your child’s language and development. They will also discuss safety, nutritional health and behaviour with you. It provides you with an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have.

Prior to the review our team will send you two questionnaires Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3 and a Social-Emotional Questionnaire (ASQ:SE2) to complete. This allows you time at home to try out some of the activities covered by the questionnaire, where your child is comfortable and in familiar surroundings. This information helps us to understand how your baby is developing. Don't worry if you can't fill in the whole questionnaire – your Health Visitor or Nursery Nurse will help you complete it.

This is also an opportunity to discuss your child's next immunisations due at 13 months. Our health visitors and nursery nurses can answer questions you may have about these immunisations, and also offer advice and support to help you make an informed choice.

The health visitor or Nursery Nurse will then weigh and measure length of your child. They will also measure head circumference, check leg creases, and check for equal light reflections in their eyes.

We will also discuss:

Safer Sleep
Home safety
Immunisations
Introducing solid foods
Behavioural concern
Dental Hygiene and Dentist

Please remember to bring your questionnaires and red book to your appointment.

Additional Information:

2-2.5 Years Health Review

This review may be completed by your Health Visitor, but is usually carried out by one of our experienced Nursery Nurses. Prior to the review our team will send you two Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3 and a Social-Emotional ASQ:SE2 Questionnaire to complete. This allows you time at home to try out some of the activities covered by the questionnaire, where your child is comfortable and in familiar surroundings. This information helps us to understand how your toddler is developing. Don't worry if you can't fill in the whole questionnaire – your Health Visitor or Nursery Nurse will help you complete it.

This review will cover:

General development, gross/fine motor skills, speech, social skills, and hearing and vision
Growth, healthy eating and keeping active
Managing behaviour
Tooth brushing and going to the dentist
Keeping your child safe
Vaccinations
Healthy weight
Sleep
Toilet training

We will also weigh and measure your child.
Please remember to bring your questionnaires and red book to your appointment.

Additional Information:

Your child will be due their 2-year flu vaccination which you will need to arrange with your GP surgery.

The Healthy Child Programme (HCP) includes five child health and development reviews mandated by the commissioning of services by local authorities.

Antenatal Health Review

7-14 Days Health Review

6-8 Week Health Review

3-4 Months Health Review

9-12 Months Health Review

2-2.5 Years Health Review

Would you like to learn more or speak to one of our teams?

Are you expecting a baby and would like advice and support?