Skip to main content Skip to accessibility tools

As part of your antenatal care, you may be offered a visit from the Health Visitor after 28 weeks gestation.  This is in addition to your Midwifery contacts.

This is part of the Healthy Child Programme and is a service you are entitled to as part of your antenatal care.  We would also welcome fathers/ co-parents at this contact.

We also have Preparation for Parenthood sessions which all parents and carers can attend. See below for further information.

When the Health Visitor comes to see you, they will explain what their roles is and how they can support you and your baby from the antenatal period until your child turns 5 years old.

Some of the topics that may be discussed are:

  • Infant feeding choices
  • Bonding with your baby, and why this is important
  • Staying healthy during pregnancy
  • Mental health support, if needed
  • Safe sleeping practices for when your baby is born
  • Other support services available within Derby City

During your antenatal contact with the Health Visitor, we will introduce you to the service, provide support and gudiance and explore how your pregnancy has been, who will be living with you and the baby, and how your own childhood was, as this may impact on you as a parent.  We will also discuss feeding choices and provide information on safe sleep and this is also an opportunity for you to ask questions or share any worries you may have.

Health Visitor will normally see you next when the baby is born, between 10-14 days old.

Come and meet the Derby City Health Visiting and the Family Hub teams at our preparation for parenthood sessions.

We are running a rolling programme of three weekly sessions to share important information and skills to help expectant parents on their journey into parenthood. All expectant parents are welcome!

Each session will be approximately 2 hours long.

  • Week 1 – Introduction to the Health Visiting and Family Hub service. Baby brain development and bonding during pregnancy. Information about the Red Book, immunisations, and health checks that are needed in the first months of life.
  • Week 2 – Information and practical demonstrations on safe sleep, safety, safe handling of babies, dressing and bathing. How to support your baby’s brain development.
  • Week 3 – ‘Feeding your baby’ session, led by the Infant Feeding Team

Please utilise our Chathealth Service on 07507 327754 to enquire or book onto these sessions.

Alternatively, you can just turn up. You can attend all three sessions or just the ones in which you are interested.

During your pregnancy you will start to think about how you want to feed your baby when they are born. As a service we will support you in any decision you make, whether that be exclusively breastfeeding, offering breast milk and formula milk in combination or formula feeding. Responsively feeding your baby will support you to build a loving and close relationship with them.

It is important that you have all the information to make an informed choice.

Breast feeding your baby gives them the best start in life, and the service will support you to meet your feeding goals. For further information on breastfeeding your baby and the benefits this can have for both you and the baby please visit our breastfeeding support page. 

For further information on responsive and safe formula feeding, making up of feeds and sterilisation of bottles please visit the NHS Start For Life website. 

We offer antenatal sessions on feeding your baby. If you would like to attend one of these please text Chat Health on 07507 327754.

Forming an attachment with your baby is so important and this can start even before your baby arrives. This can still be achieved even if you are not physically carrying your baby and will help to develop a strong bond with your baby when they do arrive. Building a bond with your baby applies to both parents in the antenatal period.

Ways in which you can help build an attachment:

  • Responding to baby’s movements with touch
  • Talking, singing, and reading to the baby
  • Using massage and touching your/ your partner’s bump
  • Some parents to be find it useful to keep a diary of their thoughts and feelings through this time to look back on

This video from Solihull Approach provides more information on antenatal bonding before birth.

The baby’s brain needs the right conditions in pregnancy to start healthy development i.e.- nutrition, vitamins, oxygen, and a happy place to live.

Babies can cope with some stress in pregnancy but lots of stress can affect development of healthy brain cells and healthy connections. By reducing stress in pregnancy, a mother is helping with her baby’s healthy brain development.

A baby is born with more than a 100 billion brain cells. Much of the wiring happens after birth. In the first few months and years of a baby’s life the brain cells form connections that shape our thinking, feelings, and behaviours. Here is a video that shows the benefits of singing and talking to your bump - Singing to baby: When can babies hear in the womb? - BBC Tiny Happy People

From birth every experience taken in by the five senses helps build connections and guides brain development.

No two brains develop the same for example a child who learns to play football will make certain connections compared to a child that has never kicked a ball.

The type of care your baby receives plays a big part in how the brain chooses to wire itself. Parents who read and talk to their babies are helping their baby to develop important language connections in their brain, this can start from pregnancy so lots of talking to your bump will assist this.

Parents who respond sensitively to their baby’s cries are building the emotional connections that lead to healthier relationships.

When thinking about getting prepared for your baby it is important to consider safe sleep practices for when your baby is born.

There will be lots of things that people will recommend you buy for when the baby is here to help them sleep, but these are not all needed, and some of the items are not always safe for a baby to sleep on/with. You should always avoid products that claim to make your baby sleep longer or more deeply. By encouraging a baby to sleep for longer than they developmentally need to can affect their ability to wake when there is something not quite right.

Some of the items the Lullaby trust do not recommend you buying are:

  • Pods or nests
  • Pillows/ duvets/ thick heavy bedding
  • Cot bumpers
  • Hammocks
  • Sleep positioners

Items that are recommended for your new baby:

  • Moses basket or cot
  • Firm, flat mattress
  • Baby sleeping bag (ensure this is the correct size for baby based on their weight
  • Sheets and blankets
  • Room thermometer
  • Car seat

For further information on product information, you can view the lullaby trust product guide.

Health professionals may refer to something called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS for short. This is where a baby has died suddenly and in an unexplained circumstance. Other families may refer to this as 'cot death'. We don't know why babies die from SIDS, but we can identify risk factors that can contribute to increasing the chances of SIDS.

You can find out more information about SIDs and how to prevent it on the NHS website.

After a baby is born, it is very common for parents to get stressed and overwhelmed, especially if your baby is crying. The important thing to remember is your baby needs to stay safe. You will watch a video before you are discharged home regarding ‘Never Ever Shake Your Baby’

As a reminder, here is the link to watch before you have your baby - Keeping Babies Safe - Never Ever Shake Your Baby - YouTube

When you are pregnant there may be times that you feel a little low or anxious. This is normal and many mums to be go through this period. The feelings shouldn’t last long, however if they do it may be time to speak to someone and get some help.

Is it depression?

Depression can be extremely distressing. Many women suffer in silence. Their friends, relatives and health professionals don't know how they're feeling.

Some of the symptoms, such as tiredness, irritability, or poor appetite, are normal when you are pregnant. But these are usually mild and don't stop you leading a normal life. The time to get help is when these feelings have an impact on your day-to-day life.

When you have depression, you may feel increasingly depressed and withdrawn. Looking after yourself may become too much.

Emotional signs of postnatal depression

  • feelings of hopelessness
  • not being able to stop crying
  • feelings of not being able to cope
  • not being able to enjoy anything
  • memory loss or being unable to concentrate
  • excessive anxiety about the baby

Other signs of depression may also include:

  • panic attacks
  • sleeplessness
  • extreme tiredness
  • aches and pains
  • feeling generally unwell
  • anxiety
  • loss of appetite

Getting help for depression

If you think you have depression, don't struggle alone. Your midwife/ Health Visitor will assess your emotional wellbeing at your antenatal check. They may ask you to fill in an assessment called a HADS. This will assess your feeling and identify any anxiety or depression you may be experiencing.

It's not a sign that you're going to be a bad mother or will be unable to cope. Depression is an illness, and you need to get help, just as you would if you had an illness like flu.

Talk to someone you trust, such as your partner or a friend. You can ask your health visitor to call in and visit you. Many health visitors have been trained to recognise depression and have techniques that can help. If they can't help, they'll know someone in your area who can.

It's also important to see your GP. If you don't feel up to making an appointment, ask someone to do it for you.

Treatment for depression

Milder cases of depression can be treated with counselling. More severe cases often require antidepressants, and you may need to see a specialist.

Within Derby there is a service called 'Talking Mental Health' that service users can self-refer into for support with mental health illness. There is also Connected Perinatal Support that specialise in supporting parents from pregnancy, birth and beyond.

They also offer relationship support through their service 'Relate'. You may also find it helpful to contact the Association for Post-Natal Illness or the National Childbirth Trust.

The mental health charity Mind provides useful resources for people affected by postnatal depression.

Your local Family Hub can put you in touch with your nearest support group. These groups provide contact with other new mothers and encourage mums to support each other. They offer social activities and help with parenting skills.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse during this period, there are places that can support you through this.

Domestic abuse can be defined as physical, emotional and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members. Domestic violence can happen against anyone, and anybody can be an abuser.

If you need some guidance on domestic abuse the NHS has some good advice online you can access.

The 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline number is 0808 2000 247 and associated online support available at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

In addition, Respect  is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. The helpline also takes calls from partners or ex-partners, friends and relatives who are concerned about perpetrators.

Other online resources include Men's Advice Line and the Government support for Domestic Abuse

Being actively involved and supportive during your partner’s pregnancy will also positively impact on not only on your developing relationship with your baby, but also your relationship with your partner.

Your mental health

Looking after yourself for a healthy happy baby, family health and happiness is key. You may feel side-lined as the attention is on mum and baby, but your role is crucial. A strong role model is important for a child.

Having a new baby is stressful. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Lack of sleep, adjusting to a new experience and supporting your partner’s recovery add to stress.

It’s possible that you feel your partner has less time for you as she is focusing on baby. Feelings of having to step quietly around the house and perform well at work to provide for the family are common. All this whilst having less sleep!

However much you wanted to be a dad or co-parent this can still be hard. So, it’s important to reach out if you’re struggling, and chat to family and friends.

Just like new mums, new dads and co-parents can have feelings of anxiety or depression.

Look out for:

  • Feelings of inadequacy, overwhelming feelings of stress
  • Feelings of loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, loss of pleasure in things you normally enjoy
  • Feeling tired all the time
  • Unexplained anger.

If you’re feeling any of these things it's important to get help professionally, as well as speaking to family and friends. Speak to your GP or Health Visitor.

It’s important for your baby for you to seek help, to enable you to be the best parent you can be. Your bond with your little one will make them feel safe and secure and enable them to tackle life's challenges well.

Your baby will learn from your attitude to life and is likely to imitate this in their own future relationships.

For more information on how dads can be affected by and supported through post-natal depression, please visit:

Supporting each other

To be able to provide a baby with the loving, emotionally warm, and responsive parenting, parents need to look after themselves. A happy mum and dad or co-parent make a happy baby.

Mums are particularly vulnerable after the birth and will need strong emotional support from family, friends and especially their partner. It's ok to feel a sense of loss for your pre-baby life. You and your partner are adjusting to a novel experience.

The tiredness can be immense and affect your coping abilities. Your partner will be healing from the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy and labour and needs time.

Midwives, Health Visitors, and your GP will all want to make sure that mum and baby are thriving, and at this time, extra care and reassurance are needed. It is easy for mums to feel they are constantly being judged.

There are lots of things dads and co-parents can do and both play a vital role in bringing up baby. Babies need dads and co-parents to be healthy and happy to help mum and baby to feel healthy and happy too.

If anyone in the family is struggling to cope – you, mum or baby – then it is really important that you get support from family or friends. And your GP or Health Visitor, who are experienced professionals, are uniquely placed to help you. It is ok to ask for help - many people find parenting hard and there is nothing to feel ashamed of.

For further information, visit the NHS Information Service for Parents: Services and support for parents

Feeling low, anxious, or depressed

It is important to remember that mum may be having low feelings. Many women suffer from low feelings after the excitement of a pregnancy and birth and following hormonal changes.

Mood swings and tears - ‘baby blues’ - are pretty normal. Most people feel down and tearful some of the time, but if mum is feeling this all the time help may be needed. Admitting you are feeling depressed and anxious can be hard. Your partner may need your help to feel strong enough to do this.

Some things to ask yourself are:

  • Does mum feel that she is having difficulty establishing a bond with baby?
  • Is she feeling tearful and low?
  • Does mum feel tired all the time?
  • Where there any difficulties or complications in pregnancy?
  • Does mum feel a lack of support/unsafe?
  • Is mum behaving in an odd or bizarre way, or in a way that is out of normal for her?
  • Insomnia? Not able to sit still? Is she getting mixed up or worrying excessively?

If any of these behaviours become apparent and go on for a few days, get some help from your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor.

You may find that you are having arguments with your partner while you’re pregnant.

Some arguments may have nothing to do with the pregnancy, but others may be caused by feeling worried about the future and how you're going to cope.

It's important to talk with your partner about how you’re feeling. If you are worried about your relationship, talk to a friend, family member or your midwife/ Health Visitor.

If you are having a baby and you are going to raise it alone

You could think about attending some antenatal classes in your local area to meet other parents.

The Childrens centres in the area also offer groups you could attend.

There is a free peer support service available from connected perinatal.

There is Gingerbread which is a self-help organisation for single-parent families. It has a network of local groups and can give you information and advice. The charity can also put you in touch with other parents in a similar situation to you.

Visit the Gingerbread online forum (registration required).

 

Is your baby moving normally for you? Reduced or changed movements in pregnancy around 24 weeks can be a sign that your baby is not well

Do not be tempted to use a home doppler to check on the health of your baby at home. Even if you detect a heartbeat, it does not mean your baby is well

Vist Your baby's movements for more information.

If you notice a reduction or change in your baby's movements, call the hospital where you are having your baby straight away for advice.

It’s important that you access all your antenatal care to ensure you and your baby remain as healthy as can be.

By choosing to have a healthy lifestyle in pregnancy you will be giving your baby the best start in life. Having a healthy diet ensures that your baby can get the correct amount of nutrients to grow and develop. Aim to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. You can also take vitamins in pregnancy to assist with this. You may be eligible to apply for Healthy Start vouchers at https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/ .

Healthy start will not only give you access to vitamins, but it also helps to buy:

  • Plain liquid cow’s milk
  • Fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
  • Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

During pregnancy, it’s safe to eat:

  • Cooked fish
  • Sushi, but only if the fish has been cooked thoroughly
  • Seafood/shellfish as long as it has been thoroughly cooked until steaming hot, for example mussels, lobster, crab, oysters, scallops, clams, and pre-cooked prawns
  • Peanuts and other nuts (unless you're allergic) - eating nuts when pregnant will not affect whether your baby has a peanut allergy
  • Spicy food - there's no reason to avoid spicy foods
  • Honey - it's ok for you to eat honey, but you should not give it to your baby until they're over 1 year old
  • All hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Parmesan or Gruyere
  • Pasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, cream cheese, cheese spreads, or goat's cheese without a white coating on the outside (rind)
  • Any cheese that has been thoroughly cooked until steaming hot
  • Pasteurised milk and yoghurt
  • Pasteurised cream and ice cream are safe but are not considered 'dairy' by The Eatwell Guide and have high sugar and fat content.
  • You can eat runny or even raw eggs only if they are pasteurised, or have the British Lion Code mark on them, or are Laid in Britain (LIB) eggs. Foods made with these eggs are also safe to eat. This includes mayonnaise, ice cream, salad dressing, mousse
  • Aim to have 6 to 8 200ml glasses of water or other fluids every day, and try various kinds of drinks, such as sugar-free squash, decaffeinated tea and coffee, fizzy water, fruit juice or smoothies
  • Limit fruit juice or smoothies to 150 ml per day with meals to help to prevent damage to your teeth
  • Drinking plenty of water when you’re pregnant to keep hydrated and stop you getting constipated, especially in your last 3 months.
  • Have no more than 4 cups of herbal or green tea a day as there isn't enough evidence about their effect on developing babies
  • Avoid teas that contain ginseng or echinacea as doctors aren’t sure what effects they might have when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
  • While you’re pregnant it’s important to have no more than 200mg of caffeine a day.

Talk to your midwife if you’re unsure about using any herbal products.

There are certain foods that should be avoided in pregnancy as they have the potential to harm the developing baby, avoid eating: 

  • Unpasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses (unless cooked until steaming hot)
  • All mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside, such as brie, camembert and chèvre (unless cooked until steaming hot)
  • Blue cheeses such as Danish Blue, Gorgonzola, and Roquefort (unless cooked until steaming hot)
  • Any unpasteurised milk or cream
  • Liver and liver products such as pâté or liver sausage can have large amounts of vitamins
  • This can be harmful for your baby. All types of pâtés, including vegetable versions, can have listeria in them. It’s best to avoid them.
  • Do not eat swordfish, marlin, shark, or raw shellfish.
  • Do not eat ready-to-eat cold-smoked or cured fish products as they can present a risk of listeria. These include products like smoked salmon, smoked trout, and gravlax. You can eat these products if they're cooked until steaming hot, as this destroys any listeria that may be present.
  • Only eat cured meats (like salami, pepperoni, chorizo, and prosciutto) if they've been thoroughly cooked until steaming hot.
  • You should not eat game meat, such as hare, partridge, or pheasant due to the presence of lead. You should also not eat raw or rare meat as this can cause food poisoning.
  • Always make sure any meat you eat is well cooked and steaming hot all the way through. You should not be able to see any pink meat and the juices should run clear.
  • Try not to have more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish includes mackerel, sardines, and trout.
  • Tuna is not classed as an oily fish, but do not eat more than two tuna steaks (about 140g cooked or 170g when raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna (about 140g when drained) per week.
  • Thoroughly rinse fruits, vegetables, and salads as they can have soil on them, which can make you unwell.

Alcohol Intake

  • It's recommended that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant you should not drink alcohol. This will keep any risk to your baby to a minimum.
  • Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.

Vaccines recommended in pregnancy

  • Whooping cough
  • Flu
  • Coronavirus (covid-19)

Please see this website for further information: Vaccinations in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Smoking and your unborn baby

Protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things you can do to give your child a healthy start in life. It can be difficult to stop smoking, but it's never too late to quit.
Every cigarette you smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are dangerous, so smoking when you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby. As a result, their heart must beat harder every time you smoke.

Benefits of stopping smoking in pregnancy
Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby immediately. Harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, and other damaging chemicals will clear from your body. When you stop smoking:

  • you will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth
  • you are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby
  • you will reduce the risk of stillbirth
  • your baby is less likely to be born too early and less likely to face the breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature
  • your baby is less likely to be born with a low birth weight. Babies of smokers are, on average, lighter than other babies, which can cause problems during and after labour. For example, they are more likely to have problems keeping warm and are more likely to get infections
  • you will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as "cot death"

Stopping smoking now will also help your baby later in life. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other serious illnesses that may need hospital treatment.
The sooner you stop smoking, the better. But even if you stop in the last few weeks of your pregnancy this will benefit you and your baby. - Taken from NHS Choices website. 

For support on quitting smoking, you can speak to your midwife/ Health Visitor, or you can use any of the following support services:

Find Stop smoking support services services on the NHS website or call the National Smokefree helpline: 0300 123 1044

Adult Services

Children and young people's services

Learning disabilities

Learn about our services for people with a learning disability

Make an appointment

Information for members of the public and health professionals on requesting treatment and support

Keeping well

Learn about different ways to stay healthy and well

Your medication

Your care

Join us
Was this page helpful?