Lincolnshire’s health visitors are here to help parents care for their new babies, ensuring they have a healthy infancy.
Health visitors are qualified and registered nurses or midwives who can give advice to parents about looking after their new baby.
Your midwife will contact a health visitor to let them know you are pregnant, and they may see you before the birth of your baby.
After birth, your health visitor will arrange a new-birth visit when your baby is between 10 and 14 days old. Your health visitor will continue to see you and your baby regularly in the period before they start school.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said: “Making sure a child is healthy during infancy can have a huge impact on the rest of their life.
“Health visitors can provide advice on how to promote good health from before birth and up to the end of the child’s first year at school.
“Where more individual support is required, they will ensure the family have a bespoke care plan.
“This may include support for mental health, breastfeeding, sleep or the development of toileting skills.
Referrals will be made to other professionals and services, where necessary.
“You will also have the opportunity to discuss how you are feeling about being a new parent.”
All health visitors have completed specialist public health qualifications, and they are supported by a team including children and young people's nurses, family health workers, GPs, and other health or social care professionals.
Health visitors can help with a range of areas, including:
- common childhood illnesses
- breastfeeding/bottle feeding
- starting solids
- sleep and behaviour
- parental mental health
- toilet skills and development
They also hold sessions about some of these issues at our children's centres.
If required, your health visitor will liaise with the children and young people's nurses when your child starts school. The children and young people's nurse will continue to provide support up to the age of 19 for those with long-term or more complex health needs and children with bladder or bowel conditions.
For further information on all the health visitors can offer, please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/health-visitors
‘Great support’
One parent to benefit from advice and support is Jo Bergmann from Spalding, whose son Levi was born in June last year.
Jo said: “The health visiting service have been a great support to us as a family. Each appointment has been informative and full of advice from a welcoming member of the team. They were particularly supportive in helping me with my baby’s reflux, booking me in quickly for an appointment and giving advice over the phone. Thank you to the health visiting team.”