The new Postnatal Notes for Baby
are to be used in conjunction with
Postnatal Notes for Mother. The dual
documents ensure support of the mother-baby
dyad whilst acknowledging that mother
and baby are individuals. At the
end of the period of midwifery care,
both booklets are returned to the
unit for filing.
Where the baby is with carers other
than the mother, the Postnatal Notes
for Baby booklet stays with the baby.
Where the baby is admitted for neonatal
intensive care or transitional care,
then the Postnatal Notes for Baby
booklet can be used in conjunction
with that documentation.
The new Postnatal Notes intend to
facilitate delivery of an improved
standard for postnatal care tailored
to the individual needs of the woman,
the baby and her family. They reflect
the NHS Agenda around public health
offering an equitable service which
is accessible, flexible, and culturally
sensitive. Evidence based information
is provided to enable mothers and
their families to make informed choices,
allowing them to engage in their
plan of care based on:
1. The Guideline for Routine Postnatal
Care which supports the need for
offering parents information and
guidance to enable them to assess
their baby’s condition, identify
warning signs if their baby is unwell
and how to contact a healthcare professional
or emergency services if required
[1, 2]. This requires:
- Effective transfer of information and communication at significant
times
- A reduction in conflicting advice [3]
- Increased awareness of risk [4, 5]
- A reduction of poor postnatal outcomes [2]
2. The Children’s NSF which promotes individualised, multi-disciplinary
management placing emphasis on
helping new parents prepare for parenthood [3]. This requires:
- Care that identifies and responds in a systematic way to babies’ health
needs based on best evidence
- Parent education specifically to equip families with parenting skills
- Robust feedback of neonatal screening results
- Enhanced and extended post birth care
- Improved access and flexibility for all
- Extended service provision with local options for care
The postnatal notes provide prompts
for identification of risk factors
to enable action to be taken, by
appropriate personnel, which can
be communicated effectively, supported
by efficient documentation of the
management process [1, 3, 4, 6].
The Postnatal Notes
for Baby contain:
• Explanatory notes on ‘what
to expect’. Mothers want ‘information
that is up-to-date and evidence based,
answers common problems, discuss
options and offers practical advice’;
socially disadvantaged mothers want
at least as much information as other
groups [5].
• Prompts for midwives to discuss various public health issues which are
relevant during the postnatal period – e.g. general baby care, safety,
infant feeding, sudden infant death [1, 6, 7].
• Further prompts to discuss individual needs.
• Information on neonatal screening tests consistent with aims of the National
Child Health Screening Committee [8]; prompts to confirm that information has
been given to allow informed choice.
References
1. Guideline for Routine Postnatal
Care (NICE, June 2006)
2. Bick, Macarthur and Knowles et al. Postnatal Care. Evidence and Guidelines
for Management. 2002
3. National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity
services. Standard 11, Maternity Services. www.dh.gov.uk/childrensnsf
4. Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Death in Infancy – 8th
Annual Report
5. Singh D & Newburn M. 2000. Access to Maternity Information and
Support. Experiences and needs of women before and after giving birth.
National Childbirth Trust, London.
6. UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative – www.babyfriendly.org.uk
7. Department of Health. Reduce the risk of cot death – www.dh.gov.uk
8. National Child Health Screening Committee - www.nsc.nhs.uk
