Newborn Checks After Birth

Checking your little one from head to toe, with care, time and reassurance

Having a new baby brings lots of questions, and one of the things parents often want reassurance about is whether their baby is healthy, feeding well and doing everything we would expect during those first few days and weeks.

Whether I've cared for you throughout your pregnancy and birth or you're meeting me for the first time after your baby has arrived, I can be there to support you during the postnatal period.

If you've had continuity of care with me, that care continues after your baby is born. But you can also arrange private postnatal care with me as a standalone service, even if I haven't cared for you during your pregnancy or birth.

At every postnatal visit, I'm focusing my care on both you and your baby. I'll assess your baby's wellbeing, answer your questions and make sure the appropriate newborn checks and screening are completed or arranged at the right time.

Whether you've had a home birth or hospital birth, I can continue providing your postnatal midwifery care at home.

Your Baby's First Checks After Birth

Immediately after your baby is born, there are a number of observations and checks needed to assess how your baby is adapting to life outside the womb.

If I have attended your birth, I will assess your baby following birth and continue observing them during those important first hours.

Depending on the circumstances, this can include checking your baby's breathing, colour, temperature and general condition, as well as looking carefully at their overall physical appearance.

Your baby will be weighed, and measurements such as their head circumference and length will be taken.

I also look at their limbs, hands, feet and general physical appearance, and yes, including those ten little fingers and ten little toes!

I'll also talk to you about Vitamin K, why it is offered to newborn babies and the options available to you, so you can make an informed decision for your baby.

What Is the NIPE Newborn Examination?

One of the more detailed examinations offered to your baby is the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE).

This is a much more comprehensive newborn examination and is usually offered within the first 72 hours after birth.

The examination includes an overall physical assessment of your baby and specific screening examinations of their eyes, heart, hips and, in boys, testes.

Depending on where you've given birth and your individual circumstances, the NIPE may be carried out in hospital by an appropriately trained midwife or doctor.

Following a home birth, where appropriate arrangements are available, the examination may also be completed at home by a suitably qualified midwife, which I will arrange for you.

There are circumstances where I may recommend that your baby is examined in hospital. For example, if something was identified during pregnancy or on your baby's scans, or there is another reason why your baby requires additional medical or paediatric assessment.

The important thing is that your baby's care is based on what they individually need.

Newborn Hearing Screening

Your baby will also be offered a newborn hearing screen.

This is a quick screening test designed to identify babies who may need further assessment of their hearing.

Depending on where you live and where your baby was born, this may be completed before you leave hospital or arranged afterwards.

If you've had a home birth, I'll make sure you know how and when your baby's hearing screening will be arranged.

The Day 5 Newborn Blood Spot Test

At around five days old, your baby will be offered the newborn blood spot test, sometimes called the heel-prick test.

A small sample of blood is collected from your baby's heel onto a special blood spot card and sent to the laboratory to screen for a number of rare but serious conditions.

As part of your postnatal care, I can complete your baby's newborn blood spot screening at home, where this forms part of the care arrangements we have made.

Before doing the test, I'll explain what we're screening for, what will happen and answer any questions you have.

What About SMA Screening?

Newborn screening continues to develop, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an important new development in newborn blood spot screening.

SMA is a rare genetic condition affecting the nerves responsible for muscle movement. Identifying affected babies early can allow specialist assessment and treatment to begin sooner.

Scotland introduced SMA screening into its newborn blood spot programme in March 2026. In England, an NHS in-service evaluation of newborn blood spot screening for SMA is due to begin from October 2026.

Because newborn screening programmes can change, I'll always discuss the current screening programme with you when your baby's blood spot test is due.

I Check Your Baby at Every Postnatal Visit

Your baby's care doesn't finish once the newborn screening tests have been completed.

Every postnatal visit I make includes an assessment of your baby.

I'm looking at the whole baby rather than simply one number on a set of scales.

Depending on your baby's age and individual circumstances, I'll be assessing things such as:

Feeding and how feeding is progressing
Weight and growth
Wet and dirty nappies
Colour and skin
Temperature where appropriate
Alertness and behaviour
Your baby's cord and how it is healing
Jaundice
Your baby's general wellbeing

And importantly, I'll listen to you.

You spend more time with your baby than anybody else. If you tell me that something doesn't seem right or your baby isn't behaving as they normally do, I want to know about it.

Baby Weight Checks at Home

I can also provide regular baby weight checks at home.

Weight is useful, but I don't look at weight in isolation. We consider it alongside feeding, wet and dirty nappies, behaviour, and your baby's overall clinical picture.

If feeding isn't going as expected or your baby's weight gives us reason for concern, we can talk about what might be happening and what additional support or assessment may be needed.

What If I'm Concerned About Your Baby?

Most newborn checks are reassuring.

However, part of having a midwife caring for you at home is knowing that someone is regularly assessing your baby and can recognise when something needs further investigation.

If I identify something I'm concerned about, I'll explain what I've found, why I'm concerned and what I recommend happens next.

Depending on the situation, that may mean further assessment by your GP, neonatal services, or hospital assessment if your baby needs more urgent care.

Private care at home doesn't mean keeping you at home regardless of what is happening. If I believe your baby needs assessment or care from another professional or service, I will discuss that with you and recommend the appropriate next step.

What Happens When Midwifery Care Finishes?

As your baby gets older, their routine care gradually moves towards your health visiting team and GP.

Your health visitor will usually make contact during the early postnatal period, often around the time NHS maternity care is coming to an end, days 10-14, although exact timings and arrangements vary between areas.

Further health visitor contact may take place at home or in a clinic at around 6 weeks.

At around 6–8 weeks, your baby will usually be offered another physical examination, commonly carried out by your GP.

The routine childhood vaccination programme also begins from 8 weeks.

I'll make sure you know what comes next so that moving from midwifery care into health visiting and GP care doesn't feel like you're suddenly being left on your own.

Newborn Care in Your Own Home

One of the lovely things about postnatal midwifery care at home is that I get to see your baby in their own environment.

You don't need to get yourself and a newborn dressed, packed and out of the house to have reassurance about feeding, weight or how your baby is doing.

I can come to you, assess your baby, provide the appropriate newborn care and give you time to ask all those questions that inevitably appear once you've actually got your baby home.

And while I'm checking your baby, I'm also checking you.

Postnatal care is about the two of you, your physical recovery, emotional wellbeing and feeding, alongside your baby's health, growth and development.

My aim is for you to feel supported and to know that there is someone you can ask when you're wondering: “Is this normal?”

I am also available for extra support by phone or messages between our appointments

I provide personalised private postnatal midwifery care and newborn checks at home across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

If you'd like newborn and postnatal care at home after your baby is born, get in touch to arrange a free 20-minute consultation.