Home visits

You should be visited several times by your midwife or family nurse at home during the first 10 days. Friends and family will want to visit to meet your baby too.

It's OK to ask visitors to:

• call you first and to sometimes say no
• help with other things so you can have a rest or spend time with your baby

Extra support

Some new parents need more support than others. You’ll get extra support from your midwife, family nurse or other health professionals if your baby:

• was born early
• spent time in special or intensive care
• has additional needs

Tests and checks

During the first 10 days your midwife will:

• weigh your baby
• do a newborn blood spot test if you agree

You’ll also need to register your baby with a GP

More about newborn blood spot tests

Your health visitor

A health visitor's a registered nurse or midwife who's done further study in public health nursing.

Your health visitor will:

• take over from your midwife when your baby's 11 days old
• get to know you and your baby
• ensure you get all the help and support you need as your baby grows

Your baby's named person

In Scotland, the aim is that every child, young person and their parents have a `named person’ who is a clear and safe point of contact to seek support and advice about any aspect of your child’s wellbeing.

From when your child is born until they start school, your named person is your health visitor.

Your baby's named person will:

• be a good person for you to ask for information or advice about being a parent
• talk to about any worries
• support you to look after yourself and your baby

They can also:

• put you in contact with other community professionals or services
• help you make the best choices for you and your family

The Red Book

You’ll be given a personal child health record called the Red Book. You can use it to record information about your baby’s growth, development, tests and immunisations.

Keep it safe and take it to any appointments you have with a healthcare professional.

The family nurse

Family nurses offer the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme to young, first-time parents from early in their pregnancy until their child's 2 years old. This program is available to first-time parents under the age of 20.

The programme includes home visits from a family nurse while you’re pregnant, and after your baby's born. These visits help:

• to have a healthy pregnancy
• you and your baby grow and develop together
• you to be the best parent you can be.

Your health visitor will take over from your family nurse when your baby is two until they go to school.

The Scottish Government has more information about Family Nurse Partnership

Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland.