Pregnancy

Booking appointment by 10 weeks

Antenatal care by midwife

Specialist support for teenage parents and vulnerable women

Health Visitor support from 28 weeks if needed

Sign up for Maternity Vitamin D scheme

Promotion/referral to antenatal courses

Flu and Whooping cough vaccinations

Birth—3 months

Postnatal support by midwife (including pre-term babies and babies discharged from neo-natal unit)

New baby home visit (10-14 days after birth) including ‘Safe Sleeping’ by Health Visitor

Sign up to Vit D & Healthy Start schemes Health Visitor 6-8 week home visit Immunisations GP registration and booking 6-8 week

appointment

3-9 Months

Additional Health Visitor support at 3-4 months as needed

Feeding and Weaning support

9-12 Months

Child developmental assessment by Health Visiting Service

Register your child with a dentist Get your Bookstart pack

1-3 Years

2-2.5 year developmental reviews

Pre-school immunisation by GP practice

Support with healthy lifestyles

Free nursery places for eligible 2 year olds and all 3 year olds

3-5 Years

Free nursery places for 3 to 4 year olds

Apply for school reception places

0-5 Services for Families

There are a range of services available for all families (including those with additional needs) within Children and Family Centres.

This pathway is a guide to some of the key areas we can support you with and some of the key events that you may want to know about as a parent.

Please contact any of the following services if you have any concerns or would like more information.

Children and Family Centres: Health Visitor Central Hub: Maternity Services Helpline: 020 8690 6696 020 3049 1873 020 8836 4491

Pregnancy As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact the midwifery hotline on 07787 841 986 to arrange your first appointment. Ideally you will do this by 10 weeks or as early as possible. The midwife is there to help you and talk to you about your individual health and wellbeing. Please do talk to your midwife about any concerns you have including any of the following: Mental Health Birth choices including options on where to have your baby How to stop smoking — you or your family members Domestic Violence and Abuse Weight Management Substance Misuse The midwife will ensure you are aware of and have the opportunity to access all services you may need for your circumstances including antenatal courses, Children and Family Centres, Vitamin D, and Immunisations for whooping cough and flu. For more information: https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/maternity

Birth - 3 months We will encourage you to get to know your baby through skin to skin and regular contact. Understanding the different ways your baby is communicating with you is important, so that you can help them to be happy and healthy. You can take information about how to register your baby and family with Children and Family Centres, where there is lots of additional advice and support, opportunities to meet other parents and babies, and great courses such as ‘Beautiful Babies, Beautiful Brains’ and Baby Massage. We will offer you the opportunity to take up important immunisations for your baby. For more information please use this link: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/pages/vaccination-schedule-age-checklist.aspx Your baby will have their first and second dose of immunisations. Baby Hubs are places for you to meet other parents, get health advice and support, and for your baby to stay, play and be weighed. You could be entitled to the Healthy Start Scheme and get weekly free vouchers for milk, vitamins, frozen fruit and vegetables. Please ask your Health Visitor how to sign up or do so online https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/ If your child has additional needs; advice and help is available to ensure you can access the right support. The Lewisham Local Offer explains what you may be eligible for: http://www.lewishamlocaloffer.org.uk/#/ and you can always ask a Lewisham Children & Family Centre practitioner or your Health Visitor for further support and advice.

3 - 9 months You will continue to be supported with feeding and forming a close relationship with your child, increasing your confidence as a new parent. Your Health Visitor will tell you about any additional support services you can use if needed. Now is a good time to register with a dentist. It is recommended that you visit the dentist with your child when their first milk tooth appears. Introducing your child to solid foods (weaning) should happen when your child is around 6 months old. You can get support at Children & Family Centres or from your Health Visitor. Your baby will have their third dose of immunisations.

1 - 3 years 2– 2.5 year developmental reviews are there to ensure your child is healthy, developing language and learning skills to support them to get ready for school. Your child will receive their 1yr immunisations from your GP practice. Ask at you Children & Family Centre about free nursery places for 2 year olds as you could be eligible. Remember at 3 years old nursery places are free for all.

3 - 5 years Children and Family Centres can support you to access free childcare and nursery places for 3 to 4 year olds too. Your child will receive their pre-school immunisations from your GP practice. Now is the time to apply for school reception places. You can find information on line or Children & Family Centre staff can help.

9 - 12 months Your health visitor will give you a Bookstart pack. Bookstart promotes reading books with your child early on, as this can help create a love of reading in your child. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/supporting-you/families/our-programmes/bookstart/ If you wish to return to work, find employment or are thinking about education or training, Children and Family Centres can provide you and your family members with support.

Birth - 3 months Your midwife (and after 10 –14 days Health Visitor) will come to see you and your baby to assess your health and wellbeing, ensuring you know about services and that partners/fathers are involved as much as possible. You can access support with breastfeeding and about the importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). If you decide to bottle feed, we will support you with that too.

Pre-Pregnancy Advice This site has some great advice if you are thinking about becoming a parent: https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/socialcare/health/parenting/becoming-a-parent/Pages/Thinking-about-getting-pregnant.aspx

Information about and registering with a Children and Family Centre

Breastfeeding support and getting to know your baby

Feeding & Weaning Baby Hubs (health

promotion/advice including weighing and play sessions)

Baby & Toddler groups & courses

Stay and Play Drop Ins

Family Support Additional Needs Parenting Support Back to work & employment ESOL classes Mental Health Healthy Relationships Immunisations Healthy Start Scheme Bookstart packs

The following services, advice and support are available at any point within Children and Family Centres: