Your baby is now officially an embryo and is about the size of a poppy seed.
Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/4-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.
GP 6-8 week postnatal check for birthing women or people within the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB
On discharge from the community midwifery service at all Trusts (between 10-28 days postnatal) and entering the Health visitor service (from 10 days), women/birthing people who have given birth will be reminded of the importance of attending their GP surgery for a 6-8 week postnatal check . They will be encouraged to make this appointment as soon as possible.
The requirement to register a baby’s birth is within 42 days so this documentation will be available.
From 2020, there is a contractual requirement for GPs to offer a maternal postnatal consultation. This must be a separate check to the baby, but both can run consecutively.
NHS England » GP six to eight week maternal postnatal consultation – what good looks like guidance
This appointment should be personalised to their circumstances and encompass families who are bereaved or who have a baby who is premature or remains in hospital care. Please review if interpretation services are required prior to the appointment and follow up any non attendance.
The check should encompass the following:
- Review of the mothers mental health, refer any red flags immediately or direct to the Every Mum Matters website for further information if required.
- Physical health, any existing and any arising from pregnancy, wound healing either perineal or caesarean section wound, refer if required.
- Gestational diabetes, this cohort will need to have a HbA1c test and be referred to the Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) .
- Family planning, discuss contraception and long term health promotion.
- How is feeding going? Vitamin D is recommended for breastfeeding mothers .
- Ask if there are any specific concerns.
- Offer health promotion advice including: smoking, weight management, cervical screening and vaccinations.
- Use SNOMED code to record the consultation, all codes listed in what good looks like document .
Special attention should be given to women and birthing people, (including partners) experiencing birth trauma, support can be accessed through the LMNS Birth Reflections Service where a self-referral can be made to access face-to-face debrief appointments.
If the patient is experiencing pelvic health issues they can be referred to the HNY Perinatal Pelvic Health Service to gain support. This includes urinary issues, pelvic injury and prolapse. The patient can self refer.
