Your 6-8 Week Post Birth Check in - Suffolk and North East Essex Maternity and Neonatal Services

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Do you need any support to help quit smoking, alcohol or drug use?

When was your last Cervical screening (smear test)? do you need to check, and book with your GP surgery?

If you are breastfeeding you can still become pregnant, it is not a reliable form of contraception.

Are you managing daily exercise?
It really helps with your general health and mental wellbeing.

If you are Breastfeeding are you taking a vitamin D supplement? Are you eating and drinking well?

Are you continuing with your pelvic floor exercises?

Social & Emotional

Possible Concern	Need to discuss
Your support system
How are you feeling ?
Thoughts from birth
Your relationships - partner

Physical

Possible Concern	Need to discuss
Infant Feeding support
Wounds healing
Vaginal bleeding
Bowel function
Bladder function
Pregnancy complications
Pain in Hip, groin -lower back or buttocks
Swelling in legs
Heaviness in vagina
Separation of stomach muscles
Haemorrhoids (piles)

Relationships

Possible Concern	Need to discuss
Intimacy
Menstruation-Periods returned?
Contraception

Remember your health visitor is a recommended point of contact for ongoing advice and support, throughout the first few years of your baby’s life.

My Notes

Is there anything else that’s worrying you?

How are you?

Your GP surgery will offer you a post birth check 6 to 8 weeks after your baby’s/babies birth, to make sure you feel well and you are recovering as you should.

This is a good time to ask any questions or express any concerns you may have. This checklist is designed to help you prepare for your appointment with your GP.

However, whilst waiting for your check-up if you are experiencing any problems or have any concerns during your recovery, it is best to speak with your surgery or perhaps contact the support organisations featured below.

Social & Emotional

Support

Do you have a support system at home to help out with baby/babies? Are you managing to go out? finding time to rest?

How are you feeling?

Are you having periods of feeling low? Do you have feelings that worry you?

Does it seem that you are not finding pleasure in things that would normally make you happy?

Thoughts on your birth

Did you have a debrief with a midwife if your experience was traumatic?

Do you have unanswered questions surrounding your birth?

Would you say that your birth experience has had a negative impact on your emotional wellbeing?

Your relationships

If you are in a relationship how is your partner coping with being a new parent?

Are you worried about your partner’s behaviour?

Do you feel safe at home?

Support organisations

Birth reflections
- Colchester/Clacton:
  - 01206 742779
  - [email protected]
- Ipswich:
  - 01473 703000
  - [email protected]
- West Suffolk:
  - from 6 weeks post birth – [email protected]
ACT – Anglia Care Trust
ICON
Therapy For You
NHS Mental Health Crisis support call 111
APNI – Association for Post Natal Illness
Wellbeing
Squeezy
Tommy’s
Mind
Parents 1st

Realationship

Intimacy

Do you feel ready for sex?

Opportunity to ask GP for the all clear. Are possible perineal stitches healed?

Is sex painful?

Contraception

What are your options? even if periods have not returned.

Menstruation

Have your periods returned? – breastfeeding may prolong return.

Support organisations

Brook
Sexwise
Refuge
Next Chapter
A free and confidential service for people who are experiencing or have previously experienced domestic abuse.
- 0330 3337 444
- 01206 500585

Physical

Infant feeding

Do you require any feeding support?

If breastfeeding/chest feeding any problems with baby’s latch? or discomfort in the breasts/chest?

Healing

Any concerns for any wounds that are healing?

Any pain or discomfort?

Vaginal bleeding

Have your periods returned? – breastfeeding may prolong return.

Bladder function

Do you wee a little when you cough or sneeze?

Any discomfort when you pass wee?

Bowel function

Any ongoing constipation?

incontinence ?

haemorrhoids (piles)?

Heaviness

Do you have any heaviness, pain or discomfort in your vagina?

Pregnancy complications

Any health issues/conditions during pregnancy- such as gestational diabetes, anaemia or pre-eclampsia?

Review needed for medication taken during pregnancy?

Swelling

Any pain or swelling in the legs since giving birth?

Pain

Do you have any lower back, groin, hip or buttock pain?