This document discusses post-natal care for mothers and babies. It describes checks that are conducted on mothers before leaving the hospital to identify issues like pain, fatigue, or post-partum depression. Babies are checked for jaundice, weight, and hearing before going home. The importance of these checks is discussed, as well as potential consequences of not receiving post-natal care, such as undetected health issues. Signs and treatments of post-partum depression are covered. The document provides guidance on supporting mothers suffering from post-partum depression.

1. Unit 1.6 Understand the needs of
the mother and baby during pre-
conception, pregnancy and the first
years of life

2. LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]
Time: 10 mins
• What does post-natal care mean to you?
• Silent debate

3. Learning outcomes
Understand post-natal care.
• Identify the meaning of post natal care
• Discuss the consequences for mother and baby if post-natal care is not
given
• Identify checks in which would be carried out on baby before they go
home
Describe post-natal care for:
• mother
• baby
• Note the stresses and Nice things a mother would face when having a
baby
• Describe signs, symptoms and treatments for post natal depession
• Explain how to support a Parent suffering from post natal depression

4. • The mother will be assessed by a midwife before she leaves
hospital for the ‘baby blues’, any pain or fatigue,
• the midwife will then check with the new mother again six
weeks after the baby’s birth
• This check will look at weight, urine testing , blood pressure
and a breast check
• Mothers will be offered rubella vaccination if they were found
to be not immune during their pregnancy
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-
baby/Pages/postnatal-check.aspx#close
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]
Post-natal care

5. Time: 10 mins
• Discuss in pairs what you think the consequences could be for
the mother if she did not get these antenatal checks.
• Share these with the rest of the group.
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

6. Before the baby goes home the paediatrician will check for:
• Jaundice, thrush, nappy rash, that baby has passed
meconium and is not constipated or has diarrhoea.
• The baby will also will weighed and have a hearing
screening.
• How well the baby is feeding will be monitored.
• After ten days baby will be discharged from the midwife’s
care to that of the health visitor.
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]
Before the baby goes home

7. Time: 15 mins
• Discuss the importance of the post-natal checks for the baby.
• Discuss the outcomes from the Pairs activities.
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

8. Time: 15 mins
• Each group will be given a post-natal check. Find out about this
check, gathering as much information as you can.
• Share your group’s information with the other groups.
• Puerperium – Group 1 http://patient.info/doctor/postnatal-care-
puerperium
• The Post natal check six weeks after birth – Group 2
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-
baby/pages/postnatal-check.aspx#close
• The baby’s six-week check – Group 3
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1047814/your-postnatal-check
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

9. In Pairs discuss and note What are the stressful and nice things
for mothers when having a baby?
Compete your table
Task
Stressful Nice
Pregnancy
Childbirth
The first few weeks
Money
Partner

10. • A new mother will be observed for signs of post-natal
depression. This can affect them in many ways and the
symptoms can be very serious if they go undetected.
• 10–15% of new mothers will suffer from post-natal
depression.
• Post-natal psychosis is a severe form of post-natal depression
and is relatively rare with 0.1–0.2% of new mothers suffering.
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]
Post-natal depression

11. Time: 15 mins
• Read your given articles note the signs and symptoms a new
mother may show that indicate that she may be suffering
from post-natal depression.
• What are the biggest factors of post natal depression?
• What can be the effect of post-natal depression on the
mother and the baby?
• What treatments are available?
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

12. Time 10: mins
One of the new mothers in the nursery has been displaying the
signs and symptoms of post-natal depression.
• As a nursery practitioner what could you do to support this
mother?
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

13. • Good communication between the health care professionals
and the mothers is essential.
• The information given to new mothers should be personalised
to their individual needs.
• The post-natal care period is the first 6–8 weeks.
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]
Professional conduct

14. Time: 15 mins
• Design a leaflet to support a new mother through the post-
natal period, include information on:
• checks on the baby
• checks on the mother
• available support .
LO3. Understand post-natal care [AC 3.1]

15. Learning outcomes
Understand post-natal care.
• Identify the meaning of post natal care
• Discuss the consequences for mother and baby if post-natal care is not
given
• Identify checks in which would be carried out on baby before they go
home
Describe post-natal care for:
• mother
• baby
• Note the stresses and Nice things a mother would face when having a
baby
• Describe signs, symptoms and treatments for post natal depession
• Explain how to support a Parent suffering from post natal depression

16. Summary – plenary activities
1. Do you consider the post-natal period to be important?
2. Why as a practitioner is it important that you are aware of post-natal
care?