1. Lesson Objectives To know the main healthcare professionals involved during birth and in post natal care. To understand the role of midwives, health visitors and doctors

2. Health Professionals Whose who?

3. Diamond Nine Activity You will need: - To be in pairs A diamond nine diagram 9 health professional cards TASK Place the cards on the diamond nine diagram in order of importance. Which person involved during and after birth is the most important? It is up to you which way round you have the diamond.

4. Midwives Midwives look after the mother and the baby As well as delivering the baby, midwives help and advise the new mother. In a hospital maternity ward there are always midwives on hand to help. Once the mother and baby have gone home the midwife visits once a day for at least ten days to check they are ok and give advice on breast feeding and looking after the baby.

5. Health Visitors A health visitor is a qualified and registered nurse or midwife. The health visitor takes over from the midwife 10 days after the birth. They visit every once in a while to check on the baby’s development and give advice and answer any questions on looking after the baby. Make sure the baby receives the immunisations they need. Makes sure the mother is doing her post natal exercises. Deal with any minor illnesses that the baby gets. The mother can see the health visitor at the baby clinic held at the local health centre.

6. Doctors There are several different doctors that are involved in post natal care such as: - General Practitioner (GP) Paediatrician Obstetrician Neonatologist

7. Doctors The baby is checked by a hospital doctor the day after it is born. The baby is checked by the doctor for cleft palate and hip dislocation, and the eyes and heart are checked. The doctor that does the first check in the hospital is the paediatrician. However babies that are born at home are checked by the GP. 6 weeks after the birth, the GP comes to visit the mother at home. The mothers health is checked and the doctor makes sure that the uterus has going back to the normal size. The doctor also examines the baby to make sure it is developing OK.

8. Have we met today’s aims? To know the main healthcare professionals involved during birth and in post natal care. To understand the role of midwives, health visitors and doctors