When you first meet with a midwife as part of your pregnancy, if they think you might find FNP helpful, they’ll let your local FNP team know. A specially trained family nurse will then get in touch with you to say hello and arrange an initial visit with you at home. During this visit, she/he will explain what the programme is and how it works.
You’ll have a chance to ask questions and decide if FNP is right for you. If you decide you would like to join the programme, you and your family nurse will meet regularly, at times that suit you. Your visits will start during pregnancy right through until your child is aged between one and two.
Throughout this time, you and your family nurse will work on lots of different aspects of your pregnancy and becoming a parent together such as:
- Having a healthy pregnancy
- Improve your child’s development
- Build a positive relationship with your baby and others
- Help you plan for the future such as finding a job or returning to education
- Enable you to make lifestyle choices that will give your child the best possible start in life
Your family nurse will fit the programme around you and your baby’s needs, helping to improve your self-confidence as well as supporting you on other issues such as mental health, anxiety, housing and stopping smoking.