page is not in navigation

After the birth

You will need to consider several things after the birth of your baby:

Feeding your baby

It's never too early to think about how you are going to feed your baby. Breastfeeding is widely considered to be better for your baby, but it isn't the only way, and some mothers may prefer to bottle-feed.

Registering the birth

The registration of a birth must, by law, take place within 42 days of the date of birth. A typical registration takes about 20 minutes. There is no fee to register or re-register a birth.

Post-natal depression

Post-natal depression (PND) is very common among new parents and may affect as many as one in six new mothers

Sleeping safely

Advice and guidelines to help your child sleep safely.

Childcare

Advice and a guide to all the childcare options available to you.