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This letter offers a warm welcome to you and your family, with helpful information about our unit, what to expect during your stay, and how we’re here to support you throughout your baby’s journey.

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Welcome to Wexham Park Neonatal Unit FINAL VERSION -Oct update 

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A weekly session for in patient neonatal families to connect, share, and unwind

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A weekly session for in patient neonatal families to connect, share, and unwind

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Every Friday at 09:30 am, our neonatal unit hosts a parent‑led ward round—a supportive and collaborative session where parents are warmly welcomed to join the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) in reviewing their baby’s progress. This inclusive approach allows parents to share their invaluable insights, participate confidently in the discussion, and work as true partners with doctors, nurses, and other specialists in shaping decisions about their baby’s care. By centering parents in the conversation, the ward round fosters shared understanding, reinforces trust, and empowers families to be an active voice in their babies journey.

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Neonatal Animation: A guide for parents on what to expect when on a neonatal unit

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Breastfeeding support services near Slough

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Breastfeeding support services search results for Slough

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If you have had a baby on the neonatal unit within the past 2 years we welcome you to join with other families to share your experiences over refreshments.

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If you have had a baby on the neonatal unit within the past 2 years we welcome you to join with other families to share your experiences over refreshments.

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What are ward rounds?

On our ward rounds the neonatal doctors and nurses review and discuss your baby’s progress, and make plans for the rest of the day and week.  Many of the additional staff on the unit (dieticians, neonatal occupational therapists and pharmacists) may also join the ward round to provide further information.

The doctors carry out daily ward rounds starting at 09.30am. We fully encourage you to attend the ward rounds to participate in discussing your baby’s progress and plan for treatment with the team.

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Tips for changing your baby’s nappy | Bliss

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Changing your premature or sick baby’s nappy is a great way to be involved in their care on the neonatal unit.

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What is tube feeding?

During tube feeding, breast milk or formula is given through a tube passed into your baby's nose or mouth to their stomach. Types of tube feeding include the following:

Nasogastric tube feeding (also called an NG tube) - This is when a baby is fed through a small soft tube, which is placed in the nose and runs down the back of the throat, through the food pipe (oesophagus) and into the stomach.

Orogastric tube feeding - This is when a baby is fed through a small soft tube, which is placed in the mouth and runs down the back of the throat, through the food pipe (oesophagus) and into the stomach.

Babies who are very premature or sick may need to be fed using parenteral nutrition (PN) at first.

Why does my baby need to be fed using tube feeding?

Tube feeding is often used to feed premature and sick babies as they can be too small and sick to breastfeed or bottle feed at first. Babies born premature or sick have a low supply of energy and nutrients, so it is important that they are able to have small nutritional feeds often, without lowering their energy levels.

In babies born premature, the coordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing needed for effective feeding is usually not fully established until about 32 to 34 weeks' gestation (although this is different for different babies). Babies born at term and sick may also take longer to co-ordinate feeding. Tube feeding will help your baby receive enough nutrition to grow and develop.

Can I be involved in caring for my baby if they are being tube fed?

Yes, you can. Staff on the neonatal unit will encourage you to be as involved as possible in the care of your baby on the neonatal unit. If you feel comfortable doing so, they should show you and your partner how to give tube feeds. Staff on the neonatal unit will explain how tube feeding works and will teach you how to:

Check the tube is in the correct position before feeding

Prepare the milk and fill the syringe that is connected to the feeding tube

Position your baby correctly for tube feeds

Give the milk slowly to support comfortable digestion

Know what to look for during a feed.

This can feel quite scary at first, but with practice you should gain confidence. You will have the time to give the milk very slowly which helps your baby to digest more comfortably.

If your baby is well enough to come out of the incubator, you and your partner can also practice skin-to-skin contact with your baby while they are tube feeding. Skin-to-skin contact has lots of benefits for you and your baby, and helps parents to feel closer to their baby and more confident in caring for them.

When can my baby stop tube feeding?

In time, you may notice your baby demonstrating feeding cues during a tube feed. For example, they may open and close their mouth, put out their tongue or suck their fingers during a tube feed. This shows that they might be ready to practise breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

If you are planning to breastfeed and your baby is well enough to come out of the incubator, giving them lots of opportunities to be close to the breast may help them to learn to breastfeed. During a tube feed may be a good time to do this. When they are more mature and interested enough, some babies will start licking milk and in time practice sucking. As your baby starts to take more breast and bottle feeds, they will not need as many top-ups of milk from the feeding tube. This will depend on your baby's energy levels and their ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing.

Some parents have concerns about their baby changing from tube feeding to breastfeeding, as it is more difficult to measure how much milk their baby is having. Your baby will show signs that they are receiving enough milk, such as feeding cues and wet and dirty nappies. The healthcare team supporting you will monitor your baby's feeding and will manage any top-ups that might be needed. Talk to a member of staff on your unit if you have any concerns.

What will happen if my baby needs to go home from the neonatal unit with a feeding tube?

If your baby is going home with a feeding tube, a member of unit staff will show you how to feed and care for the tube yourself. It may be you or your community neonatal nurse who will replace the tube when you go home. This will depend on your baby's needs, your preferences, and the support the unit provides.

Support will always be available if you do not feel comfortable with replacing the tube yourself. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to the unit staff.

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Your baby may be fed using tube feeding while on the neonatal unit. Find out why this might be and information about caring for your baby while they are being tube fed.

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I thought I'd taken a wrong turn and ended up in a zoo.

Man, I was confused. I thought this was a hospital for sick babies. Why were we talking about animals?

What the hell is kangaroo care?

Turns out it's a really important part of the neonatal journey - both for parents and baby. And while it's essential for mums to take part, it's also something that dads can participate in... and we even bring our own benefits to the party.

Here's how...

My first experience of kangaroo care with both sons.

What is kangaroo care?

Kangaroo care is a way of holding a baby which is popular in neonatal units. The baby is placed on the parent, crucially with skin exposed to allow skin-to-skin contact. Often, the baby will be placed down the top of the parent or underneath a blanket to keep them warm. The hold effectively mimics the way a mother kangaroo carries her joey in a pouch at the front - hence the name 'kangaroo care'.

Babies requiring neonatal care are often separated from their parents immediately or soon after birth. Kangaroo care is encouraged in NICU units as a way for parents - particularly mothers - to build a rapport with their newborns. This can help to regulate the mother's hormones and to stimulate her milk supply.

However, dads should also be included in kangaroo care, for several reasons.

Fathers can - and should - be included in kangaroo care

What are the benefits of kangaroo care for babies and dads?

I can't deny that the nine weeks in which my sons were in neonatal care were the most difficult of my life. However, looking back I relate the periods of kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact to positive memories of the experience. These were the few times that I was able to cherish, in spite of the circumstances.

So, how does kangaroo care between dads and babies help both parties?

It helps dads to bond with their babies

Bonding with your baby in NICU is hard. It's not just a case of cuddling them and comforting them whenever you want - instead, you have to ask permission to hold them. You have to read through an incubator porthole instead of whilst cradling your child. You feed them through a tube instead of by a bottle.

But kangaroo care is a great way to build the father-child relationship. I relished every opportunity to hold my sons - either one at a time or together - as I felt it helped me to begin making that bond and effectively get to know them. A study backs this up, finding that skin-to-skin contact can help fathers feel more attached to their babies.

Kangaroo care is a great way to build the father-child relationship. I relished every opportunity to hold my sons.

It helps to grow dads' confidence

I'm sure I don't speak for all men here, but for me there was certainly a degree of nervousness about learning how to be a father. For example, how would I protect my sons, or soothe them and comfort them?

Kangaroo care, and having that early skin-to-skin contact, helped to ease my nerves and begin to learn the cues that my sons would give. This in turn meant I was better prepared and more confident in providing care.

Indeed, research has found that skin-to-skin can help to develop caring behaviours and increased sensitivity towards parenting in fathers.

It helps to settle baby's heart rate

Particularly in pre-term infants, heart rates can be erratic - I remember watching with abject concern as my sons' monitors beeped wildly at the endless swings between too many and too few beats per minute.

Kangaroo care allowed my boys to be close to one another, too.

Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to help stabilise neonatal infants' heart rates and reduce respiratory distress - both with mothers and fathers.

It helps regulate baby's temperature

Additionally, kangaroo care can with both parents can benefit the baby by helping them to regulate their body temperature. Babies born prematurely often need to be placed in incubators which are heated to body temperature, as their bodies are not sufficiently developed enough to maintain the correct temperature.

Skin-to-skin holding with parents can help the baby to develop this ability to regulate their temperature during the care. A study also found that kangaroo care with fathers was just as effective as with mothers in terms of baby's temperature regulation.

It helps to soothe and comfort your baby

Studies have also shown that father kangaroo care can contribute to soothing and comforting babies in neonatal care. I vividly remember holding my sons for the first time, and being apprehensive as they cried faintly as the nurses moved them from their incubators. But as soon as they were comfortable on my chest, they stopped crying and became content.

It's thought that the rhythm of the parent's heartbeat acts as a comfort and helps to reassure the baby.

It helps you both to relax

A further (and highly important) benefit of kangaroo care is that it can help both baby and father to feel relaxed and reduce stress levels. For babies, studies suggest that skin-to-skin contact contributes to decreased stress levels and reduced responses to pain.

A review of studies found that fathers experienced higher oxytocin (a hormone linked to love and care) levels and reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both during and after skin-to-skin holding.

It helps the dad's relationship with the mother

I've spoken previously about just how much of a strain having a baby in NICU can put on a relationship. Though it was tense at times, my wife and I made it through together - and that may in part be thanks to kangaroo care.

The review of skin-to-skin care studies mentioned earlier also suggested that fathers who take part in kangaroo care go on to develop stronger relationships with the mother of the baby.

Building lifelong bonds

To recap, there's absolutely no doubt that having a baby in neonatal care is difficult. But amid all the angst and pain, kangaroo care really was a lifeline for me and, I suspect, many other fathers.

Though it was a heart-warming experience at the time, I firmly believe that I continue to reap the rewards of taking part today - my sons are now two years old and I have an unbreakable bond with them. That's something I might not have had if I wasn't able to hold them close during their dark early days.

Finally, if you or someone you know currently has a baby on a NICU or SCBU unit, check out my free checklist with helpful tips on how to bond:

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Kangaroo Care: Why It's Important For NICU Dads | PremDad

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I thought I'd taken a wrong turn and ended up in a zoo. Man, I was confused. I thought this was a hospital for sick babies. Why were we talking about animals? What the hell is kangaroo care? Turns out it's a really important part of the neonatal journey - both for parents and baby.

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Isle of Wight Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Isle of Wight Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Basingstoke Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Basingstoke Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Milton Keynes University Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Milton Keynes University Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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John Radcliffe Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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John Radcliffe Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Isle of Wight Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Isle of Wight Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Basingstoke Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Basingstoke Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Milton Keynes University Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Milton Keynes University Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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John Radcliffe Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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John Radcliffe Hospital Neonatal Unit Padlet

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Wexham Park Hospital Neonatal Outreach Service

Is provided by our friendly and experienced specialised Neonatal Nurses and Nursery nurse, giving you and your baby continued care in the community.

We facilitate discharge from the Neonatal unit and establish a rapport with you before your baby gradates to living with you at home.

Who do we see?

We will follow up all babies born at 34 weeks and below, less than 2kg or below 2nd centile. We will also see babies with an ongoing nursing need due to a medical/surgical condition, we offer support with feeding, monitor growth and development and offer parental support.

Our Network

We work closely with our Consultants, Health visitors, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist and any other agencies.

Teaching.

Basic life support - before discharge. Weaning sessions, oral health sessions and much more in partnership with the local children's Centre where we run our twice weekly outreach clinics.

Our Availability

Is Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm.

Please contact us;

Donna Reid - Team Lead - 07747 008526. Sinead Barlett - 07767002016

Fathima Shibly - 07442865461

We look forward to working with you.

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Wexham Park Neonatal Unit Instagram page

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Wexham Park Neonatal Unit Instagram page

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Please follow our unit on Instagram.

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Please speak to a member of staff if you would like help to set up an account to enable staff to send secure videos and photos of your baby to you.

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Please open PDF if you would like to leave feedback using a QR code.

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Please click the link to leave feedback for our neonatal unit.

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A great source for evidence based feeding and milk advice.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity. We endeavour to fill practical and policy-relevant information gaps and provide resources for health workers supporting eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Our Mission

To influence policies which enable the safe, appropriate and optimal feeding of infants and young children in the UK, and to protect them from commercial interest.

To ensure that the importance of good nutrition from pre-conception to age five remains on everyone's agenda.

To provide conflict of interest-free information on infant milks marketed in the UK, and to promote better regulation and marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

To provide resources for health workers to support them in their work with pregnant women and young families.

Our Resources:

Are put together by nutrition experts and are regularly updated.

Can be used in Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative accredited settings.

Are available as free pdf downloads for use by anyone promoting better public health on a not-for profit basis.

Everyone who works at First Steps Nutrition Trust feels passionately about the need for better information and support for good nutrition - and good food - from pre-conception to five years.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is supported by generous individual donations and conflict of interest free grants. First Steps Nutrition Trust does not work with organisations or individuals that work with, or take funding from, the breastmilk substitute industry and we reserve the right not to sell them our subsidised resources.

First Steps works with and supports a number of organisations including Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative, the Baby Feeding Law Group, the Obesity Health Alliance, the Children's Food Campaign and the APPG on Infant Feeding and Inequalities.

First Steps Nutrition Trust host and regularly update their partner site infantmilkinfo.org which contains comprehensive information about infant milks (for 0-12 month olds) available on the UK market.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is a charity which provides clear, evidence-based and independent information and support for good nutrition from pre-conception to five years of age.

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During your time on the unit you will come across many different health professionals. Below are some of staff you may meet on our unit.

Nurses

Nursing associates

Nursery nurses

Outreach nurses (Community team)

Doctors

Pharmacists

Dieticians

Speech and language therapists (SALT)

Occupational therapist (OT)

Ophthalmologists

Hearing screening team

Clerical staff

Support workers and cleaning staff

Nursing and Midwifery students

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Different health professionals work as a team on the neonatal unit. You will see different people looking after your baby, with staff coming and going on different shifts. You will probably get to know some of the staff, but it can feel confusing at first to know who’s who, and what their job is.

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This page talks about the different members of the neonatal care team, and provides some suggestions for questions you can ask them about your baby's care.

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Welcome to the Thames Valley & Wessex Operational Delivery Network Neonatal Parent Advisory Group.

As a group of parents we have come together with the ODN to help cocreate local neonatal transformation. We welcome new neonatal parents.....

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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The neonatal networks within the South East region consist of the Thames Valley and Wessex Operational Delivery Network and the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Operational Delivery Network. The two combined networks cover 27 provider units.

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Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network

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Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network

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These are the hospitals that are within the neonatal network that covers Thames Valley and Wessex regions.

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Research Click The Image To Download Our CDH Information Booklet About CDH UK https://youtu.be/9mYdPE3md48 We like to think of CDH UK as a modern charity made up of experts providing complimentary care to patients and their families in the form of information, emotional and practical support and by conducting, encouraging and funding research.

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This charity supports multiple neonatal units across the country.

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Peer-to-Peer Advice

Every year, we give over 600 families with a baby, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, many who have been born prematurely, one less thing to worry about by giving them a place to stay, free of charge just minutes from their baby's bedside. Parents might stay with us for a few nights or sometimes months.

Parents tell us that when their baby is born prematurely, they often feel scared, overwhelmed, lost and helpless. As World Prematurity Day approaches on Tuesday 17 November, we asked parents of premature children to share their advice to help others going through something similar.
We asked: What one piece of advice would you give? What are the ways parents can cope? If you had known, what would you have taken with you to the hospital? How can you remain close and connected with your baby while they're in hospital? How did you look after yourself while your baby was in hospital? How do you adjust after hospital? Any other advice Back to the top Back to the top Back to the top Back to the top Back to the top Back to the top Back to the top

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World Prematurity Day - The Sick Children's Trust

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17 November is World Prematurity Day, a global movement to raise awareness of premature birth. Join the conversation using #WorldPrematurityDay.

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Support for you and your premature baby at home

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Taking your premature baby home can be exciting but may also a little daunting. The community healthcare team will help you all settle in.

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All babies cry, and some more than others. Crying is your baby's way of telling you they need comfort and care.
Sometimes it's easy to work out what they want, and sometimes it's not.

The most common reasons for crying are:

hunger

a dirty or wet nappy

tiredness

wanting a cuddle

wind

being too hot or too cold

boredom

overstimulation

There may be times of the day when your baby tends to cry a lot and cannot be comforted. Early evening is the most common time for this to happen.

This can be hard for you, as it's often the time when you're most tired and least able to cope.

The amount babies cry tends to peak when they're around 4 to 8 weeks old, then gradually tail off.

How to calm a crying baby

Try some of the following ways to comfort your baby. Some may work better than others:

If you're breastfeeding, let your baby suckle at your breast.

Having some gentle noise in the background may help distract your baby.

Some older babies like to use a bit of cloth or a blanket as a comforter.

Hold your baby or put them in a sling so they're close to you. Move about gently, sway and dance, talk to them and sing.

Rock your baby backwards and forwards in the pram, or go out for a walk or a drive. But limit how long your baby sleeps in a car seat to up to 30 minutes for newborns and up to 2 hours for babies. Even if they wake up again when you stop, at least you'll have had a break.

Find something for them to listen to or look at. This could be music on the radio, a CD, a rattle, or a mobile above the cot.

Try stroking your baby's back firmly and rhythmically, holding them against you or lying face downwards on your lap.

Undress your baby and massage them gently and firmly. Avoid using any oils or lotions until your baby's at least a month old. Talk soothingly as you do it and keep the room warm enough. Some health centres and clinics run baby massage courses. For information, ask your midwife or health visitor.

Try a warm bath. This calms some babies instantly, but makes others cry even more.

Sometimes too much rocking and singing can keep your baby awake. You might find lying them down after a feed will help.

Ask your health visitor for advice.

Crying during feeds

Some babies cry and seem unsettled around the time of a feed. If you're breastfeeding, you may find that improving your baby's positioning and attachment helps them settle.

You can go to a breastfeeding drop-in group and ask for help if there's one available in your local area.

The Breastfeeding Network's website can provide information on the nearest group to you.

You can also ask your health visitor for advice.

Crying during feeds can sometimes be a symptom of reflux, a common condition where babies bring back milk after feeds.

Speak to your health visitor or GP for more information and advice.

If your baby cries constantly

There are several reasons that can cause a baby to cry excessively.

It can be exhausting if you have tried everything and nothing seems to comfort your baby.

Colic

Excessive crying could be a sign that your baby has colic. Everyone agrees that colic exists, but nobody knows what causes it.

Some doctors think it's a kind of stomach cramp. The crying sounds miserable and distressed, and stops for a moment or two, then starts up again, which suggests it could be caused by waves of stomach pain.

The crying can go on for some hours. There may be little you can do except try to comfort your baby and wait for the crying to pass.
Get tips for coping with colic
Crying and illness

If your baby's crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill.

Or they may be ill if they're crying and have other symptoms, such as a high temperature. If this is the case, contact your health visitor, GP or call NHS 111.

Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

has a fit (seizure or convulsion)

has blue, mottled, ashen (grey) or very pale skin

is unresponsive, floppy or not waking up as easily as usual

breathes rapidly or makes a throaty noise while breathing, or seems to be working hard to breathe, perhaps sucking in their stomach under their ribcage

is being violently sick a lot (projectile vomiting)

has a high temperature, but their hands and feet feel cold

has a spotty purple-red rash anywhere on the body - this could be a sign of meningitis

Find out the signs of serious illness in your baby
Trust your instincts. You know what's different or worrying behaviour in your baby.

Getting help with a crying baby

You can talk to a friend, your health visitor or GP, or contact the Cry-sis helpline free on 0800 448 0737. It is open 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Cry-sis can put you in touch with other parents who have been in the same situation.

You can also visit the Cry-sis website for information on coping with crying babies.

If you decide to talk to your health visitor or GP, it can help to keep a record of how often and when your baby cries.

For example, this might be after every feed or during the evening. This can help your health visitor or GP to work out if there's a particular cause for the crying.

Keeping a record can also help you identify the times when you need extra support. You could think about possible changes to your routine.

There may be times when you're so tired and angry you feel like you cannot take any more. This happens to a lot of parents, so do not be ashamed to ask for help.

If you do not have anyone who can take care of your baby for a short time and the crying is making you stressed, put your baby in their cot or pram, make sure they're safe, close the door, go into another room and try to calm yourself down.

Set a time limit - for example, 10 minutes - then go back.

Never shake your baby

No matter how frustrated you feel, you must never shake your baby. Shaking moves their head violently and can cause brain damage.

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A crying baby can be exhausting and it can be hard to know what they need, especially in the early days. Use these tips to help soothe them.

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Medicines are not always needed for minor illnesses like coughs and colds in children.
If your child does need a medicine, it's important they have one that's right for their age and you know how to give it to them safely.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen for babies and children

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe for treating pain and a high temperature in babies and children. Both are available as liquid medicines for young children.

It's best to choose a sugar-free version. Medicines that contain sugar can harm your child's teeth.

Make sure you get the right strength for your child's age and check the label for the correct dose. Or you can ask a pharmacist for advice.

It's a good idea to keep one or both medicines stored in a safe place at home.

At what age can I give my baby paracetamol or ibuprofen?

You can give paracetamol to children aged 2 months or older for pain or fever.

You can give ibuprofen to children who are aged 3 months or older and who weigh more than 5kg (11lb).

If your child has asthma, get advice from a GP or pharmacist before giving them ibuprofen.

Do not give aspirin to children under 16 unless it's prescribed by a doctor. It's been linked with a rare but dangerous illness called Reye's syndrome.

If you're breastfeeding, ask your health visitor, midwife or GP for advice before taking aspirin.
Read more about breastfeeding and medicines

Antibiotics for children

Children do not often need antibiotics. Most childhood infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only treat illnesses caused by bacteria, not viruses.

If your child is prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection, they may seem better after 2 or 3 days. But it's important to always finish the whole course to make sure all the bacteria are killed off.

If you do not finish the whole course, the infection is more likely to come back. It also increases the risk of the bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Antibiotics work best if they are given at regular intervals. Giving them to your child at the same times each day may help you to remember.

Giving medicine to your child

Make sure you know how much and how often to give a medicine. Recording it in your child's Personal Child Health Record (PCHR, or red book) may help you remember.

Always read the label on the bottle, and stick to the recommended dose. If in doubt, check with a pharmacist, health visitor or GP.

Most medicines for young children come with a special measure called an oral syringe.

This helps you measure small doses of medicine more accurately. It also makes it easier to give the medicine to your child.

If you're not sure, your health visitor or pharmacist can explain how to use the syringe.

You can also watch a video from Great Ormond Street Hospital showing how to use an oral syringe.

Never use a kitchen teaspoon to give your baby or child medicine, because they come in different sizes.

Children and side effects from medicine

The leaflet that comes with a medicine will list any possible side effects.

If you think your child is reacting to a medicine - for example, with a rash or diarrhoea - speak to a GP, health visitor or pharmacist. In the evenings or at weekends you can call NHS 111.

Keep a note of the medicine's name in your child's red book for future reference.

Can you get over-the-counter children's medicines for free?

Some pharmacies run what's known as a minor ailment scheme for specific ailments, such as coughs and colds and diarrhoea and vomiting.

When pharmacies provide medicines as part of a minor ailment scheme, you get the medicines on the NHS. You will not pay a prescription charge for children under 16.

Not all pharmacies offer a minor ailment scheme, and the ailments covered by the scheme vary from area to area.

Children's medicine safety tips

Always check the expiry date - if you have any medicines at home that are out of date or your child no longer needs them, take them to a pharmacist to dispose of safely.

Never give your child medicines that have been bought or prescribed for someone else.

Always keep medicines out of your child's reach and out of sight.

Ask a pharmacist about storing the medicine - some need to be kept in the fridge or out of direct sunlight.

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Medicines are not always needed for minor illnesses like coughs and colds in children. If your child does need a medicine, it's important they have one that's right for their age and you know how to give it to them safely. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe for treating pain and a high temperature in babies and children.

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All adults, children and babies experience illnesses. We become protected from infections by either catching them or through vaccination.

Babies and young children get more colds than adults as their resistance to infections builds up over time. For babies born premature or sick, the risk of complications can be higher.

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All adults, children and babies experience illnesses. We become protected from infections by either catching them or through vaccination. Babies and young children get more colds than adults as their resistance to infections builds up over time. For babies born premature or sick, the risk of...

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A full list of the routine vaccinations offered on the NHS and when they should be given.

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Our vision

Our vision is that any parent or carer, wherever they are, has information on their child's medicines that they can trust.

What we offer

Our medicines information pages cover many of the medicines that are prescribed or recommended for children by health professionals. They answer frequent questions, such as how and when to give the medicine, what to do if you forget to give the medicine, and any possible side-effects.

You can also read information or watch our short videos about giving different types of medicines, including tablets, capsules, liquid medicine, inhalers, eye drops/ointment and ear drops.

Who are we?

Medicines for Children is a partnership programme of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) and WellChild. Read more about us and our work.

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Medicines For Children - We provide practical and reliable advice about giving medicine to your child

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Our vision is that any parent or carer, wherever they are, has information on their child's medicines that they can trust. Our medicines information pages cover many of the medicines that are prescribed or recommended for children by health professionals.

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Guidance on car seat for your baby.

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Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

You can choose a child car seat based on your child's height or weight.

Height-based seats

Height-based seats are known as 'i-Size' seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they're over 15 months old.

You must check the seat to make sure it's suitable for the height of your child.

Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'R129'.

Weight-based seats

The seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight.

Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'ECE R44'.

You may be able to choose from more than one type of seat in the group for your child's weight.

0kg to 10kg

0

Lie-flat or 'lateral' baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

0kg to 13kg

0+

Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

9kg to 18kg

1

Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield

15kg to 25kg

2

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

22kg to 36kg

3

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

Manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3. This won't affect any existing booster cushions in group 2 and you'll still be able to use them.

Fitting a child car seat

You must only use a child car seat if your car's seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is either:

specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt

fitted using ISOFIX anchor points

You must also:

deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat

not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats

Children with disabilities or medical conditions

The same rules apply for children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person's seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs.

A doctor can issue an exemption certificate if a child is unable to use a restraint or seat belt because of their condition.

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The rules for child car seats and booster seats - height, weight, age, type of vehicle, car, minibus, licensed taxi

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As your baby gets closer to going home we will ask you to bring in your baby's car seat We will then check that your baby is safe and supported to travel in their car seat. We will place a sensor on your baby's hand or foot to monitor whilst they sit in their car seat for 30 minutes. The sensor will let us know your baby's oxygen levels whilst positioned in their car seat.

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Public Health England (PHE) created this information on behalf of the NHS. In this information, the word 'we' refers to the NHS service that provides screening.

This short video explains screening for eyes, heart, hips and testes in newborn babies.
Newborn and infant physical examination video
The newborn physical examination is recommended by the NHS.

1. Purpose of screening

Within 72 hours of giving birth, you will be offered a top-to-toe physical examination for your baby. This will include 4 specific screening tests to find out whether your baby has a suspected problem with their eyes, heart, hips or, in boys, their testes which would benefit from early investigation and possible treatment.

The screening tests are carried out again between 6 and 8 weeks of age as some conditions do not develop or become apparent until then.

2. About the conditions

Each part of the physical examination is looking for different conditions.

About 2 or 3 in 10,000 babies have problems with their eyes that need treatment. The examination checks the appearance and movement of the eyes. The main reason for screening is to identify a condition called cataracts (a clouding of the transparent lens inside the eye). The examination cannot tell how well your baby can see.

Around 8 per 1,000 babies will have a heart problem or condition. This could range from a heart murmur to a problem needing specialist care or treatment. A murmur is a noise made by the blood as it passes through the heart. In almost all cases when a murmur is heard, the heart is normal. Murmurs are common in babies and this does not always mean there is a problem.

Babies can be born with hip joints that are not formed properly and if untreated this can lead to a limp and to joint problems. About 1 or 2 in 1,000 babies have hip problems that need treatment.

Baby boys are checked to make sure their testes are in the right place. It can take several months for testes to drop down (descend) into the scrotum. About 1 in 100 baby boys have problems with undescended testes that need treatment to reduce the risk of problems later in life, such as reduced fertility.

3. The screening test

A trained health professional will carry out a physical examination of your baby and ask you questions about your baby's general wellbeing.

Your baby will need to be undressed for part of the examination. During the examination the health professional will:

look into your baby's eyes focusing on how their eyes look and move

listen to their heart using a stethoscope to detect heart sounds

examine their hips to ensure the joints are working properly

examine baby boys to check if their testes are in the right place

These screening tests are carried out within 72 hours of birth and again when your baby is between 6 and 8 weeks of age.

4. Safety of the test

There are no risks associated with having this test.

5. Screening is your choice

The examination is intended to identify any of the problems early so that treatment can be started as soon as possible.

The general physical examination including this screening is therefore recommended for your baby.

6. Not having the test

You can decide to have your baby examined and screened for any or all of the conditions. If you have any concerns you should discuss them with your midwife and the health professional who offers the examination.

7. Possible results

Usually there will be nothing of concern found. If the health professional finds a possible problem, your baby will be referred for further assessment and tests if appropriate.

8. Getting my results

The health professional carrying out the examination will give you the results straight away. If a referral for further assessment is needed, this will also be discussed with you at the time of the examination.

The results will be recorded in your baby's case notes and personal child health record ('red book'). You will need to keep this record safe and make sure it is available whenever your baby sees a health professional.

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Eyes, heart, hips and testes (physical examination)

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Public Health England (PHE) created this information on behalf of the NHS. In this information, the word 'we' refers to the NHS service that provides screening. This short video explains screening for eyes, heart, hips and testes in newborn babies. Newborn and infant physical examination video The newborn physical examination is recommended by the NHS.

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Travelling with your baby in the ambulance or making your own way to the neonatal unit.

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We will always try to offer one parent the opportunity to travel in the ambulance with your baby, if space allows. The team transferring your baby will offer you this opportunity when they meet you. Unfortunately it is not possible for mothers receiving maternity care to travel with their baby.

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This is the transport team who are specialised in the retrieval and repatriation of you and your baby.

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The Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transfer service (SONeT) is a collaboration between two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Oxford and Southampton. It provides emergency neonatal retrievals, planned transfers and repatriations in Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network.

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Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transport (SONeT) is a collaboration between the two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). It provides expert neonatal transport services for the Thames Valley and Wessex region.

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This leaflet explains what repatriation is and the process of getting you and your baby back to your local neonatal unit.

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Established by a neonatal parent and psychologist, Miracle Moon is a popular source of support for NICU parents.

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There is power in community and in connection, it helps you to know that you are not alone, it is never just you feeling how you do.

We run an Instagram page where we provide free, accessible information to NICU parents, this community has grown over the past few years and is incredibly compassionate and engaged. Frankie is responsible for the educational & supportive content on our social media and works alongside Georgie as a graphic designer to bring the content to our audience.

Frankie creates posts which help to understand, name, and validate some common feelings you may have around your NICU experience. We also provide psychoeducation about how you can support yourself.

Some people have shared their story and written social media posts for us and blogs, if you would like to write for us or share your story, get in touch.

We have a closed Facebook group where people are able to talk to other like minded parents, who have similar experiences.

We also run a podcast, where we have spoken about common thoughts, feelings and some parents and professionals have shared their experiences.

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There is power in community and in connection, it helps you to know that you are not alone, it is never just you feeling how you do. We run an Instagram page where we provide free, accessible information to NICU parents, this community has grown over the past few years and is incredibly compassionate and engaged.

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Postnatal depression (PND) is thought to affect as many as one in 10 men. Find out why, what the symptoms are and where to go for help.

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Colostrum is a name given to the breast milk produced in the first few days and has many amazing benefits for premature and newborn babies.

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Your breastmilk in the first week - The Breastfeeding Network

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Before your baby is born, and for the first few days afterwards, your breasts will produce colostrum. Colostrum is a highly valuable fluid. It is rich in protein, immunoglobulins, vitamins, anti-infective agents, living cells and minerals. It can be described as being low volume and high yield; there is plenty for your baby in the […]

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Babies born premature or sick often have different nutritional needs. Find out more about the different types of nutrition that your baby might be fed in neonatal care.

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We hope this reassures you that there is not one, straightforward feeding experience, and that every parent's journey is different.

On this page, we will talk about the different types of nutrition that your baby might be fed in neonatal care. Breast milk provides the best nutrition and protection for your baby, but there are also reasons why your baby may need to be fed with other types of nutrition or need more support with feeding during their stay in neonatal care and beyond.

How to know if your baby is getting enough nutrition

You can be sure that your baby is getting enough nutrition if they:

Have plenty of wet and dirty nappies (the consistency and amount will change as babies get older and depending on what they are fed)

Are growing and gaining weight

Are mostly settled and calm between feeds, if they are fed by tube, or are breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

Steady weight gain is a good way of showing that your baby is feeding and growing well. But all babies will gain weight at a different rate. This will be monitored during your baby's stay on the neonatal unit and when you get home. Always talk to a member of staff on the neonatal unit if you have any concerns.

Parenteral nutrition (PN)

Some babies born very premature or sick will not be able to have milk straight away.

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is nutrition in a liquid form that is given directly into your baby's bloodstream intravenously (through a vein). The solution has nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) where it is used as the only source of nutrition.

Colostrum and first milk

The first milk that mothers produce is called colostrum. Colostrum is often thicker and more yellow in colour than breastmilk. It contains a rich mix of proteins, including antibodies that can help protect against infections. Colostrum comes in small amounts, but this will increase the more times you express. Some research has shown that introducing colostrum as early as possible to babies born premature or sick can reduce the time it takes for them to be able to feed successfully, and can reduce the risk of infections.

Breast milk

Breast milk is the best milk for nutrition, growth and development for all infants. It has many benefits, including the following:

It boosts your baby's immune system and protects against infections, such as gut and chest infections.

It has antibodies from the mother that can protect your baby against bacteria and viruses.

It can reduce the risk of your baby developing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a serious condition that can happen in babies born premature.

It provides other nutrients, growth factors and hormones that help your baby grow and develop during the vital early months after birth.

It improves brain development.

It is very easy to digest and is absorbed more easily than formula milks.

Your baby may not be well enough or strong enough to breastfeed straight away. If this is the case, the staff at the hospital will help you to express (collect) your breast milk, as soon as possible after the baby's birth. You can do this by hand or with a breast pump. There are other reasons why parents may express milk for their baby.

After expressing your breast milk, the milk can be frozen and stored until your baby is ready to feed. Expressed milk can also be given to your baby directly into their stomach using a feeding tube, which is useful if they are too unwell to feed from a breast or bottle. Breast milk can be given by bottle once your baby has learned to suck, swallow, and breathe on their own.

Expressing breast milk can take time to learn, and the staff looking after your baby will give you positive support and practical help with this. Try not to worry if you are not expressing a lot of milk at first. Speak to your midwife or feeding specialist on the neonatal unit for more support.

Supplements and fortifiers

Babies born premature or sick may also need extra vitamins and minerals for growth, so your baby may be given supplements to breast milk. Your baby's doctor may prescribe a breast milk fortifier (which is usually a powder made from cow's milk) which can be added to breast milk. This can help with growth and bone development.

If your baby needs more milk than is available, your baby's doctor may prescribe donor breast milk or a formula (see below) for preterm babies, to be taken alongside your milk.

We have more detailed information about expressing milk and breastfeeding.

Donor milk

If you have a low supply of milk, or are unable to breastfeed, some hospitals can provide donated breast milk for your baby. Donor milk may be used for a baby who is at a high risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), because they are very premature, or at a very low birthweight. This is because there is some evidence that donor milk can reduce the risk of NEC in premature babies when compared to formula milk. This makes it a good alternative to breast milk for these babies. However, donor milk is not as effective as mother's own milk.

Speak to unit staff for more information, or if you have any concerns about receiving donor milk. They can also give you information about what to do if you have extra milk.

For more information about donor milk, visit the United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking (UKAMB) or The Human Milk Foundation website.

Formula

If you decide not to breastfeed or express your milk, your baby may be prescribed a special preterm formula designed especially for their nutritional needs.

This may be given by a feeding tube at first, but can be given by bottle once your baby has learned to suck, swallow, and breathe on their own. Your doctor will talk to you if they think your baby will benefit from a preterm formula milk. If needed, your doctor may prescribe your baby a preterm formula milk to be used at home.

Some parents may choose to feed their baby using a first infant formula. These do not contain the additional nutrients of preterm formula, but sometimes preterm formula is not needed or recommended. Formulas do not have the same benefits as breast milk for your baby, and does not provide protection from infection. Formula milk is also not as easy for your baby to digest as breast milk. However, formula may be the right choice for some families for other reasons.

If you feed your baby using formula, staff on the neonatal unit should show you how to make up feeds safely before you go home from the unit. The NHS website also has some information about this. On some units, staff may ask you to bring in your chosen formula (if not prescribed), but will supply you with sterile bottles and teats at first. In time, you may want to bring in your own bottles so your baby can start to get used to them.

We have more information about bottle feeding your baby.

Combination feeding

Some parents may feed their baby through a combination of breast milk and formula. This is often known as combination feeding. Combination feeding may be used if you are unable to produce enough milk, or are finding it difficult to breastfeed. Some parents choose to combination feed so that they can share feeds between them. Combination feeding may be something you had planned to do. But if this is not the case, don't be hard on yourself if you combination feed for other reasons. Talk to a feeding specialist, your midwife or health visitor if you have any questions or concerns about combination feeding.

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Babies born premature or sick often have different nutritional needs. Find out more about the different types of nutrition that your baby might be fed in neonatal care.

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Learning to suck, swallow and breathe when bottle feeding

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Learning to suck, swallow and breathe when bottle feeding

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Bottle feeding resources

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Be prepared: what do you need?

Whether you're bottle-feeding your baby using formula milk, expressed breastmilk, or a combination of the two, it helps to be prepared. Make sure you buy any kit you'll need like bottles and teats. There are many different types of bottles and teats for sale. It may take a while to try a couple of different ones to see what works best for you and your baby.

You can also buy additional equipment if you like. For example, some mums will express milk by hand, while others will use an electric breast pump. There is also a range of sterilisation equipment available to buy (NHS Choices 2018).

Making up infant formula

Bottles and teats need to be washed thoroughly and sterilised before each use (NHS 2016). Read about how to sterilise bottles and teats.

When making up infant formula, it is very important to ensure the water is at the correct temperature as formula powder is not sterile. Measure the correct amount of water at 70°C into the bottle, before adding the correct number of scoops of powder (directions for the volume of water and number of scoops will be found on the packaging) (NHS 2016). Different brands have different sized scoops. Care must be taken to avoid accidentally using too much or too little milk powder (UNICEF UK).

It's important to follow good hygiene practices like always washing your hands before preparing your baby's feed and following any instructions on the formula packaging. This is to help prevent your baby picking up an infection (NHS 2015).

How to spot 'early hunger cues'

Keep an eye out for any early signs your baby is getting hungry. They may start to stick their tongue out, suck on their fists or perhaps turn their head to the side. Crying is the last sign of wanting to feed, so it is better to feed your baby before they do (NHS, 2019).

If you learn how to spot these early feeding cues, you may find that your little one feeds more calmly and more easily. If your baby is already upset or crying, then try to soothe them first before offering them a milk feed. You could talk to them gently or try skin-to-skin contact which can also help to calm them (Breastmilk counts, 2019).

Bond with your baby

Feeding your baby, especially in the early days, can be a good time for closeness and bonding. So, whether it's you or your partner who would like some special time with your little one, make sure you're comfortable and create a calm environment. It's better to limit the feeding to you and your partner in the early days to build a close and loving relationship with your baby and help them feel safe and secure. Some babies respond well to background music, while others prefer it to be quiet. As they get older, most babies will enjoy looking up into your eyes (First Steps Nutrition Trust, 2018; UNICEF UK, 2016).

Responsive feeding

Responsive feeding is all about trying to respond quickly to your baby's needs, not getting distracted during feeding time and not encouraging your little one to over-eat or finish bottles of milk when they're no longer hungry (UNICEF UK, 2016).

Research into responsive feeding suggests that it can help parents from over-feeding their baby and therefore help to reduce the risk of obesity (UNICEF UK, 2016; DiSantis et al, 2011; NHS 2018).

How to hold your baby for bottle feeding

Hold your baby close to you. They should be fairly upright, with their head supported - so they can breathe and swallow comfortably. Support your baby so they're slightly raised and able to look at you. Babies shouldn't be flat on their backs or left alone with a propped-up bottle when they are being fed to avoid any risk of choking (UNICEF UK).

Try talking to your baby gently and look into their eyes to reassure them during feeds. This helps them to feel safe and loved (NHS 2015; UNICEF UK, 2019; NHS, 2012; NHS Choices, 2018).

How to feed your baby using a bottle

Rub the bottle teat against your baby's upper lip gently to encourage them to open their mouth and draw the teat in, rather than forcing it into the mouth. Tip the bottle horizontal with only a slight tilt just enough to ensure there is milk in the teat. This also prevents milk from flowing too fast. Be guided by your baby's reactions while feeding. They should be able to suck and swallow, slowly and naturally, without spluttering, and without pushing the teat out with their tongue (First Steps Nutrition Trust, 2018; NHS, 2018).

If the teat becomes flattened while feeding, pull gently on the corner of their mouth to release the vacuum (First Steps Nutrition Trust, 2018; NHS 2018, UNICEF 2018).

'Pacing' feed

Babies feed in bursts of sucking with short pauses to rest. When your baby slows their sucking and swallowing, you can help 'pace' the feed by partially moving the bottle teat out and then letting them draw it in again. This mimics the stop-start motion of breastfeeding. This can also help avoid over-feeding your baby. Interrupting the feed from time to time gives your baby a chance to register how full they are and how much more they need - helping them to control their intake (UNICEF, 2018).

If your baby gets upset at having the teat removed, tip the bottle downwards while it remains in their mouth, which will stop or slow down the flow. Holding the bottle horizontal to ground with only a slight tilt will also ensure that baby doesn't get milk while they're pausing for a rest (UNICEF 2018).

Winding your baby

Your little one may need short breaks during their feed and may need to be burped. Hold them upright and rock or rub and gently pat their back to help them bring up any wind. Continue feeding your baby when they are more comfortable.

Some babies will need more winding than others. If your baby cries excessively or you are concerned about their feeding, talk to your health visitor or GP (UNICEF UK).

When you have finished feeding your baby, remember to throw away any unused formula milk as it may become contaminated and give baby an upset tummy.

Hot or cold milk?

Some babies are happy with their milk cool (room temperature) while others like it warm. Always check the temperature of the milk from your baby's bottle on the inside of your wrist before you feed them to make sure it's not too hot. This is necessary in order to avoid scalding their mouth. It should be warm or cool, not too hot. You don't need to warm it up at all if you don't want to or your baby doesn't mind.

Precious moments

Sometimes in the early days, feeding your baby can seem overwhelming and time-consuming, especially if they feed little and often and you have to get up countless times in the night.

It can be helpful to remember that as your baby grows bigger, they will get more efficient at feeding and their milk feeds usually space out more as they grow. If you are concerned about your baby's feeding talk to your health visitor or GP (UNICEF UK).

Further information

NCT supports all parents, however they feed their baby. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our support line on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions. You can also find more useful articles here.

Our support line offers practical and emotional support in many areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of our Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

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Tips for bottle-feeding your baby | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support | NCT

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Introducing bottle-feeding to a breastfed baby can take a bit of getting used to, so don't be discouraged if it doesn't go smoothly the first few times. Here we've put together some useful bottle-feeding tips to help you through.

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Bottle feeding resources - Baby Friendly Initiative

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These resources cover a range of issues around bottle feeding, including making up feeds and responsive bottle feeding.

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Combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding (Mixed feeding)

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Combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding (Mixed feeding)

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It can take several weeks for you and your baby to feel happy and confident with breastfeeding.
Once you've both got the hang of it, it's usually possible to offer your baby bottles of expressed milk or formula alongside breastfeeding.

This is sometimes called mixed or combination feeding.

Why combine breast and bottle?

You may want to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding if you:

are breastfeeding and want to use a bottle to offer your baby some expressed breast milk

want to breastfeed for some of your baby's feeds, but give bottles of formula for 1 or more feeds

are bottle feeding your baby and want to start breastfeeding

need to leave your baby and want to make sure they have some milk while you're away

Introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk you produce. There is also a small amount of evidence to show babies may not breastfeed as well because they learn to use a different kind of sucking action at the bottle than at the breast.

Introducing formula feeds

If you're combining breastfeeding with formula feeds both you and your baby can carry on enjoying the benefits of breastfeeding.

If you choose to introduce infant formula:

it's best to do it gradually to give your body time to reduce the amount of milk it makes - this helps lower your chance of getting uncomfortable, swollen breasts, or mastitis

if you're going back to work, start a few weeks beforehand to give both of you time to readjust

if your baby is 6 months old or more and can drink milk from a cup, you may not need to introduce a bottle at all

For more information, see drinks and cups for babies.

Giving your baby their first bottle

It may take a while for a breastfed baby to get the hang of bottle feeding.

it usually helps to give the first few bottles when your baby is happy and relaxed - not when they're very hungry

it may help if someone else gives the first bottle feeds, so that your baby is not near you and smelling your breast milk

you might want to try using a different position for bottle and breastfeeding

See more advice on how to bottle feed.

Breastfeeding more and giving fewer bottles

If you want to start breastfeeding more and give your baby fewer bottles, it's a good idea to ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter for support.

These tips may help too:

Hold and cuddle your baby as much as possible, ideally skin to skin. This will encourage your body to make milk and your baby to feed.

Express your breast milk regularly. Expressing releases the hormone prolactin, which stimulates your breasts to make milk. About 8 times a day, including once at night is ideal. It may be easier to express by hand to begin with - your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter can show you how.

Try bottlefeeding while holding your baby skin to skin and close to your breasts.

If your baby is latching on, feed often. Do not worry if your baby does not feed for long to begin with. See tips on how to get your baby properly positioned and attached.

Choose times when your baby is relaxed, alert and not too hungry, and do not force your baby to stay at the breast.

Decrease the number of bottles gradually, as your milk supply increases.

Consider using a lactation aid (supplementer). A tiny tube is taped next to your nipple and passes into your baby's mouth so your baby can get milk via the tube as well as from your breast. This helps to support your baby as they get used to attaching to the breast. Your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter can give you more information.

See more tips on boosting your milk supply.

Help and support with mixed feeding

If you have any questions or concerns about combining breast and bottle feeding:

talk to your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter

call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 (9.30am to 9.30pm, every day)

find breastfeeding support near you

Video: why combine breast and bottle feeding?

In this video, 3 mothers discuss ways to combine breast and bottle feeding.

Community content from HealthUnlocked

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How to combine breast and bottle feeding

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Find tips on combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding (mixed feeding), including how to introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby.

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Expressing milk means squeezing milk out of your breast so you can store it and feed it to your baby later.

You might want to express milk if:

How to express breast milk

You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump. How often you express your milk, and how much you express, will depend on why you're doing it.

Sometimes it takes a little while for your milk to start flowing. Try to choose a time when you feel relaxed. Having your baby (or a photo of them) nearby may help your milk to flow.

You may find it easier to express if you cover your breasts with a warm towel first, or after you have a shower or bath.

Expressing breast milk by hand

Some find it easier to express milk by hand, especially in the first few days or weeks. It also means you can express without needing a pump, or an electricity supply.

Hand expressing allows you to encourage milk to flow from a particular part of the breast. This may be useful, for example, if one of the milk ducts in your breast becomes blocked.

Hold a sterilised feeding bottle or container below your breast to catch the milk as it flows.

These tips may help:

Before you start, wash your hands with soap and warm water.

Have something clean ready to collect the milk in.

Some find gently massaging their breasts before expressing helps their milk to let down.

Cup your breast with one hand then, with your other hand, form a "C" shape with your forefinger and thumb.

Squeeze gently, keeping your finger and thumb a few centimetres away from your nipple, just outside the darker area around it (areola). Do not squeeze the nipple itself as you could make it sore. This should not hurt.

Release the pressure, then repeat, building up a rhythm. Try not to slide your fingers over the skin.

Drops should start to appear, and then your milk usually starts to flow.

If no drops appear, try moving your finger and thumb slightly, but still avoid squeezing the darker area near your nipple.

When the flow slows down, move your fingers round to a different section of your breast, and repeat.

When the flow from one breast has slowed, swap to the other breast. Keep changing breasts until your milk drips very slowly or stops altogether.

Watch a video about expressing milk by hand on the UNICEF website

Expressing milk with a breast pump

There are 2 different types of breast pump: manual (hand-operated) and electric.

Manual pumps are cheaper but may not be as quick as an electric pump.

You may be able to hire an electric pump. Your midwife, health visitor or a local breastfeeding supporter can give you details of pump hire services near you.

The suction strength can be altered on some electric pumps. Build up slowly. Setting the strength to high straight away may be painful or damage your nipple.

You may also be able to get different funnel (the part that goes over your nipple) sizes to fit your nipples. The pump should never cause bruising or catch your nipple as it's sucked into the funnel.

Always make sure that the pump and container are clean and sterilised before you use them.

Find out how to sterilise baby bottles

Storing breast milk

You can store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags:

in the fridge for up to 8 days at 4C or lower (you can buy fridge thermometers online) - if you're not sure of the temperature of your fridge, or it is higher than 4C, use it within 3 days

for 2 weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge

for up to 6 months in a freezer, if it's -18C or lower

Breast milk that's been cooled in the fridge can be carried in a cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours.

Storing breast milk in small quantities will help avoid waste. If you're freezing it, make sure you label and date it first.

Defrosting frozen breast milk

It's best to defrost frozen breast milk slowly in the fridge before giving it to your baby. If you need to use it straight away, you can defrost it by putting it in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water.

Once it's defrosted, give it a gentle shake if it has separated. Use it straight away. Do not re-freeze milk that's been defrosted.

Once your baby has drunk from a bottle of breast milk it should be used within 1 hour and anything left over should be thrown away.

Warming breast milk

You can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by putting the bottle in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water.

Do not use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk. This can cause hot spots, which can burn your baby's mouth.

Storing breast milk if your baby is in hospital

If you're expressing breast milk because your baby is premature or sick, ask the hospital staff caring for your baby for advice on how to store it.

Read more about breastfeeding a premature or sick baby

If you're having difficulty expressing breast milk

If you're finding it difficult or uncomfortable to express your breast milk:

Ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter for help. They can also tell you about other breastfeeding support available near you.

Search online for breastfeeding support in your area.

Call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 (9.30am to 9.30pm daily).

The Bliss website also has advice about expressing milk for a premature or sick baby

Community content from HealthUnlocked

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Everything you need to know about expressing and storing your breast milk, including tips on hand expressing and electric breast pumps, and how to freeze, defrost and warm breast milk.

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Information on how to express breast milk

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Expressing your milk by hand is a useful skill to have. It may take a bit of time and practice, but once you've mastered it, you'll find it's very helpful.

And the great thing is you only need your hands and a container - rather than a shop-bought breast pump.

Hand expression can be useful in various situations, for example if your baby isn't feeding or latching on well, if you want to stimulate your milk production, or if your breasts become engorged (this is a good way to relieve them).

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Expressing breast milk by hand - Start for Life

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Watch our video and read our step-by-step guide to expressing breast milk by hand.

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Family Integrated Care In the NICU, infants are physically separated from their parents and this often has an impact on the physical, psychological, emotional health of both the parents and the infants. Family Centered Care is an approach to planning and delivery of health care that encourages greater parent involvement in their infants care.

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This link covers medical conditions found on the neonatal unit, some babies may never have any of these so we advise only reading about them if your baby has had a diagnosis, these conditions include:

Respiratory conditions

Meningitis

Jaundice

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)

Sepsis

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)

Reflux

Brain haemorrhage

Brain haemorrhage in full term babies

Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)

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Find out more about different medical conditions and types of infection.

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Resources that provide information about the neonatal unit, daily routines, staff and more more.

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Information for your first few days in the neonatal unit. Read about what to expect, finding your feet, and how to get more support.

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It's natural to focus on your baby's birth while you're pregnant. But it's a good idea to also know what to expect after labour.
Skin-to-skin contact really helps with bonding. It's a good idea to have your baby lifted onto you as soon as they're born and before the cord is cut so you can be close to each other straight away.

Either before, or just after the cord is clamped, your baby will be dried and then covered with a towel to stop them getting cold. You can continue to hold and cuddle your baby while this is done.

Your baby may have some of your blood on their skin and perhaps vernix, the greasy white substance that protects your baby's skin in the womb.

If you prefer, you can ask the midwife to dry your baby and wrap them in a blanket before your cuddle.

Mucus may need to be cleared out of your baby's nose and mouth.

Some babies need a bit of help to get their breathing established.

Your baby may be taken to another part of the room to have some oxygen. They'll be brought back to you as soon as possible.

Your baby will be examined by a midwife, neonatal nurse or paediatrician, then weighed and possibly measured, and given a wrist or ankle band with your name on.

Your midwife or maternity support worker will help you wash and freshen up before you go to the postnatal ward.

Vitamin K for newborn babies

You'll be offered an injection of vitamin K for your baby. This helps prevent a rare bleeding disorder called haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Your midwife should have discussed the injection with you while you were pregnant.

If you'd prefer for your baby not to have an injection, they can have vitamin K by mouth instead, but they'll need further doses.

Stitches for tears or cuts

Small tears and grazes are often left without stitches because they can usually heal without treatment.

If you need stitches or other treatments, you should be able to carry on cuddling your baby while this is being done.

If you have had a large tear or an episiotomy, you'll need stitches.

If you have already had an epidural, it can be topped up. If you haven't, you should be offered a local anaesthetic to numb the area.

Preventing bleeding after the birth

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a complication where you bleed heavily from the vagina after your baby's birth.

There are 2 types of PPH, depending on when the bleeding takes place:

primary or immediate - bleeding that happens within 24 hours of birth

secondary or delayed - bleeding that happens after the first 24 hours and up to 12 weeks after the birth

Sometimes PPH happens because your womb doesn't contract strongly enough after the birth.

It can also happen because part of the placenta has been left in your womb or you get an infection in the lining of the womb (endometritis).

To help prevent PPH, you'll be offered an injection of oxytocin as your baby is being born. This stimulates contractions and helps to push the placenta out.

Now read about you and your body after the birth.

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What to expect after your baby is born, including information on skin-to-skin contact, bonding, stitches and vitamin K injections.

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NHS information about ill or premature babies

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NHS information about ill or premature babies

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Neonatal care in hospital

Special care for babies is sometimes provided on the ordinary postnatal ward and sometimes in a specialist newborn (neonatal) area.

Having a baby in neonatal care can be worrying, but the staff looking after your baby should make sure you receive all the information, communication and support you need.

Not all hospitals provide specialist neonatal services, so your baby may be transferred to another hospital if they need special care.

Why babies need special care

Your baby could be admitted to neonatal care for a number of reasons, including when they:

are born early (premature)

are very small and have a low birthweight

have an infection

have jaundice

had a very difficult birth

are waiting for, or recovering from, complex surgery

Touching and holding your baby

The special care baby unit may seem strange and confusing at first, especially if your baby is in an incubator or on a breathing machine. There may also be tubes and wires attached to their face and body.

Ask the nurse to explain what everything is for and show you how you can be involved in your baby's care. You may be able to change your baby's nappy, wash them and change their clothing.

Once your baby's stable, you'll be able to hold them. The nurses will be able to help you take your baby out of the incubator and show you how to have skin-to-skin contact.

Your baby will benefit greatly from physical contact with you. You can talk to your baby as well - this can help both of you.

You should wash your hands carefully and dry them thoroughly before touching your baby.

Feeding

To begin with, your baby may be too small or too sick to feed themselves. You can express some of your breast milk, which can be given to your baby through a tube.

A fine tube is passed through their nose or mouth into the stomach. This will not hurt them.

Talk to a midwife at the hospital about how you can express breast milk for your baby. The hospital may have breast pumps you can use.

Your milk has particular benefits, especially if your baby is sick or premature, as it's enriched with proteins (such as antibodies), fats and minerals.

If your baby is not able to have your milk to begin with, the milk can be frozen and given to them when they're ready.

When you go home, you can express milk for the nurses to give while you're away. There's no need to worry about how much milk you produce - every bit helps your baby.

Incubators

Babies who are very small are nursed in incubators rather than cots to keep them warm. You can still have a lot of contact with your baby.

Some incubators have open tops, but if your baby's incubator does not, you can put your hands through the holes in the side of the incubator to stroke and touch them.

Newborn babies with jaundice

Jaundice in newborn babies is common because their livers are not fully developed. Jaundice will make their skin and the whites of their eyes look a bit yellow.

Babies with severe jaundice may be treated with light therapy (phototherapy). The baby is undressed and put under a very bright light, usually with soft eye pads or a special box over their head to protect their eyes.

The special light helps break down the chemical that causes jaundice. It may be possible for your baby to have phototherapy by your bed in the postnatal ward so you do not have to be separated.

Light treatment may continue for several days, with breaks for feeds, before the jaundice clears up. Sometimes, if the jaundice gets worse, your baby may need a blood transfusion. This is not common.

Some babies have jaundice because of liver disease and need different treatment. A blood test that checks for liver disease is done before phototherapy is started.

Find out more about how newborn jaundice is treated.

Babies with jaundice after 2 weeks

Many babies are jaundiced for up to 2 weeks after they're born, or 3 weeks in premature babies.

It's more common in breastfed babies and does no harm. It is not a reason to stop breastfeeding.

It's important to see your doctor within a day or 2 if your baby is still jaundiced after 2 weeks, especially if their poo is chalky white. This can indicate a liver problem.

A blood test will distinguish between jaundice that'll go away by itself, or jaundice that may need urgent treatment.

Babies with disabilities

If your baby is disabled, talk to people about how you feel, as well as about your baby's health and future.

Your GP, a doctor for newborn babies (neonatologist), a children's doctor (paediatrician) or your health visitor can all help you.

You can also contact the hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or your social services department (through your local authority on GOV.UK) for information about local organisations that may be able to help.

The organisations listed here can offer help and advice:

Talking to other parents with similar experiences can often help.

Worries and explanations

Hospital staff should explain what kind of treatment your baby is being given and why. If they do not tell you, ask them.

It's important that you understand what's happening so you can work together to make sure your baby gets the best possible care.

Some treatments need your consent to go ahead, and the doctors will discuss this with you.

It's natural to feel anxious if your baby needs special care. Talk over any fears or worries with the hospital staff. Hospitals often have their own counselling or support services, and a number of charities run support and advice services.

The consultant neonatologist or paediatrician should arrange to see you, but you can also ask for an appointment at any time if you wish.

The hospital social worker may be able to help with practical issues, such as travel costs or help with looking after children.

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Find out about the special care given to babies born early (prematurely) or those who are sick, jaundiced or born with a disability.

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Find out more about the baby unit and how your premature baby may be cared for in hospital. Your healthcare team can support you during this time.

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What if my baby is born early or poorly?

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What if my baby is born early or poorly?

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This information is available in verified by experts in our Editorial Board including representatives from Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Royal College of Psychiatrists as well as other key health organisations in the UK. To download Baby Buddy, visit the relevant app store of your choice:

Introduction

The first video from the Small Wonders DVD explains the different levels of care your baby might need, and who might give it. We meet some of the families and hospital staff, and guide you as to how to use this DVD to get support, wherever you are on your journey.

In the second video from the Small Wonders DVD, we meet three families, two who had time to prepare for life in a neonatal unit and one who had very little warning. We see three births, one of which is the birth of triplets, and we follow the babies being prepared for transfer to the neonatal unit.

First hours

The third video from the Small Wonders DVD provides a look into the first hours and days in the neonatal unit and shows you how you, as a parent, can play a very important role in your baby's care.

Expressing breast milk

The fourth video from the Small Wonders DVD shows how mothers can express breast milk for their baby within a few hours of giving birth (if at all possible mothers should express milk within the first 6 hours after giving birth). Starting to express breast milk early and expressing milk often will help your body produce plenty of milk for the weeks and months to come.

Holding your baby

The fifth video from the Small Wonders DVD shows how skin-to-skin contact (also known as 'kangaroo care') can help both you and your baby. You will see families move from being nervous to being able to hold their babies with confidence.

Your time in hospital

The sixth video from the Small Wonders DVD follows families as they begin to feel more confident in caring for their babies on the neonatal unit. You will also see how some of our families cope with their baby's condition getting worse.

Feeding independently

The seventh video from the Small Wonders DVD follows four families as they learn to help their babies feed independently of tubes. Although some babies may go home being fed by tube, most will be feeding independently before they are discharged from hospital, whether they are breastfeeding or formula-feeding.

Preparing for home

The eighth video from the Small Wonders DVD covers what to expect when your baby is ready to leave hospital. We follow five families as they prepare to go home.

First months at home

The ninth video from the Small Wonders DVD follows nine families enjoying the early weeks and months at home with their pre-term baby. They all have different experiences and challenges.

Twins and triplets

The tenth video from the Small Wonders DVD follows four families who had twins or triplets and discovers some some of the joys and challenges that come with having more than one baby.

Bereavement

This video from the Small Wonders DVD is only for families who have to deal with bereavement. We have included it because parents asked us to. Only watch this video if you feel it will be helpful to you and please be aware that everyone's experience of bereavement is different and may not reflect your own. This film follows the journeys of families who lost babies during filming and chose to carry on sharing their experiences to help others.

The twelfth and final video from the Small Wonders DVD shows the families whose journeys we have been following in films 1 to 10 looking back on their experiences and sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Latest

The Impact Lead will focus on developing Best Beginnings' frameworks for monitoring and evaluating our national and international work ensuring that learning continues to be captured in ways that can be shared and used for effective advocacy and influencing. The successful candidate will also play a pivotal role influencing policy and its implementation within the maternity, early years, digital health and public health context.

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The Small Wonders videos have been designed to help you on your journey with your sick or premature baby.

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Thames Valley and Wessex ODN

The Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) neonatal ODN covers an area where there are approximately 60,000 births each year. Across TVW there are 13 acute trusts and 14 hospitals delivering neonatal care.

The ODN area is not coterminous with commissioning areas, Local Maternity Neonatal Systems (LMNS) or even Trusts, as neonatal pathways cross boundaries.

Milton Keynes General Hospital sits within the East of England commissioning footprint however the neonatal clinical pathway for tertiary level care is Oxford that sits within the TVW ODN.

Salisbury, Dorchester and Poole sit in the south west commissioning hub, but have tertiary care and neonatal surgical pathways that flow into Southampton so sit within TVW ODN.

Wexham Park and St Richards, Chichester sit in TVW ODN but other neonatal units within their Trusts (Frimley Park and Worthing) have neonatal tertiary care pathways that sit in KSS neonatal ODN.

Neonatal surgical pathways are within the ODN with a neonatal surgical centre at Oxford and neonatal surgical and cardiac surgical centre at Southampton. TVW ODN is also the provider of choice for babies from the Channel Islands for a small number of babies who often have extended periods of neonatal care prior to repatriation due to geographical and local island care restraints.

TVW neonatal transport is provided by the Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transport service (SONeT), a dedicated team of specialist neonatal nurses and doctors. You can find out more about the service on the SONeT website.

Kent Surrey and Sussex ODN

The Kent Surrey and Sussex ODN supported by NHS England (NHSE) is hosted by Medway NHS Foundation Trust. There are 13 neonatal units in the network working collaboratively to provide care for our babies and their families.

The ODN area is not coterminous with commissioning areas, Local Maternity Neonatal systems (LMNS) or even Trusts as neonatal pathways cross boundaries.

Frimley Health Foundation Trust has 2 local neonatal units, Frimley Park which sits in KSS network and Wexham Park which sits in TVW network. They have different tertiary centre pathways within their own ODN.

University Hospitals Sussex has 1 NICU and 3 SCU all of which sit in KSS apart from St Richards Hospital in Chichester which sits in the TVW network and has tertiary pathways within TVW.

Neonatal surgery is provided within the ODN at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and also externally at St George's Hospital, Evelina Hospital, King's College Hospital and Southampton University Hospital.

KSS neonatal transport is provided by a dedicated team of specialist neonatal nurses and doctors. You can find out more about the service on our Transport Service webpage.

Structure and Governance

Each network has a formal governance and accountability structure. The networks regularly report to NHS England to monitor service and clinical quality against national standards, and the progress of agreed national, regional and local programmes of work.

We are committed to working in partnership with parents, families and staff to deliver, develop and improve neonatal services across the region. The parent voice is embedded within our networks with the inclusion of a Parent & Family Engagement Lead within each network team. The network Parent Advisory Groups are also pivotal in providing service user insight into projects, workstreams and guidance.

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Who we are - Neonatal Network South East

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The Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) neonatal ODN covers an area where there are approximately 60,000 births each year. Across TVW there are 13 acute trusts and 14 hospitals delivering neonatal care. The ODN area is not coterminous with commissioning areas, Local Maternity Neonatal Systems (LMNS) or even Trusts, as neonatal pathways cross boundaries.

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Special care baby unit (SCBU, SCU or low dependency) - Level 1

This is for babies who do not need intensive care. Often, this will be for babies born after 32 weeks' gestation.

Care can include:

Monitoring their breathing or heart rate

Giving them more oxygen

Treating low body temperature

Treating low blood sugar

Helping them feed, sometimes by using a tube

Helping babies who become unwell soon after birth

Sometimes, a baby might be admitted to a special care baby unit for phototherapy to treat jaundice. But sometimes, this condition is treated in transitional or postnatal care (see above).

Local neonatal unit (LNU) - Level 2

This is for babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support. If your baby was, or will be, born between 27 and 31 weeks' gestation, you may be transferred to an LNU.

Care on an LNU might include:

Short-term intensive care (usually up to 48 hours)

Short-term ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure (called CPAP) or high flow therapy, for breathing support

Care during periods where their breathing pauses briefly, called 'apnoea' (pronounced ap-knee-ya)

Feeding through a drip in their vein (called parenteral nutrition)

Cooling treatment for babies who have had difficult births or are unwell soon after birth (before being transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit - see below)

Helping babies who become unwell soon after birth

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) - Level 3

This is for babies with the highest need for support lasting more than 48 hours. Often these babies will have been born before 28 weeks' gestation, or be very unwell after birth.

You might have been transferred to a different hospital which has a neonatal intensive care unit before your baby was born. This is usually because the staff feel your baby would benefit from this level of care, but that it is safer to transfer your baby before they are born.

Some of the reasons babies are cared for here are when they:

Need help with their breathing (called ventilation)

Need help with their heartbeat and blood pressure

Have a moderate to severe condition affecting their breathing (called respiratory distress)

Need longer-term feeding support through an intravenous (intra-venus) tube or general nutritional support

Need or have just had surgery - including cooling treatment for brain injuries

At a neonatal intensive care unit, all levels of care may also be given to babies from the local area.

Our friends at the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and Rosie Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership have made a video about NICU, especially aimed at big brothers and sisters that helps to explain what NICU is.

I'm confused by the different levels of neonatal care

It can be confusing to understand your baby's level of care.

Sometimes babies might be treated in different types of units because their condition has changed. It might not be clear straight away what type of care your baby is getting.

For example, your baby could be in a neonatal intensive care unit, but getting special care. You can always ask the staff if you want more information about the level of care your baby is getting.

You might hear staff on the unit call the different levels of care by different names than we've used here. Have a look through our neonatal words for some other ways people talk about levels of care.

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It can be confusing to understand your baby's level of care. Here, we talk about the different levels of care neonatal units provide.

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Rainbow Trust Children's Charity supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Why?

There are an estimated 86,625* children in England with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. This number has trebled over the last 17 years and is rising. Thousands of families have to face the very real possibility that their child may die and struggle to cope on a day to day basis. Our Family Support Workers provide a lifeline to these families and children.

How?

When a child has a serious illness, family life is turned upside down and time becomes more precious than ever. Rainbow Trust pairs each family with an expert Family Support Worker who enables them to make the most of time together, giving them practical and emotional support, whenever they need it, for as long as is needed.

We support the whole family including parents, carers, the unwell child, brothers, sisters and grandparents. Support is hugely varied and depends on the needs of the family. It can include:

listening to a family's fears and anxieties

helping to explain illnesses, diagnoses and treatments

keeping a seriously ill child company during hospital stays

driving families to medical appointments to help save time and money

organising fun activities to help sick children, their brothers and sisters

support through bereavement and grief.

Watch our video to learn more:

listening to a family's fears and anxieties

helping to explain illnesses, diagnoses and treatments

keeping a seriously ill child company during hospital stays

driving families to medical appointments to help save time and money

organising fun activities to help sick children, their brothers and sisters

support through bereavement and grief.

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Rainbow Trust Children's Charity supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness. There are an estimated 86,625* children in England with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. This number has trebled over the last 17 years and is rising.

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Book shop

Bookstore@Wexham can be found in a corner of main reception and offers a range of second-hand books to patients, visitors and staff. Donations are always welcome.

Cash machine

Cash machines are located in the hospital’s main entrance foyer, the Courtyard Restaurant and Day Surgery entrance foyer.

Infopoint telephones

Infopoint phones are located in the main entrance, maternity corridor, next to the Crossroads Café, and in the day surgery reception. They are free to use and available to call taxis, Traveline, chaplaincy service, NHS111, the Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS), and the Bereavement Advice Line.

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There are many places you can buy food a drinks at Wexham Park Hospital.

Courtyard Restaurant

Located a short walk from the hospital’s main reception on the ground floor, the Courtyard Restaurant offers a range of hot and cold food, snacks, sandwiches, drinks and beverages.

Open Monday to Sunday 7.15am to 7.45pm

Cafés

Wexham Park is home to two cafes:
Café Glade (Monday to Friday 9am-6pm) just beyond the reception area
Crossroads Café (Monday to Friday 6.30am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-5pm) at the intersection of the blue and pink zones.

RVS shop

Located in the hospital’s main entrance, this well stocked shop sells newspapers, magazines, soft drinks, gifts, basic toiletries and confectionery.

Monday to Friday: 7.30am to 6pm
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Vending machines offering a variety of drinks and snacks are accessible 24 hours a day.

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Pinetrees Restaurant

Based on the first floor, Pinetrees offers a full range of hot and cold meals, sandwiches, snacks, fresh fruit and beverages to eat in or take away. Pinetrees restaurant and coffee shop is open seven days a week.

Breakfast: 7.30am to 11am (10am on the weekend)
Lunch: 12 noon to 2pm
Dinner: 6pm to 8pm

The coffee shop is open from 7.30am to 8pm

Café Glade

Located on the ground floor just past the hospital's main entrance reception, Café Glade is open seven days a week offering a selection of hot and cold snacks and beverages.

Monday to Friday: 7.30am to 9pm
Saturday and Sunday - 9.30am to 7pm

Baguette shop

The baguette shop can be found on the ground floor opposite the main entrance reception. It offers a variety of freshly prepared baguettes, baps, rolls and sandwiches as well as drinks, crisps and fruit from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm.

RVS shop

Located on the right as you arrive through the hospital's main entrance, this well stocked shop sels a variety of items including newspapers and magazines, cards, stamps, toiletries, confectionery, bottled and canned drinks, groceries and snacks and gifts.

10% of profits from the shop help to support local emergency services. Remaining profits are donated to the Frimley Health Charity which raises funds to provide state of the art equipment and facilities not provided by the NHS

Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 7pm
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Second hand book shop

Run by volunteers, this is located next to the RVS shop in the hospital's main reception foyer. Donations of books for adults and children are gratefully received and all money raised is used to buy medical equipment for the hospital.

Cash machine

Located on the ground floor just beyond Café Glade at the base of the stairs leading to the first floor.

Taxi phone

This is located in the main entrance near the reception desk and is free to use.

Café Glade

Café Glade is in the hospital's main reception area offering a range of snacks, newspapers, confectionery and drinks five days a week 7.30am-5.30pm. It is closed at weekends.

A cash machine is located outside the front of the hospital

An Infopoint telephone is located in the main entrance. It is free to use and available to call taxis, Traveline, the chaplaincy service, NHS111, the Frimley Health Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS) and the Bereavement Advice Line.

Courtyard Restaurant

Located a short walk from the hospital's main reception on the ground floor, the Courtyard Restaurant offers a range of hot and cold food, snacks, sandwiches, drinks and beverages.

Open Monday to Sunday 7.15am to 7.45pm

Cafés

Wexham Park is home to two cafes:
Café Glade (Monday to Friday 9am-6pm) just beyond the reception area
Crossroads Café (Monday to Friday 6.30am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-5pm) at the intersection of the blue and pink zones.

RVS shop

Located in the hospital's main entrance, this well stocked shop sells newspapers, magazines, soft drinks, gifts, basic toiletries and confectionery.

Monday to Friday: 7.30am to 6pm
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm

Book shop

Bookstore@Wexham can be found in a corner of main reception and offers a range of second-hand books to patients, visitors and staff. Donations are always welcome.

Cash machine

Cash machines are located in the hospital's main entrance foyer, the Courtyard Restaurant and Day Surgery entrance foyer.

Infopoint telephones

Infopoint phones are located in the main entrance, maternity corridor, next to the Crossroads Café, and in the day surgery reception. They are free to use and available to call taxis, Traveline, chaplaincy service, NHS111, the Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS), and the Bereavement Advice Line.

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Eat, drink, shop | NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust

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Based on the first floor, Pinetrees offers a full range of hot and cold meals, sandwiches, snacks, fresh fruit and beverages to eat in or take away. Pinetrees restaurant and coffee shop is open seven days a week.

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The nearest railway station is Slough, which is part of the National Rail network operated by GWR.

Trains to/from the station provide frequent and efficient services between many destinations, including London Paddington, Windsor and Eton Central, Maidenhead, Reading, and Oxford.

Options for travelling to the hospital from the train station are:

By bus, on the WP1, 6/6a or 335 from Slough bus station

Taxi rank adjacent to the station entrance on Brunel Way.

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Wexham Park Hospital is about two miles north of Slough town centre on the corner of Wexham Street and Church Lane / Wexham Park Lane.

Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham, Slough, SL2 4HL

You can get to the hospital

Via the M4 - closest junction 5

Via the M25 - closest junctions 15 and 16

Via the M40 - closest junction 2

For sat nav use post code SL2 4HL

Local taxi company - A4 Cars 01753 672 672

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The hospital is serviced by two local bus operators, First Berkshire and Thames Valley Network and Redline. Both pick up and set down passengers at a dedicated bus stop in the hospital directly adjacent to the main entrance.

Bus services that stop at the hospital travel to/from a number of destinations in the local area, including Slough, Maidenhead, Bracknell and the Chalfonts.

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Timetable for WP1 - Slough - Wexham Park Hospital

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PALS - patient advice and liaison service

We understand that you might feel awkward talking about your concerns with people who are involved in your care, so if you prefer, you can speak confidentially to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). The team can offer you support and advice during your stay if you have problems that are difficult to resolve. You can also contact PALS after you have left hospital.

Our PALS offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can speak to someone face-to-face, or telephone or email them.

Wexham Park Hospital –
0300 615 3365
fhft.palswexhampark@nhs.net

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The chapel at Wexham Park is always open for staff, patients, relatives and friends to use (except during the Christian Service and Muslim Prayer). People of different faiths use the chapel as a place of prayer and devotion (with appropriate resources available); it is also used by people who do not profess any religious faith as a place of quiet and reflection. There are separate weekly service for Christians and Muslims.

At Wexham Park, the chapel is on the main corridor just behind the hospital’s main entrance reception

Tuesday: Christian service in Wexham Park chapel, 1-1:30pm
Thursday: Catholic communion in Wexham Park chapel, 1-1:30pm
Friday: Muslim Jum'uah prayer in Wexham Park chapel, 1-1:30pm

fhft.chaplaincy@nhs.net

Wexham Park Hospital - 0300 615 3660

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Frimley Health and Care - Neonatal services at Frimley and Wexham Park

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Frimley Health and Care - Neonatal services at Frimley and Wexham Park

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https://www.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/maternity/caring-for-baby-and-yourself/neonatal-services-at-frimley-and-wexham-park/

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Details of our unit charity Little Stars to be added soon 🙂

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Home | NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust

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This site uses cookies to enhance your experience. By scrolling or continuing to use this site without changing your browser settings, you are consenting to our Cookie and Privacy Policy.

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What do if your baby is choking - St John's Ambulance

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What do if your baby is choking - St John's Ambulance

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What to do if Your Baby is Choking - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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How to Give Baby CPR - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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We are here to support you with your baby's feeding journey whether that be breast feeding, bottle feeding, expressing breastmilk or via a NGT (Nasal Gastric Tube)

The staff can support with expressing breastmilk for your baby. We have a breast pump available for every cot space and can borrow a pump free of charge for your use at home while your baby is admitted.

Breastfeeding support is available on the unit and we have a Lactation consultant on our maternity ward who will visit any family needing extra guidance.

We can help with safe, responsive bottle feeding and how to prepare infant formula milk.

If your baby is feeding via an NGT (Nasal gastric Tube) we can support you to feed your baby via the NGT when you feel ready.

We have SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) staff on the unit regularly who can also support with any feeding concerns.

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Our unit has 4 parent bedrooms for use while your baby is admitted. These are prioritised for families preparing to go home or for parents of a very sick baby, however, if they are available they can be used by any family who wishes to establish feeding, have a rest or just be close by. Speak to the nurse in charge or the nurse allocated to your baby to enquire about availability.

We do provide reclining chairs at each cot space and may be able to arrange a camp bed for your use if you wish to stay.

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Offers lots of support and advice for the whole family and online counselling support.

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We offer confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child.

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Support with baby loss in a multiple pregnancy.

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The Butterfly Project | Co-twin loss; Healthcare education; Neonatal Research

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Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Bereavement support is at the core of everything we do.

Sands is here to help you choose the right support for you. Some of the services that we offer include a Helpline for parents, families, carers and health professionals; a UK-wide network of support groups with trained befrienders; an online Facebook support group; a Sands online message board enabling bereaved families to connect with others and a wide range of leaflets, books and other resources available online and in print.

Although we don't offer counselling, our Helpline can help you find what is available in your area and help you request a referral from your GP.

Our free to call Helpline

The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. Whether your baby died long ago or recently, we are here for you.

The telephone helpline is free to call from landlines and mobiles on 0808 164 3332.
Helpline calls are answered by trained bereavement support staff. If counselling is needed we recommend you seek support via your GP who can help you with a referral to your local team.
Language interpreters can be accessed via Language Line. If you are ringing to request support for for a non-English speaker please ring our Helpline and our staff will be happy to help.

The helpline team can also be contacted at helpline@sands.org.uk
Find out about more about our Helpline here
In 2017-18

The Sands Bereavement Support app

The Sands Bereavement Support app was created for anyone who has experienced the death of a baby.

It aims to help bereaved parents and families to find the right information and support at the right time. The app can also be used by healthcare professionals, who would like to know how best to support bereaved parents and their families.
Find out more about the App and how you can download here
Our Sands Groups

Many parents feel that only others who have experienced the death of a baby can offer real understanding. Our countrywide network of over 104 local support Groups, usually run by bereaved parents and family members, offer you the chance to meet others, gain support and share your experience.

Most Sands Groups offer either regular support meetings, telephone support or email support.

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Support for you | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Bereavement support is at the core of everything we do.