✨Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill✨

This bill was introduced to the government by Stuart C McDonald MP and backed by government.

If made into law, it means that neonatal care leave will be available to employees from their first day in a new job and will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into hospital up to the age of 28 days, and who have a continuous stay in hospital of 7 full days or more.

This is amazing news for the families who know the struggles of trying to juggle the care of their new baby while they are still in hospital.

The needs to the new mother and her new baby(or babies) are hard to meet at the best of times. Let alone when they are separated from each other.

Often families are visiting multiple times a day and trying to juggle work and potentially looking after an unwell mother or other children in the house it very challenging.

Having skin to skin and being with your baby while they receive medical care is so important for the baby’s recovery and transition into coming home.

As I work with families for up to 6 week after the birth I know the impact of a good parental bond on the physical well-being of the newborn and by extension the whole family.

With maternal mental health at such a high risk following a difficult birth and separation from her baby, getting solid support from the family and community is vital.

It is amazing news that the government is recognising this and parents are getting the financial support they deserve.

Read the government post here

#neonatalcare #neonatalcarebill #independentmidwife #postnatalcare #itv #itvnewstynetees