Plunket’s services are available to families nationwide through over 550 branches, mobile clinics and a free phone service PlunketLine, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Ph: 0800 933922).

 

Arranging the first visit
A Plunket Nurse will contact you to arrange the first visit once your midwife notifies Plunket of your baby’s birth. This usually happens when the baby is aged 2 – 6 weeks old, with the visit planned for a time to suit you. If you want to arrange the visit yourself Plunket clinics are listed in the white pages or you can register with Plunket through our website www.plunket.org.nz

For the first visit a Plunket nurse will offer to visit you at your home. Most new parents have home visits for the first and often the second visit. Most Plunket nurses are available weekdays between 8:30 – 4:30pm. In some areas Saturday or evening clinics are available.

 

What to expect from your first visit:
Your Plunket nurse is committed to the health and wellbeing of your family, and will be interested in your thoughts and concerns. The first visit is a great opportunity for us to build an ongoing relationship with you, share information and to plan future Plunket visits. Your Plunket nurse will arrange the next visit before they leave and give you their contact details.

 

Getting to know you
On the first visit we want to get to know you and your family better. The range of questions related to you, your baby and your immediate family your Plunket nurse will ask include:

•             your family health

•             information about your pregnancy, labour and delivery

•             previous maternity history

•             your parenting experience and expectations

•             history of smoking, alcohol, violence

•             the support you and your family access

 

Getting to know your baby
We also use the first visit as an opportunity to give your baby a full physical assessment which includes weight and head circumference measurements. Your baby will need to be undressed for this so it might help if you have planned the visit around a wake or feeding time.

Your Plunket nurse will explain the activities they undertake and will answer any questions you may have. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss your baby’s growth and development, feeding and behaviour, and to share your experience of birth and early parenting with a caring professional.

 

Keeping a record of your information
We keep records about your baby and its main caregiver on an information database. This database is similar to the type of record held by your family doctor, and includes:

•             Your name and your baby’s name

•             National Health Index (NHI) number

•             date of birth

•             gender

•             ethnicity

•             contact details

•             a record of each Plunket visit

 

It’s important that we keep a record of each Plunket visit so that we know about you and your circumstances to help us to provide the best information and support that we can. We keep records of all visits on our Plunket Health Record. We are committed to ensuring your privacy at all times so anything we record is kept confidential, unless the safety or well being of a child is at risk.

 

On the first visit your Plunket nurse will explain this to you in more detail and ask for your consent to collect and store your health information securely.

 

Helpful information

•             The Well Child /Tamariki Ora book you received when baby was born is your record of the growth and development of your baby and will be used to record your baby’s progress and the topics you discuss at each Plunket visit.

 

•             The Plunket Nurse can offer you a range of information about a number of health issues including sleep, feeding, sleep position, safety, immunisation and parenting.

This information is also available in Plunket’s Thriving Under 5 book which the Plunket Nurse will give you at the first visit.

 

•             The Plunket Nurse can also provide information about local community services and activities and can help connect you with other young families in your area. They can also introduce you to the services offered by Plunket volunteers in your area and you can choose the services you wish to use.

 

•           The Plunket Nurse will also advise you about Plunket services available in your area, and may arrange your first contact with the Community Karitane or Plunket Kaiawhina who work with the nurse in your area. Community Karitane and Plunket Kaiawhina are health workers with experience and knowledge of young babies and children. They offer families support with feeding and parenting, and accessing other support services, in addition to visits from the Plunket Nurse. 

For more information please visit www.plunket.org.nz or call PlunketLine on 0800 933922 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

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