HSE National Clinical Guideline
National Clinical Guideline Postnatal Midwifery Care for Mother and Infant
Topic:
Postnatal midwifery care for mother and infant
Document Owner:
National Clinical Lead for Guideline Development in Maternity and Gynaecology Services, National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP)
National Group:
Guideline Development Programme, National Women and Infants Health Programme
Effective From: 01 May 2026
This Guideline aims to provide a nationally standardised approach for all maternity units, community midwifery teams, self-employed community midwives (SECMs), General Practitioners (GPs), practice nurses and PHNs to promote consistency of practice standards.
This national guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for caring for women post-birth and infants following birth and for postnatal midwifery care of mother and infant. It addresses maternal physiological assessment, management of common ailments, infant feeding support, anaemia, mental health, and contraception. Infant care recommendations cover newborn examination, vitamin K, jaundice, neonatal screening, and discharge planning, promoting standardised care nationally.