After years of carefully recording every Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) she has carried out, Watford General Hospital midwife Faith Meaney has reached the remarkable milestone of supporting 10,000 babies and their families.
For years, Midwife Faith Meaney has carried a notebook with her. Inside are thousands of handwritten entries, each one representing a baby she has examined and a family she has supported during their first days together.
This month, Faith reached a remarkable milestone when she completed her 10,000th Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) at Watford General Hospital.
Having carefully recorded every examination she has carried out throughout her career, Faith knew exactly when she was approaching the landmark figure and to mark the occasion, she bought a teddy bear and card for Sian Williams and Nelson Gomes, the parents of Luca, baby number 10,000.
While the milestone is a reflection of years of expertise and dedication, for Faith it is the families behind the number that matter most. Completing 10,000 NIPE examinations represents an exceptional level of experience in newborn screening, with each entry in her notebook marking a baby and family she has supported at the very start of their journey together.
Supporting babies from the very beginning
The NIPE forms part of the NHS newborn screening programme and is carried out before a baby is 72 hours old. During the examination, specially trained practitioners screen for four conditions: congenital cataracts using a red reflex eye examination, congenital heart disease, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and undescended testes. Identifying these conditions early helps ensure babies can access any specialist care or treatment they may need as soon as possible.
Over the course of 10,000 examinations, Faith has helped provide reassurance and support to thousands of families at one of the most important moments in their lives.
Every number represents a family
For Faith, the notebooks are more than a record of examinations. Each entry represents a family she has met, a newborn baby she has assessed and an opportunity to help give a child the best possible start in life.
Faith said: ‘10,000 examinations later, and I still feel incredibly privileged. Every single family allows me into their world, and the joy of keeping their babies safe never fades.’
A special family milestone too
Luca’s parents were delighted to be part of the occasion and receive the elephant teddy bear and card marking the milestone.
Michelle, Luca’s mum said: ‘As a new mum you are so worried about everything, it’s just so reassuring to know that Luca’s newborn check is in the hands of such an expert.’
As she looks ahead to the next chapter of her career, Faith says the most rewarding part of her role remains unchanged: meeting families, answering questions and helping parents feel reassured as they begin life with their new baby.