Maternity information
Hand hygiene
This leaflet is designed for pregnant women and their families. It explains the
importance of hand hygiene and demonstrates effective hand washing.
Patient safety has become a cornerstone
of care, and preventing healthcareassociated infections remains a priority.
Hand washing is the single most effective
way of stopping the spread of infections.
As new mums and dads it is equally as
important to wash your hands when caring
for your new born.
You should always wash your hands:
 Before and after a nappy change.
 Before breastfeeding.
 Before and after preparing food.
 After going to the bathroom.
 After coughing or sneezing.
 After taking out the rubbish.
 Before and after caring for someone
who is sick.
 Before you enter a hospital and again
when you leave.
Although hand washing is the most
effective way to stop the spread of germs,
being a new mum or dad and keeping up
with demands of a newborn baby means
this is not always practical. Keeping a
sanitising gel/hand rub in your bag can be
practical as well as effective.
Using a hand sanitising gel can remove
60% of germs (Department of Health1);
however, it will not work if your hands are
visibly dirty.
Hand hygiene, January 2016
Effective hand washing
1. Run your hands under clean running water.
2. Add soap rubbing your hands together
making a lather, scrub the palms of your
hands, in between fingers, the back off
your hands and under your nails.
3. Continue to do this for at least 30 seconds
4. Rinse hands under clean running water.
5. Dry with clean towel or air dry.
Using sanitising gel
1. Put the recommended amount into the
palm of your hand.
2. Rub over all hand surfaces, including
the back and in between your fingers.
3. Continue to rub hands together until they
feel dry.
References
1. Department of Health (2012) Save Lives Clean
Hands [online]. Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/savelives-clean-your-hands [Accessed: 21 August
2013]
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Maternity information
2. NICE. CG139 Infection control: NICE
guideline. Guidance/Clinical Guidelines.
[Online]. Available at:
http://publications.nice.org.uk/infection-cg139
[Accessed: 21 July 2013].
3. WHO (2006) | Five Moments for Hand
Hygiene. [Online]. Available at:
http://www.who.int/gpsc/tools/Five_moments/e
n/ [Accessed: 21 July 2013].
This document can be made available in other languages and formats upon
request.
MAT_1483
Written: Emma Frewin (STMW Sept 2011 Cohort)
Reviewed: Emma Frewin Midwife, January 2016
Approved by Maternity Information Group, January 2016
Review due: January 2018
Hand hygiene, January 2016
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