Children's health

Pregnancy

Becoming a parent

Preparing to become parents often raises lots of questions around parental health, preparing for your baby and practical tips ready for when your baby arrives.

This section will support you to feel prepared and answer some of those vital questions you have.

You can find out more on the NHS website.

Bonding with your baby

Some parents bond with their baby immediately, while others find it takes more time. Some women fall in love with their babies from the moment of birth, and some women find that their love grows slowly over the first few weeks as they get to know and care for their baby. Both are normal.

If you’re finding it difficult to bond with your baby, feel sad, hopeless, guilty or extremely anxious all the time for weeks or months after you’ve had a baby it could be a sign of anxiety or depression. This can be treated with the right care and support, and most women will make a full recovery. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP about how you feel. They can help you get the best support for how you’re feeling.

Find out more on the Tommy's website.

Fathers

The period from conception to the age of 2 is an important time for child development, and experiences during this time can influence the rest of a child’s life. Relationships between dads and their children matter from pregnancy onwards. Dads who are affectionate, supportive, and involved make a huge impact on their child’s brain, speech, and social development, and can positively influence their child’s social, academic, and economic wellbeing. Dads play a crucial role in supporting the health and wellbeing of mums. Close bonds between dads and their children are linked to positive outcomes for dads themselves, who are happier, healthier, have fewer mental health problems, and are more productive at work. Dads who are supportive of breastfeeding help mothers to feel more confident and likely to succeed at breastfeeding.

Top tips for dads to get involved:

talk and communicate with your baby throughout pregnancy and beyond
have plenty of skin-to-skin contact with your new baby
get involved in all the care your baby needs
spend time playing with your baby, responding to your baby, and letting your baby respond to you

Find out more top tips.

Mum and baby app - Dad pad.

Changes to relationships with partners

Having a baby is a wonderfully exciting time but it can also present some challenges to your relationship with your partner. You’re tired, stressed and overwhelmed whilst trying to adjust to new roles as parents. Finding time for each other is really important. Try to set aside some “us” time daily or at least a few times a week when you can really listen and talk to each other. It’s really important that you can tell each other how you feel. Notice how your baby responds when you and your partner are feeling tense or arguing with each other, repeated low levels of conflict are known to be damaging to a baby. Find out more about reducing conflict.

Realistic expectations of becoming parents

With stories and advice from those around us, along with social media, many parents feel pressure to be a perfect parent and live up to unrealistic expectations. Remember that, in reality, things may be very different and what’s normal will differ for everyone.

Find out more from the NHS.

Healthy lifestyles

It is important for all the family to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well, staying active and reducing stress. This section signposts you to helpful information on how to keep your body and mind healthy. During pregnancy you should eat a balanced diet that supports the healthy growth and development of your baby therefore it is not advised to adopt extreme diets that significantly reduce intake of certain food groups. Find out more about staying healthy.

Find out more about keeping well in pregnancy.

Equipment

You may need some new equipment when you have a baby but there are also some items that are not recommended for safety reasons. Please be mindful that social media influencers are paid to promote many items and some of these may not be safe for babies.

Stay clear of:

sleep positioners
sleep pods
cot bumpers
duvets and pillows
head positioners

Find out more from The Lullaby Trust.

Find out more about what you'll need for your baby on the NHS website.

Web page links to all hospital’s maternity services

You may choose to have your baby at home or at one of our local hospitals. It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the hospital where you book to have your antenatal care.

How your baby develops throughout pregnancy

You can find out how your baby is developing week by week on the baby centre website.

Vaccinations for mother

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases and have been saving babies, children's and adults lives for many years.

They help to protect people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them.

It is advisable to discuss the different vaccinations offered to you and your child, and their possible side effects, with a health professional such as a health visitor, midwife, practice nurse or GP. Remember that anti-vaccine stories are spread online through social media and are often not based on scientific evidence. Always take advice from your health professional.

Find out more about vaccinations.

CONI

The Care Of Next Infant programme is offered to parents who are expecting a baby having already experienced a sudden or unexpected death of a baby. They can receive extra support from their midwife, health visitor and GP.

Find out more at the Lullaby Trust.

Pregnancy and birth classes

The Antenatal Parenting Group is intended for all parents to be and their birthing partner.

This is a six-week programme designed to provide you with information around parent and baby relationships, labour and birth, breastfeeding and caring for your baby.

If you are at least 28 weeks pregnant you can register your interest by completing the online form or contact Children’s Health SPA.

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