Support Services
Below are links to local, national and global support services.
GENERAL HEALTH
MedlinePlus medlineplus.gov/ pregnancy.html
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence nice.org.uk
NHS nhs.uk
NHS inform nhsinform.scot
NI Direct nidirect.gov.uk
NHS Wales nhs.wales
WebMD webmd.com
GENERAL PERINATAL ADVICE
BabyCentre babycentre.co.uk
Birthrights birthrights.org.uk
National Childbirth Trust nct.org.uk
Tommy's tommys.org
BABIES WITH COMPLEX PARENTING AND MEDICAL NEEDS
Little Miracles
Scope scope.org.uk
For resources related to raising children with learning disabilities:
Mencap mencap.org.uk
BEREAVEMENT - Please see link to Ockenden recommendations for support services for Pregnancy and infant loss
National Baby Loss Organisations – Donna Ockenden
BIRTH PARTNERS (DOULAS AND MIDWIVES)
Birthrights birthrights.org.uk/ factsheets/birth-partners/#choose
Caroline Flint, Sensitive Midwifery: New
Edition, Midwifery Gems, 2024
Doula UK doula.org.uk
DONA International dona.org
Ina May Gaskin, Spiritual Midwifery - 4th Edition, Book Publishing Company,
2002
Mums and Midwives Awareness Academy mamaacademy.org.uk
BLACK MATERNITY
Five X More fivexmore.org
The Motherhood Group
themotherhoodgroup.org/support
Tommy's (see page 'Tommy's Helpline in partnership with Five X More for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage women')
tommys.org/pregnancy-information/ about-tommys-pregnancy-information/ video-call-service
Resources related to Black maternity doulas:
National Black Doulas Association
CAESAREAN BIRTH AND VBAC
Caesarean caesarean.org.uk
International Caesarean Awareness
Network ican-online.org
COMPLICATIONS DURING PREGNANCY
Antenatal Results and Choices
Fetal Health Foundation
MotherToBaby mothertobaby.org
ISSUES WITH CONCEIVING AND ASSISTED FERTILITY
Fertility Friends Support Forum
Fertility Network UK
Human Fertilisation & Embryology
Authority hfea.gov.uk
IVF Babble ivfbabble.com
Resolve: The National Infertility Association resolve.org
Society for Assisted
Reproductive Technology
sart.org/about-us/what-is-sart
Further reading on egg freezing:
Human Fertilisation & Embryology
Authority (see page 'Egg freezing')
hfea.gov.uk/treatments fertility-preservation/egg-freezing
Some fertility tracker apps:
FLO flo.health
Kindara kindara.com
Clue helloclue.com
Relationship support while trying to conceive:
Care for the Family careforthefamily.org.uk
Relate relate.org.uk/about-relate
DRUGS AND ADDICTION
Adfam
adfam.org.uk/other-support-services
Frank talktofrank.com/contact-frank
MotherToBaby mothertobaby.org
SMART Recovery smartrecovery.org.uk
EXERCISE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
Absolute. Physio - Gráinne Donnelly (see page 'Advice & Exercise before & after Pregnancy') absolute.physio/advice-exercise-before-after-pregnancy
Active Pregnancy Foundation
GOV.UK (see page 'Guidance: Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report') gov.uk/government/
publications/physical-activity-guidelines-uk-chief-medical-officers-report
Tessa Clemson Yoga
FEEDING
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
The Breastfeeding Network breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
Breastfeeding Support breastfeeding.support
La Leche League CB laleche.org.uk
National Breastfeeding Helpline
nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk
FERTILITY RESOURCES FOR MEN
Men's Health Forum menshealthforum.org.uk
HIM Fertility himfertility.com
Resources related to fatherhood and miscarriages:
Dad Still Standing dadstillstanding.com
FOOD AND NUTRITION
ZOE (see page 'Pregnancy') zoe.com/ learn/category/life-stages/pregnancy
FINANCIAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT
Citizens Advice citizensadvice.org.uk
GOV.UK (see page 'Pregnancy and birth') gov.uk/browse/childcare-
parenting/pregnancy-birth
MoneyHelper moneyhelper.org.uk/en
Turn2us
benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk
The Wallet podcast
open.spotify.comshow/5nUAlDp.JaKf
FmzaF5DzYa2
Resources for saving with children:
GOV.UK (see page 'Child Benefit) gov. uk/child-benefit
MoneyHelper (see page 'Saving for your children') moneyhelper.org.uk/en/ savings/types-of-savings/saving-for-your-children
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
If you're struggling emotionally, your GP can refer you to a local NHS psychology service if appropriate and advise you on local self-help groups and mental health charities offering support. For crises that present an immediate threat to yourself and/or your baby, call 999 or go to A&E now.
You can also receive urgent mental health support through NHS 111
online or by dialling 111.
Centre of Perinatal Excellence
Gidget Foundation Australia gidgetfoundation.org.au/
Maternal Mental Health Alliance maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/
Mind mind.org.uk/
MumsAid mums-aid.org/
PANDAS pandasfoundation.org.uk/or
call 0808 1961 776
Peach Tree peachtree.org.au/
Royal College of Psychiatrists ropsych.ac.uk/mental-health
Samaritans samaritans.org/ or call 116 123
Resources for stress during pregnancy:
Anxiety UK anxietyuk.org.uk
Dr Caroline Boyd drcarolineboyd.com
Mental Health Foundation
NHS Better Health - Every Mind
Matters nhs.uk/every-mind-matters
No Panic nopanic.org.uk
The Stress Management Society
Resources for birth trauma:
Birth Trauma Association
Emma Mills emmamillsmidwife.com
Resources for perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder:
Maternal OCD maternalocd.org
Postpartum International
Resources for postnatal/ postpartum psychosis:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
app-network.org/or call
020 33229900
Resources for private talking therapy:
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk
The British Psychological Society
EDMR Association UK
Parent Therapy Hub drcarolineboyd.com
The UK Council for Psychotherapy psychotherapy.org.uk
MORNING SICKNESS (HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM)
Pregnancy Sickness Support
pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
NEONATAL CARE SUPPORT
Miracle Moon miraclemoon.co.uk
PELVIC GIRDLE PAIN
NHS (see page 'Pelvic pain in
pregnancy) nhs.uk/pregnancy/
related-conditions/common-symptoms/pelvic-pain
The Pelvic Partnership pelvicpartnership.org.uk
Pelvic Obstetric & Gynaecological
Physiotherapy (see the POGP booklets)
thepogp.co.uk/patient_information/ womens_health/pregnancy-pgp_lbp.
aspx
Royal College of Obstetricians and Cynaecologists (see page 'Pelvic girdle pain and pregnancy') rcog.org.uk/ for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/pelvic-girdle-pain-ana-pregnancy
POSTNATAL RECOVERY
The Mummy Hub themummyhub.com
Pelvic Obstetrics and Cynaecological
Physiotherapy thepogp.co.uk
Returning to running thepostnatalplan. com/p/returning-to-running-
postpartum-with-emma-jeffery-pt
Resources for birthing injuries:
The MASIC Foundation masic.org.uk
Royal College of Obstetricians and Cynaecologists (see page 'Perineal tears during childbirth' rcog.org.uk/ for-the-public/perineal-tears-and-episiotomies-in-childbirth/perineal-tears-during-childbirth
Resources for C-section recovery:
HLP Therapy (see page 'C-Section Scar
Massage) hip-therapy.
HLP Therapy and Positive C-Section - Hannah Poulton youtube.com/@
ScarRecoveryHLPTherapy
Resources for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence:
National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (see page Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management')
NHS (see page Non-surgical treatment:
Urinary incontinence') nhs.uk/ conditions/urinary-incontinence/ treatment
Squeezy squeezyapp.com
Resources for postnatal checks:
The Mummy MOT themummymot.com
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TEEN MOTHERHOOD ADVICE AND SUPPORT
PANDAS pandasfoundation.org.uk
or call 0808 1961 776
Samaritans samaritans.org or call 116 123
Shout giveusashout.org or text YM' to 85258
WORKPLACE RIGHTS
Acas acas.org.uk
Citizens Advice citizensadvice.org.uk
COV.UK (see page 'Pregnant employees' rights') gov.uk/working-
when-pregnant-your-rights
Maternity Action