Help with settling in to parenthood
Becoming a parent is a big change and it is important to look after yourself and get support. The resources below share some of the organisations here to help you with the transition into parenthood.
Parenting
Approachable Parenting is an organisation which was established in response to the needs of the BAME Communities. They offer a variety of services and recognised parenting courses drawing from both Psychology and Faith Principles. The programmes guide parents in developing a healthy relationship with their parents and to develop better parent-child relationships by being more affectionate & merciful. They work with people from all backgrounds, cultures and faith communities, in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.
Their services are available for everybody who want to improve their parenting skills and learn new techniques to enable their children to grow in a loving and supportive environment.
They have also produced a toolkit to help parents with uncomforatble conversations to support Muslim families in keeping children safe.
The Association for Infant Mental Health has developed a serioes of Getting to Know Your Baby videos, designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby’s emotional wellbeing.
Find resources and guides for help and support with bottle feeding- including which milk you should choose and how to tell if your baby needs a feed.
Responsive Bottle Feeding – Birmingham Forward Steps (bhamforwardsteps.co.uk)
Following safer sleep advice can significantly reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (sometimes called SIDS or cot death) occurring. Follow this advice until your child is 12 months old, or adjusted for premature babies.
The Lullaby Trust provide informaiton on safer sleep basics, SIDS, co-sleeping, travel and weather, products, infection and illness, advice for paraents, premature babies and twins.
How to reduce the risk of SIDS for your baby - The Lullaby Trust
There are some important guidelines to follow if you would like to swaddle your baby or use a sling. Parents and carers should familiarise themselves with safety guidance so that the chance of SIDS is reduced.
The Lullaby Trust has a number of useful diagrams and information help swaddle or use a sling with your baby safely.
The Brazelton Centre UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting healthy parent-baby relationships though promoting an understanding of newborn babies’ communication.
The Brazelton Centre have a range of resources for parents to help you understand and communicate with your baby: Brazelton Centre UK – Understanding baby behaviour
Doula Services
A doula service provides practical and emotional support to vulnerable and isolated pregnant women during and after their pregnancies.
Their services include both practical and emotional support;
- Providing advocacy and support when working with statutory services including attendance at Child Protection Conferences, Core Group Meetings, Looked After Child and Child In Need reviews, accompanying to ‘contact’ meetings)
- Helping service users prepare for the birth of their babies
- Letting service users know about other organisations that can help them
- Support throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond
- Assisting service users on their return home after giving birth
- Breastfeeding & formula feed support
- Supplying essential items
- Empowering women to make the right choices for themselves and their family
- Meeting with service users during their pregnancies
- Working through anxiety and PTSD surrounding giving birth
- Providing support at appointments
- Speaking up for service users so they can focus on their needs
- Supporting service users when they are in labour and giving birth
- Encouraging service users to connect with the wider community by attending postnatal/baby groups)
Find out more about the service and how to access support from a Doula here: Bethel Doula Service - Bethel Health & Healing Network Bethel Health and Healing Network (bethelnetwork.org.uk)
Infant Crying
Infant crying is normal and it will stop! The following leaflets contain useful information and support to help you cope with your baby's crying.
Infant crying and how to cope- information for parents and carers
All babies cry, and some more than others. Crying is your baby's way of telling you they need comfort and care.
Sometimes it's easy to work out what they want, and sometimes it's not.
The NHS wesbite provides advice on how to soothe a crying baby, and some of the more common reasons for crying.
The Cry-sis Helpline is the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. Cry-sis provide a free telephone support line, offer advice and information on how to cope with a crying baby and increase public awareness.
Find out more: Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis
Premature Babies
Infant crying is normal and it will stop! The following leaflets contain useful information and support to help you cope with your baby's crying.
Support for Pakistani Women
This service is for Pakistani women who require help and support accessing services during their pregnancy or beyond. Support can be provided and tailored to your needs. If you live in the surrounding areas of Hall Green, Hodge Hill, Perry Barr and Ladywood districts, contact EHSAAS today.
EHSAAS are culturally sensitive, speak the community language and understand barriers faced by Pakistani women. They provide tailored support through one-to-one help, sign-posting and peer support through our trained volunteers.
They aim to raise awareness and increase engagement of Pakistani women into perinatal services and mental health services. They aim to build a bridge between services.
Find out more and get in touch here: EHSAAS Project – Perinatal Support for Pakistani Women – Birmingham Forward Steps (bhamforwardsteps.co.uk)
Support for Black and Black Mixed Heritage Women
Maternity Engagement Action CIC is an organisation supporting and empowering Black women and Black mixed heritage women of African descent in Birmingham and beyond, throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey.
They provide safe spaces and peer support for black women throughout pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood and aim to empower Black women and raise awareness of how to request and expect clinically & culturally safe, compassionate, and equitable maternity care.
Find out more about programmes, events and help and support available, as well as birth stories from Black mum's here: Maternity Engagement Action | Engaging Perinatal Families For Better Maternal Outcomes
Support for Dads
As a new dad you will feel excited, but you may also feel left out, unsure or overwhelmed. The DadPad can help by giving you the knowledge and practical skills that you need. The resource, developed with the NHS, will support you and your partner to give your baby the best possible start in life.
DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads (thedadpad.co.uk)
The Fatherhood Institute is a UK charity working to build a society that values, prepares, and supports men as involved fathers and caregivers.
Their work focuses on research, policy, and practice. The Institute publishes research reviews, take part in new studies and test promising family interventions; advocate for policy change; produce practice resources; and train practitioners in perinatal, early years, education, and social care services.
Maternity Link Support Workers
The role of Maternity Link Support Worker (LSW) has been designed to provide one-to-one support to help pregnant women and their families to navigate maternity services across the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) to ensure they receive the right care at the right time.
The role is recognised as an advocate and to develop patient trust and confidence in NHS services. This is particularly helpful if you have newly arrived in the UK or if English is not your first language. They can help you throughout your pregnancy to understand and navigate health services.
Find out more: Maternity Link Support Workers :: Birmingham and Solihull ICS (birminghamsolihullics.org.uk)