Baby on the way? Next steps

Once you know that you are pregnant, you can self-refer for maternity care. You can do this without seeing your GP. You can find out about local options on the North Central London website and complete the form for your chosen hospital. You should also see your GP if you have any medical conditions, are taking any regular medications, or are unsure about continuing with your pregnancy. If you choose to have your baby with Whittington or UCL Hospitals you may be able to see your midwife in one of our children’s centres. You can find details of London-wide maternity services on the My Health London website. 

Health visitors are midwives or nurses who have additional training in child and family health and development. They are here to support you and your family from pregnancy until your child is 5 years old.

You can expect to receive some information from 24 weeks of pregnancy to welcome you to the Health Visiting Service. They may invite you to an antenatal appointment so that you can meet before your baby is born. If you think this would be helpful and would like to meet with your Health Visitor to discuss your health, wellbeing and preparing for your baby’s arrival, then please do get in touch. You can contact the team Monday-Friday 9am-5pm on 020 3316 8008.

If you would like to find out more about who the Health Visiting team are and what they do, please watch this short video.

Journey to Parenthood

Journey to Parenthood is a 6-week parenting course for parents-to-be. The course is designed to support expectant parents by offering information and guidance on pregnancy, birth and beyond. Sessions include typical topics of interest such as:

• How to plan and prepare for labour & what to expect during the birth.
• Managing pain relief and learning relaxation skills.
• How to feed and care for your baby.
• Begin to build a relationship with your developing baby.

What makes Journey to Parenthood unique is the focus on helping parents to understand their baby and supporting wellbeing and relationships. Parents are encouraged to explore the development of their unborn baby and to consider how getting to know their baby before birth helps to build a happy and healthy baby. Consideration is given to the changes and adjustments when becoming a parent, with guidance provided on the support available to families throughout their Journey to Parenthood.

The Journey to Parenthood course takes place in children’s centres around Islington which provides an ideal opportunity to meet other parents and build friendships. It is recommended for parents to start the course when mum is between 26-34 weeks pregnant.

If you would like to book a place on the programme, please contact the Journey to Parenthood Team by calling 07887627231 or emailing:
whh.tr-journeytoparenthood@nhs.net

Alternatively, you can speak with your midwife or other professional involved in your care who can make a referral for you.

Online Solihull Parenting Programme

For those who would prefer to access antenatal education online, the Solihull inourplace website offers a fantastic course: Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby.This is for all parents, grandparents and carers expecting to welcome a new baby and has been designed to include all the practical information and advice you might expect from a traditional antenatal class with the additional benefit of support around emotional and mental wellbeing for you and your baby. The course can be followed in addition to in-person classes or in place of them if you’re unable or prefer not to attend such groups. You can work through the content at your own pace and at a time that suits you.
How to access the course:
Visit the ‘Our Place’ website 
Click on ‘apply access code’
Enter access code: Bright start
Enter your information and postcode
Start your course!

Baby Buddy App

Baby Buddy provides trusted, evidence-based information and self-care tools, based on the latest research and is NHS-approved.
Baby Buddy aims to empower parents and care-givers to build their knowledge and confidence for the crucial first five years of their child’s life, when foundations are laid.
Baby Buddy has:
• Fun, engaging interactive features to ‘learn without the burn’
• A huge video library
• Out of the Blue – videos promoting mental health
• Support and advice particularly tailored to dads
• ‘Today’s information’ - personalised, bite-size daily updates
• Much more!

Baby Buddy has been designed carefully so that it is straight-forward to follow and understand. This means it is a popular choice for parents who find literacy challenging or for those whose first language may not be English. A huge 99% of parents using the app say that it’s easy to use!
You can download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
Find out more at Baby Buddy app | Best Beginnings

Baby brain development

What is baby brain development?

The first 1,001 days of your baby’s life (the time between when you get pregnant and your baby’s second birthday) are really important for the development of their brain.
During this time your baby’s brain is developing very quickly, the quickest that it will grow during their life time!

Why is this important?

What your baby experiences during your pregnancy helps to shape their brain. The information their brain receives about what they hear, smell, see, feel and taste allows brain connections to form. Once these connections are built, they need to be kept, so that they can be used again and again. It is the positive and supportive early experiences that enable this to happen. Research tells us that a baby’s brain develops better if they feel safe and secure, both when they are growing inside their mother and once they are born. And one of the most important experiences your baby receives is you!

What can help baby brain development?

Everyday moments are Brain Building moments!

Here are some ideas of the things you can do during pregnancy before your baby arrives:
• Touch
During pregnancy take some time to relax and try stroking your bump. Experiencing this closeness helps to release a hormone called oxytocin for you and your baby – oxytocin is a feel good hormone that aids brain development!
• Saying & Singing
When your baby is in the womb they will begin to recognise the sounds that they hear regularly. Research has shown babies can begin to hear sounds in the womb from as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy, and by 24 weeks will turn their head in response to sounds. This is a great time for you and your family to talk to your baby. When your baby is born, the environment will feel very new for them. Hearing your familiar voice will help them to feel safe, secure and loved.
During your pregnancy try reading a book or singing a song to your baby. Getting others involved is brilliant too, whether this is baby’s father, baby’s siblings or other family members. When your baby is very young, try reading that same book or singing that same song your baby heard in the womb.

• Your Baby’s Movements
Noticing your baby’s movements during pregnancy is not only a unique way of feeling connected with them, but it is also very helpful in recognising if they become unwell.
You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements.

There is not set number of normal movements. Your baby might be most active at night or during the day and there will be times when they sleep too. Every baby’s different.
What’s most important is that you get to know what your baby’s doing and when they’re usually active. If you know their usual pattern of movements, you’ll notice early on if they’re not moving as often or as much.

Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. If you notice that your baby’s movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, it may be a sign that your baby is not well. You should contact local maternity unit immediately. Do not wait until the next day or next appointment.

Watch the Movements Matter video by Tommy’s to find out more Movements matter - please share! 

You may be thinking about how you might like to feed your baby. Why not attend one of our online antenatal Q&A sessions to get prepared? Whittington Hospital's Infant Feeding Team have a virtual antenatal breastfeeding workshop and you can talk to your midwife about live sessions you may be able to access. There is also a free online course for both you and all those who support you at abm.me.uk/product/team-baby-online-course/

It’s good to keep this quick reference guide to baby feeding cues close to hand.
There is lots of information on responsive feeding, including bottle feeding, as well other useful leaflets at www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/support-for-parents/. Find out more about the infant feeding support you can access both before and after birth.

There are some fantastic videos in a range of languages at www.globalhealthmedia.org/topic/breastfeeding and breastfeeding.support/a-good-start-to-breastfeeding/ is a great resource.

Up to date information on COVID-19 and how it relates to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can be found at www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/coronavirus/

Safe sleeping

It’s never too early to start preparing a safe sleep space for your baby’s arrival. Being aware of the safer sleep advice can help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and enable parents to feel more at ease when caring for their baby.
Following the ABCs of safer sleep is a great place to start:
Always sleep baby on their Back, in a Clear, flat, separate sleep space.
There are additional things to consider including room temperature, smoking, type of bedding and bed-sharing. You can read more about safer sleep guidance at Safer-sleep-for-babies-a-guide-for-parents-web.pdf (lullabytrust.org.uk)

With so many baby equipment items available, choosing the things that your baby might need can be overwhelming. Fortunately you don’t need to buy lots of products or spend large amounts of money to create a safe sleep space for your baby. To help simplify things for parents, the Lullaby Trust offers evidence-based advice for parents about which products are safe and the things to avoid. Take a look at their product guide for further information: How to choose baby sleeping products: our evidence-based advice - The Lullaby Trust

There may be products that you have already considered using for your baby when they arrive, such as a sling or a swaddle. It is important to know how to use these items safely. You can read the simple guidelines here: Swaddling your baby and using slings - The Lullaby Trust

Lots of babies go through periods of crying, it’s how they communicate with us. It is typical for crying to increase in frequency and length of time for babies from age 2 weeks old. Often crying reduces from 8 weeks onwards.

It is normal for parent to feel stressed and upset by their baby’s crying. This is mother nature’s way of prompting us to respond to them. It is not uncommon for parents to find it tricky to manage these unsettling feelings and it’s a positive thing to reach out for support.

Organisations like ICON provide helpful information for parents such as, things to check to understand why baby may be crying, techniques for calming a crying baby, strategies for parents to stay calm when crying feels stressful. 

We know that a lot of the information available to new and expectant parents is focused on mothers and often overlooks the needs and experiences of fathers. Becoming a dad is life-changing and it is normal to feel a range of emotions both before and after your baby arrives.

Becoming Dad is a guide developed jointly by the Fatherhood Institute and the Mental Health Foundation to help men make sense of what’s happening to them; look after themselves and the others around them; and do the best possible job of becoming a confident father. This guide is based on the best, most up-to-date research, and draws on the experiences of thousands of Dads who’ve travelled this road before you.

The DadPad is a guide for fathers who want to provide their child with the very best start in life. The DadPad is best utilised as early as possible during pregnancy, around birth and beyond, and provides guidance for babies and children up to the age of two.

Developed in conjunction with the NHS, the DadPad aims to:
• Help you develop the necessary mindset and practical skills, even if you have no experience
• Save you time by enabling you to quickly get to grips with your new responsibilities
• Reduce your anxiety and help you gain confidence, so that you can offer the help needed
• Give you the tools to provide the best support for your baby and your baby’s mum

We know that building a strong relationship between parents and a new baby gives them the best possible start in life, and helps them to grow up happy and confident. This video is a good start to understanding how, and Unicef resources support parents from pregnancy and through the early years. You may have already seen the Off to the Best Start leaflet but if not, do check it out. Find out more about how you can start to build your baby’s brain through loving interactions even before they are born at islington.gov.uk/growmybrain 

Emotional and Mental Health support

Having a baby is life changing, and it's more important than ever to think about your mental health both now and when baby arrives - there's a useful tool to help you plan, and plenty of other info and ideas elsewhere on the same site too.

Becoming a parent can be a wonderful, exciting experience but it can equally feel daunting and overwhelming. Ever heard the phrase ‘It takes a village to raise a child’? We all need the support of others from time to time and thankfully there are lots of helping hands on offer.

Family Support

All parents want the best for their children and pregnancy can be a time of concern for some families where there are queries or concerns about their wider circumstances such as housing, finances or childcare. Islington’s Family Support Service can help you with these questions by offering information, advice or signposting you to the service that can support you best. Take a look here for more information Find Your Islington | Bright Start Family Support Service

Bright Start Groups and Activities

Becoming a parent can sometimes feel isolating. Finding opportunities to meet and connect with other parents can be extremely valuable. Realising that other parents are often experiencing the same challenges can help us to feel understood and less alone. That’s why Bright Start Islington offers a wide range of groups for you and your little one such as baby massage classes, new parents group, stay and play groups and many more. You can find out where your local children’s centres are and what’s on offer by accessing the Bright Start timetable.

Refugee and Migrant Families

The Starting Well Service enables mainly refugee and migrant families to access healthcare and give their children the best start in life through practical advice, advocacy, peer support and bilingual support. They offer one-to-one support, peer support groups, activities, workshops, as well as bilingual advocacy in over 12 community languages.

The Starting Well bilingual mentors help families to navigate their way through health and support services during pregnancy and beyond, by supporting them in their own language so that they are empowered to integrate into the wider community and lead fulfilling lives. There is a strong focus on encouraging peer support, helping parents to build new friendships and feel less isolated.

For more information, please contact admin@manorgardenscentre.org or visit Starting Well – Manor Gardens Centre. Alternatively, you can speak with your Midwife or Health Visitor who can make a referral for you.

What is baby brain development?

The first 1,001 days of your baby’s life (the time between when you get pregnant and your baby’s second birthday) are really important for the development of their brain.
During this time your baby’s brain is developing very quickly, the quickest that it will grow during their life time!

Why is this important?

What your baby experiences during your pregnancy helps to shape their brain. The information their brain receives about what they hear, smell, see, feel and taste allows brain connections to form. Once these connections are built, they need to be kept, so that they can be used again and again. It is the positive and supportive early experiences that enable this to happen. Research tells us that a baby’s brain develops better if they feel safe and secure, both when they are growing inside their mother and once they are born. And one of the most important experiences your baby receives is you!

What can help baby brain development?

Everyday moments are Brain Building moments! There are some great examples of what you can do to help Grow Your Babies Brain. 

Here are some ideas of the things you can do during pregnancy before your baby arrives:

• Touch
During pregnancy take some time to relax and try stroking your bump. Experiencing this closeness helps to release a hormone called oxytocin for you and your baby – oxytocin is a feel good hormone that aids brain development!
• Saying and Singing
When your baby is in the womb they will begin to recognise the sounds that they hear regularly. Research has shown babies can begin to hear sounds in the womb from as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy, and by 24 weeks will turn their head in response to sounds. This is a great time for you and your family to talk to your baby. When your baby is born, the environment will feel very new for them. Hearing your familiar voice will help them to feel safe, secure and loved.

During your pregnancy try reading a book or singing a song to your baby. Getting others involved is brilliant too, whether this is baby’s father, baby’s siblings or other family members. When your baby is very young, try reading that same book or singing that same song your baby heard in the womb.
• Your Baby’s Movements
Noticing your baby’s movements during pregnancy is not only a unique way of feeling connected with them, but it is also very helpful in recognising if they become unwell.
You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements. There is not set number of normal movements. Your baby might be most active at night or during the day and there will be times when they sleep too. Every baby’s different.