Pregnancy – Start for Life
A health visitor will contact you by 30 weeks pregnancy, to:
- assess you health needs
- discuss how best to prepare for parenthood
Health visitor services
Your health visitor can advise you on:
- attachment
- bonding and responding to baby cues
- responsive infant feeding
- safe sleep
- healthy development
- how to promote communication through talking and singing to your baby
- immunisations
- supporting positive mental health
Mental health support
The perinatal mental health service and midwives can offer mental health support when planning a pregnancy and during pregnancy.
For more on what support is available, download our guide to looking after your mental health.
Midwife support
Make an appointment to meet your midwife as soon as you can. They will ask you questions about mental health. Answer these questions as truthfully as you can.
You will be told about help and support for you and your partner. Don't worry, you will not be referred to social services just because you have a mental problem.
Perinatal mental health service
The perinatal mental health service supports women's mental health through pregnancy and postpartum (feelings of sadness, anxiety (worry) and tiredness that last for a long time after giving birth).
Mental health support when planning a pregnancy
If you and your partner are thinking of having a baby, you can be seen by the perinatal mental health service if you have a current or previous mental health problem, such as:
- bipolar affective disorder
- severe depression
- psychosis
- severe postnatal mental illness
They can support you to stay as well as possible by arranging a preconception appointment.
During this appointment you will:
- find out about how pregnancy may affect your mental health
- get information about medication in pregnancy
Perinatal mental health drop-ins
Drop in clinics are available at all 3 family hubs:
- Family Hub Old Oak Community Centre
- Family Hub Tudor Rose Community Centre
- Family Hub Stephen Wiltshire Centre
The benefits of coming along to a family hub
Health visitors will also explain the benefits of attending a family hub, to access health and early learning services.
Through our family hubs you can also access the family champions. They offer support to parents-to-be and new parents before and after birth.
Find out more about our family hubs.