Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999
Your feelings about your pregnancy
How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?
It is normal to have different feelings about pregnancy.
When you find out you’re pregnant, you may feel happy and excited, or shocked, confused and upset. Everybody is different.
Some of this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels, which can make you feel more emotional: What to do when you find out you’re pregnant – NHS
If you’re feeling anxious or worried it will help to talk to someone. Read about mental health in pregnancy: Mental health problems and pregnancy – NHS
Pregnancy Loss: Baby loss information and support | Tommy’s
Your family and friends
How did your friends and family feel when you told them you were pregnant?
What sort of support do your think they will give you with your new baby?
What support from other people would you like?
Have a think about the importance of relationships in pregnancy and beyond: Relationships after having a baby – NHS
Changing family life and relationships
Thinking about your closest relationships, how do you think having a baby will affect these relationships?
Having a baby can change our relationships. For 7 ideas on how to reconnect with your partner after having a baby go to: Seven ways to reconnect with your partner after having a baby – Relationship advice for new parents – BBC Tiny Happy People
Developed with the NHS, the DadPad is the essential guide for dads-to-be and new dads: Home – DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads – DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads
Domestic Abuse: Homepage – National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Looking after yourself and your baby
What are you doing to look after yourself and your unborn baby?
It’s a really good time to think about how you can look after yourself.
It’s important whilst you’re pregnant, but also when you have a new baby.
What should you eat?
How a mother eats during pregnancy can impact on the long term health and well-being of her child
Here you can find out about what good nutrition means for pregnant women.
Find out more about the Healthy Start and Best Start Foods schemes and find links to a number of other organisations and support groups: Eating well in pregnancy – First Steps Nutrition Trust
Remember you may be able to get financial help when you’re pregnant to help with the costs of food: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
The NHS has information about healthy eating when pregnant: Healthy eating in pregnancy – Best Start in Life – NHS
Do you know about vitamins in pregnancy?
- What vitamins should I take when pregnant? Everything you need to know about pregnancy vitamins – BBC Tiny Happy People
- Vitamins and supplements in pregnancy – Best Start in Life – NHS
Can you exercise in pregnancy?
What about smoking and alcohol in pregnancy?
Pause and think about how you can look after your mental health in pregnancy: Mental health and pregnancy – Best Start in Life – NHS
Your unborn baby
What have your learnt about your unborn baby so far?
Has anyone talked to you about how you can begin to develop your baby’s brain while you’re pregnant?
Here are some ideas to help develop your baby’s brain and language skills: How babies develop brain connections, even before birth – BBC Tiny Happy People
It is important to talk and sing to your baby bump:
- Singing to baby: When can babies hear in the womb? – BBC Tiny Happy People
- Is it weird that I’m talking to my baby bump? – BBC Tiny Happy People
You can massage your bump: Massaging your baby bump – BBC Tiny Happy People
You can start to build your baby’s brain and your bond with them before they are born: Happy baby_leaflet
How babies develop brain connections, even before birth: How babies develop brain connections, even before birth – BBC Tiny Happy People
Your labour and your baby’s birth
How are you feeling about the birth?
Here are some common questions about labour answered: Tips for pregnancy and labour – What to pack for labour? Can I have sex when I’m pregnant? Why are my boobs so big during pregnancy? and more – BBC Tiny Happy People
Here are ideas on things to pack for the birth: What to pack in hospital bag for labour? – BBC Tiny Happy People
Becoming parents
How are you feeling about the thought of becoming a parent?
If you have a partner, how are they feeling about becoming a parent?
You may find these tips on adjusting to motherhood helpful: Self-care for new mums: Taking care of yourself when you’re taking care of your newborn – BBC Tiny Happy People
For some information and videos about adjusting to parenting: Tips and Advice – Parent Wellbeing
Caring for your baby
How are you feeling about the practical aspects of having a baby?
What are your thoughts and feelings about feeding your baby?
Have you thought about things you could do to help you bond with your baby?
For information on the early days and weeks of looking after your baby – coping with crying, understanding your baby, talking to your baby, play and understanding baby jargon see: Tips and Advice – Newborn babies
To understand why cuddles for your new baby are so important: The science of cuddling: Why cuddling is so great for babies – BBC Tiny Happy People
For information on bathing, washing and nail cutting: Washing and bathing your baby – NHS
For information about feeding your baby:
- Breastfeeding and infant feeding support | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Feeding your baby – Best Start in Life – NHS
For information on sleep with a new baby: Caring for your baby at night and when sleeping
Keeping baby safe when they sleep: Safer sleep overview | The Lullaby Trust
Ways to bond with your new baby: Building a close relationship with your baby – Best Start in Life – NHS
Making nappy changing fun: Changing baby’s nappies: How to make nappy changes fun – BBC Tiny Happy People
Your circumstances and community
Are you worried about where you are going to live with your new baby?
Have you got any financial or housing stresses that could affect your early weeks with your new baby?
Information about support with a new baby: Help and support for new parents – Best Start in Life – NHS
For information about your health visitor and how they can support you: Services and support for parents – NHS
If money is a worry: Help and support for new parents – Best Start in Life – NHS
How to get help buying food and vitamins: Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow’s milk
You can also use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old.
Recent and past life events
Have you had difficult things happen in your life that you think might impact you as a parent?
For more information on mental health and trauma see: Postnatal depression – NHS
Priorities, plans and support
What are your priorities and plans for the next few weeks and months with your new baby?
Who will support you?
What help can I get with childcare?
Some information on support with a new baby: Services and support for parents – NHS
And for details of the Healthy Family Team support available for you and your family: Healthy Family Teams | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
For more information on local services and information available in Nottinghamshire: Your Notts Directory
Childcare step by step: Get childcare: step by step – GOV.UK
Local services and support
What services and support could I need to help care for my baby?
What services are available where I live?
Nottinghamshire Best Start Offer: Nottinghamshire’s Best Start for life offer | Your Notts Directory
For details about local antenatal groups, antenatal classes:
Family Hub antenatal sessions: Pregnancy and new parents | Nottinghamshire County Council
Free and cheap food: Food and food support
For more information to support your antenatal journey go to:
You can download a printable version of the Antenatal Contact here: Antenatal Contact Offer April 26
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for the writing, publishing and updating of the content on this page.
