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Provide resources and support to bereaved children and young people. They have a free helpline, as well as a Family Liaison Team who can provide advice on support available.

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A world where no child is left to grieve alone

We care passionately about helping bereaved children, young people and their families find hope and healing after the death of someone close.

Crises in the news

If you have been affected by the recent devastating events in the news, please read our useful guides or don't hesitate to reach out and call our helpline on 0808 802 0111 from 9am - 9pm weekdays.

This year, our theme is 'The Shape of Your Support'. We are focusing on the people around a bereaved child or young person, beyond their friends or family, that can be there to support them through their grief. At Grief Encounter, we help build compassionate communities that can provide the right support from the right people, at the right time. Find out more about how this special week supports bereaved children.

We use some necessary cookies which are essential for certain basic functionalities on our website. We would also like to set Google analytics cookies to help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. These cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. For more information please see our Cookies Policy.

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Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

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One child in every UK classroom will experience the death of someone close by the time they reach 16 years old. Grief Encounter is here to help with the confusion, fear, loneliness and pain, providing a lifeline to children and young people to cope with free, immediate, one-to-one support.

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Provide emotional, practical and financial support to families of children diagnosed with a life limiting condition

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If you are caring for a child with a serious illness and need help or advice, or just someone to talk to, our helpline and family support hub is here for you.

Our Impact 2023

The past year has seen an exciting period of growth for Together for Short Lives, with a growth in income and new services launched.

Osian's Story: "Sometimes I think he was looking directly into your soul"

Osian was born at 23 weeks in late 2021 with complex medical needs and needed lots of care through his life. He died earlier this year and we supported his family financially with a Butterfly Grant to help them celebrate his life.

We need your help

Please give your money, your time or your voice, and help us change lives. Together we will make a lifetime of difference for children with short lives, helping every family get the very best care and support, every step of their journey - no matter how short.

Helping us get the best out of life

Two-year-old Elijah is unable to walk, talk or see, making 'normal' family life a challenge. For Children's Hospice Week his mum shared what an incredible impact their local service makes on their lives, as "somewhere where you don't have to worry about fitting in."

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We are here to make sure that the 99,000 seriously ill children and their families across the UK can make the most of every moment they have together, whether that's for years, months or only hours.

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A charity working to promote good health of premature infants and their parents and to raise awareness of the needs of families after a stay on the neonatal unit.

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Hello

Welcome to The Smallest Things, a registered charity promoting the good health of premature babies and their families. We're really glad you found us. Whether you're a parent or family member looking for support, an employer wanting to help your staff, or a health professional looking for information, you're in the right place.

Following its #NotMatLeave campaign, The Smallest Things was delighted when the government announced in March 2020 that parents of babies admitted to neonatal care would receive paid time off work.

Plans for 2022/23 were recently made public and once again the government has failed to include neonatal leave. This is despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson assuring us in November 2021 that legislation would be brought forward ''one way or another''.

Neonatal families have been forgotten and continue to be kept apart by work and financial pressures at a time they need to be together most.

About us
The Smallest Things exists because we don't believe there's enough understanding of the unique needs of families of premature babies.
Going home from the hospital is far from the end of the journey through neonatal care. Many babies have longer-term needs and lots of parents struggle mentally, practically and financially following the trauma of NICU. We're here for them.

From signing the petition to extend parental leave to making a donation or hosting a picnic, there are lots of ways you can support The Smallest Things...

Fundraise for us
Fancy getting your trainers on and running 10K? Or perhaps coffee and cake are more your thing? There are lots of ways to raise money for The Smallest Things and we'll support you every step of the way.

Ask your employer
In February 2018, with no sign of new legislation on the cards, we launched our Employer with Heart charter, asking businesses to extend parental leave for staff who have babies born early. Has your workplace signed up to our charter yet?

Make a donation
We're a tiny charity run entirely by volunteers so every penny really does count. Your donations help us to raise awareness, carry out research, host events, consult with government officials and launch schemes such as our 'preemie proud' red book stickers.

Sign the petition
More than 350,000 people have signed our petition asking Kelly Tolhurst MP and government colleagues to recognise the significant and unique needs of families with children born prematurely and to extend statutory leave accordingly. Is your name on the list?

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The Smallest Things exists because we don't believe there's enough understanding of the unique needs of families of premature babies. Going home from the hospital is far from the end of the journey through neonatal care. Many babies have longer-term needs and lots of parents struggle mentally, practically and financially following the trauma of NICU.

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Offer Islamic faith-based bereavement support for families who experience baby loss, including a helpline and support groups

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In your darkest time, we can help you to find the light.

When grief is all consuming and when there seems there can be no tomorrow, we can help you to find the strength to face each day.

With compassion, empathy and without judgement, we will support you during your most difficult of times.

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Support, Education and Training when a child dies. In your darkest time, we can help you to find the light. If you have experienced the loss of a child...

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Provide a directory of services to help bereaved families find support most suited to them.

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Our Mission Statement

Our Sam works to raise awareness, understanding and improve support, and access to support for anyone affected by baby loss following miscarriage, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons and neonatal death.

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Our Sam works to raise awareness, understanding and improve support, and access to support for anyone affected by baby loss following miscarriage, stillbirth,

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Offer support for parents and families following baby loss. This includes access to 1:1 and group support.

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Baby Loss Charity: for Bereaved Parents & Families

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We support parents and families who have tragically lost a baby to Stillbirth, Neonatal Death, Miscarriage and Medical Termination across the West Midlands.

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Provide support for women who are currently or have previously experienced domestic abuse. Offer support via online chat, email, forums and online resources, including their 'survivors handbook'. Also offer support through their local hubs.

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Abuse costs us all. But it shouldn't cost this much.Take action today Abuse costs us all. But it shouldn't cost this much.Take action today We're working together against domestic abuse until wo...

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Offer a telephone helpline for those suffering from or at risk of abuse or facing problems on a range of issues. Provides a confidential and non-judgmental specialist faith and culturally sensitive service, offering information, support, guidance and referrals. Primarily for Muslim women, but will accept calls from women/girls of any or no faith. Support offered in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Putwari, Hindko, and Bengali.
Helpline: 0800 9995786 (10am-4pm, Monday-Friday).

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Work to protect children and prevent abuse. Provide support to children via their helpline Childline (0800 1111). They also provide a range of resources for parents, including 'Look, Say, Sing, Play' (provides fun and easy tips to support with infant development), 'Pregnancy in Mind' (service supporting mild to moderate mental health conditions), and 'Baby Steps' (a psycho-educational programme for new parents to support with parenthood).

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The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover. Help us be here for children. Please donate now.

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National Maternity Voices is the national group of Maternity Voices Partnerships in England. A Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) is a NHS working group: a team of women and their families, commissioners and providers (midwives and doctors) working together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity care.

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National Maternity Voices (NMV) is the association of Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) independent lay chairs in England. We support and network MVPs.

We help the NHS to hear the diverse voices of service users; we do not speak for them.

Contact your local MVP by locating them on NMV's map
A Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) is a NHS working group: a team of women and their families, commissioners and providers (midwives and doctors) working together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity care.
National Maternity Voices supports the co-production of maternity and neonatal services with service users by providing:

A toolkit to support setting up, developing and maintaining your MVP.

Peer support networks, support and consultancy for MVP members, service user representatives, NHS staff and others interested in involving maternity service users in the development of services.

Training, Mentoring and events for chairs, service user representatives and NHS staff.

"Voices of all women including those from diverse backgrounds must be heard, and services should work closely with all service users to collaboratively plan, design and improve care. "
Letter to the system on publication of the Three-Year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Services in England
The Three year Delivery Plan for Maternity and Neonatal services sets the ambition that Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnerships:

listen to and reflect the views of local communities. All groups are heard, including bereaved families.

have strategic influence and are embedded in decision-making.

have the infrastructure they need to be successful. Workplans are funded. MNVP leads (MVP chairs) are appropriately remunerated and receive appropriate training, administrative and IT support.

Maternity Transformation: Better Births and Beyond

MVPs were recommended as a forum for co-production with women and families to implement 'Better Births'. ('Better Births' is the 2016 report of the National Maternity Review which proposed changes in maternity care to make it safer and more personalised. )

National Maternity Voices is commissioned by NHS England (NHSE) to support the work of MVPs. We have pages on the maternity workspace of NHS Futures . We also support the Maternity Transformation Programme team at NHSE to ensure women, birthing people and families have voices in national discussions.

You can read more about National Maternity Voices CIC .

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National Maternity Voices - Networking Maternity Voices Partnerships in England

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National Maternity Voices (NMV) is the association of Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) independent lay chairs in England. We support and network MVPs. We help the NHS to hear the diverse voices of service users; we do not speak for them.

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Provide information for professionals and individuals affected by postnatal illness. Offer support from volunteers via email or a telephone helpline.

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Provide information for women, families and professionals on perinatal mental health problems through their online resource hub. They also provide information for women around accessing additional support, and run campaigns to improve accessibility and quality of support for mums and their families.

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The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood has released a new report highlighting the significant economic benefits of investing in early childhood and the adults around them. According to 'Prioritising early childhood for a happier, healthier society', prioritising early childhood development by supporting working parents and caregivers, improving social and emotional skills, and reducing public spending on remedial measures could add at least £45.5 billion to the UK economy annually.

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Charity offering peer support to people experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties. Whilst their website is being developed, information can also be accessed via: www.facebook.com/ByYourSidePerinatal

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Provide information and support around a range of mental health difficulties. They have over 130+ local hubs that offer direct support for those who need it. Offer a free helpline on 0300 123 3393.

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We’re Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

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We're Mind, the mental health charity. We're here to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

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Offer a 24-hour confidential listening service via their helpline (166 123). Also provide support via email on jo@samaritans.org.

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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Provide information and support for people coping with pre- and post-natal mental illnesses. Provide support via a free helpline (0808 1961 776), WhatsApp, email and face-to-face or online support groups.

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Postnatal depression (PND) is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It can affect any parent, regardless of whether they've suffered from a mental health condition before. Postnatal depression is linked directly to giving birth and is a common problem, affecting 1 in 10 women within a year of giving birth.

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Provide information and guidance for young people on a range of topics to support with mental health.

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

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Provide information on a range of issues involving emotional distress, as well as a service directory for accessing additional support. They also provide a webchat and telephone helpline (0800 585858).

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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

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We're the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and we're uniting the UK against suicide.

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British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy 

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British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy 

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Provide a search to help you find a local counsellor or therapist.

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British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

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BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. We exist for one simple reason - counselling changes lives

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Offer information and support to birth parents who have had a traumatic birth experience, as well as family members who have also been affected. Peer support can be accessed via telephone or email.

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"I was broken after the birth of my son. My journey to healing started after finding the BTA. It was the first time I felt hope that I would get better, and that I wasn't alone."

- BTA Facebook group member, 2023

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BTA is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. We work to support parents and families, improve parents' experience of birth, and engage with health professionals and research.

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Provide an NHS approved 'Baby Buddy' app, which offers information and support for looking after your baby through pregnancy and the first year after birth, with over 300 videos on topics such as mental health, prematurity, breastfeeding, and support for dads. This includes a 24 hour emotional support text messaging service. They have also produced a series of films to help raise awareness of maternal mental health called 'Out of the Blue'.

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We develop simple, educational and interactive tools to support parents-to-be and new parents so every child in the UK has the best start in life.

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Working to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of mental health provision in the UK through research activity, training and consultation with children, families and professionals.

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We work with professionals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Learn about our training, services, research and more.

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Provide support and information for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. Also offer peer support which can be accessed online or face-to-face, individually or in group settings.

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The charity for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis

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Supporting and advocating for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP) - a severe but treatable mental illness that begins in the days and weeks after giving birth.

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Free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on issues including benefits, employment and debt. National phoneline: 0800144 8848.

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Volunteer with us

Over 16,000 highly trained volunteers support the delivery of our service. Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and find volunteering rewarding, challenging and fun. We have a range of roles in local Citizens Advice and Witness Service, want to find out more?

Our volunteer opportunities

Find your local Citizens Advice

For more information and advice

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Online free advice from Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem. Our research enables us to campaign on issues affecting people's lives.

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Offer a free NHS approved Baby Buddy app, which provides 24/7 support including daily information, access to more than 300 films and other interactive features. The 'Get Help' button offer access to the 'Baby Buddy Crisis Messenger', a free 24/7 confidential text support service for pregnant families and new parents in emotional pain or crisis.

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We develop simple, educational and interactive tools to support parents-to-be and new parents so every child in the UK has the best start in life.

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Provide information and support for disabled parents and professionals. This includes support when considering, during and after pregnancy.

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Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood: Information and support for disabled parents and professionals

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Dppi publishes information and stories that draw attention to the concerns of disabled parents and to relevant sources of information. We stimulate debate about parenting issues and promote the expertise of disabled parents.

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Offers grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child.

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Family Fund deliver grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young people on a low income across the UK

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Information on how to avoid injury and serious accidents involving children

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Free educational resources

Looking for free educational resources to help keep children safe? Download and share our free safety fact sheets, use our eye-catching materials to create a colourful display or run a safety workshop for parents with our session plans.

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Child Accident Prevention Trust | A safer world for all our children

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Safety advice Many accidents are a part of growing up. Children need to explore and experiment. But some children suffer the pain of serious accidents that can alter the course of their lives forever. Most of these serious accidents are completely preventable by making simple solutions or changes to routines.

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Information and advice around suitable car seats for children

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Carrying Children Safely

The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a child car seat that is suitable for their weight and size, and is correctly fitted in the car.

A properly fitted child car seat will help to prevent your child from being thrown about inside the vehicle, or ejected from it, if there is a crash. It will also absorb some of the impact force, and provide some protection from objects intruding into the passenger compartment.

A seat belt on its own will not properly fit your child, until they are at least 135 cm (4'6") tall, although it's better to wait until they are 150 cm (5ft) or taller before moving them to the seat belt on its own.

Child Car Seat Safety Recalls
Puggle I-size safe max 360 car seat
Puggle have recalled seats sold between 23/07/2022 and 10/07/2023 with the following affected serial numbers: 052022, 102022 & 022023.

Puggle have discovered a small internal component issue in batches of the car seats, which may result in the harness not locking properly when pulled. This could potentially compromise the safety of the user.

Please discontinue use of the car seat and contact Online 4 Baby to arrange a refund or an exchange for an alternative item: https://www.online4baby.com/product-recall-notice
Britax BABY-SAFE IZ
In July 2023, Britax Römer issued a voluntary recall of the BABY-SAFE 5Z infant carrier.

There is a potential safety issue with a gap that can form between the handle and seat-shell of the BABY-SAFE 5Z. The gap does not impact the performance of the car seat in the vehicle or in a crash, however there is a safety risk when carrying the infant carrier outside of a vehicle. In rare cases there can be an unexpected detachment of the handle causing sudden movements of the shell and/or surprise of the person carrying the BABY-SAFE 5Z. This may lead to the infant carrier falling down or colliding with other items and in unfortunate circumstances to an injury of the infant.

All BABY-SAFE 5Zs will be replaced free-of-charge with a newer version of the product, the BABY-SAFE 5Z2, which does not have this potential issue. Parents who purchased a BABY-SAFE 5Z infant carrier should:

Stop using the BABY-SAFE 5Z effective immediately, specifically outside of the vehicle by carrying the infant carrier using the handle.

Go to www.baby-safe-check.com to replace their car seat.

i-Size Revolve Seat
In December 2021, Halfords issued a recall of their i-Size Revolve seat due to safety concerns about the rotating locking mechanism.

If you have this seat, it is advised that you stop using it immediately.

Halfords has requested that you take your i-Size Revolve seat to your local store (visit Halfords.com to find your nearest), where the retailer will give you a full refund and offer a 15% discount on the purchase of a replacement seat.

If you have any difficulties getting to your local store, you can call their support team on 03301 359779 or email them here: customer.services@halfords.co.uk.
Cosatto
Cosatto has recently identified a potential safety concern relating to the buckle used in the production of a small batch of car seats manufactured between September 2019 and June 2020.

The following range of batches are affected:
From 37/2019
to 24/2020 (inclusive)
Cosatto is offering a replacement buckle to all customers who have purchased a product from any of the affected batches.

Halfords has issued a recall of their i-Size Revolve car seat due to a safety concern that has been found with the rotating locking mechanism.

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/11/product-recall-halfords-i-size-revolve-car-seat/ - Which?

Halfords has issued a recall of their i-Size Revolve car seat due to a safety concern that has been found with the rotating locking mechanism.

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/11/product-recall-halfords-i-size-revolve-car-seat/ - Which?

Photos courtesy of Britax and RECARO Child Safety Ltd

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child safe seating in carschild car seat

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Child car seat safety advice and information to keep your children safe when they travel.

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Produces a range of skin-to-skin clothing, with a specialist range for parents of babies born premature.

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This company produces a range of sound and movement monitors as well as nappy disposal systems

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Produces a range of nappies, including for those born premature.

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Baby Care, Development & Nappies | Pampers UK

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Baby care information from Pampers including pregnancy, maternity and parenting as well as all baby products such as nappies and wipes.

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Helps people in financial hardship gain access to benefits, grants and support services.

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Turn2us is a national charity offering information and practical support to people facing financial insecurity. We help people gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other support - online, by phone and face to face through our work in communities and the organisations we partner with.

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Free, confidential and independent advice about debt problems.

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When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. You can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

For more information, see our cookies policy

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Free Debt Advice and Support | National Debtline

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Get free, confidential debt advice from an independent England and Wales debt charity. Call, chat online, or use My Money Steps for expert support today.

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Work to promote, protect and enhance maternity rights at work, in healthcare and in tax credits.

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challenging inequality : promoting wellbeing

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Information on government services; including registering a birth, tax benefits, employment and tax credits

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GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information.

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Provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects or workplace relations and employment law, including specific guidance for parents with premature or sick babies.

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Advice on maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.

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Information on employment rights, childcare and flexible working. Parents and carers helpline 03000120312.

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Our members

Our employer members are committed to flexible and family-friendly business practices.
See a full list of our members.

The Working Families benchmark is the only tool available that measures all aspects of flexible working and work-life policies and practice.

Working Families, with the support of the Government's Flexible Working Taskforce, have developed Happy To Talk Flexible Working to support employers on their journey to designing more flexible roles.

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Our members Our employer members are committed to flexible and family-friendly business practices. See a full list of our members.

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Information and support on safer sleep for babies, including information on how to reduce the risk of sudden death syndrome (SIDS), and bereavement support.

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Offers advice and support on relationships

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Relate offers counselling services for every type of relationship nationwide. We provide advice on marriage, LGBT issues, divorce and parenting.

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Information and advice on healthcare services, dealing with problems and handling complaints

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The Patients Association is a charity dedicated to supporting the rights and interests of all patients and their families, offering advice and support to patients and campaigning to improve health and social care for all

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Provide digital self-help resources for parents, both together and separated. Content and interventions are designed to help parents manage the stressors in their relationships, such as during the transition to parenthood, or how to approach arguments.

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Over the last 50 years, OnePlusOne has shown that stable, supportive relationships - whatever form they take - are vital for our mental health and wellbeing.

The OnePlusOne team have created effective and easy-to-access resources to strengthen relationships across the course of life.
Dame Judi Dench

Patron of OnePlusOne

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Equipping people to build and maintain healthy relationships.

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A supportive online community for parents, families or carers of babies born premature or sick. Netmums offers a unique Parent Supporter Service (PSS), which provides free one-to-one support for thousands of the UK's most vulnerable parents via a specially trained team of Parent Supporters, including Health Visitors and staff from Women's Aid. They also offer a daily drop-in clinic that operates every weeknight in the Netmums forum.

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Welcome to the Netmums Forum for parents of premature and sick babies. Chat to other parents for support and advice in caring for babies born premature or sick, from the early trials of time in the NICU, to concerns about milestones and development. Please note, as a peer-to-peer support board, Netmums has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting. If you're worried about your premature baby's health, always seek professional medical advice.

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Premature and SCBU babies - Netmums Forum

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Welcome to the Netmums Forum for parents of premature and sick babies. Chat to other parents for support and advice in

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Offer information and support relating to pregnancy, birth and feeding your baby. NCT provide live antenatal courses, local online support groups and activities for parents through their volunteer branch network, and reliable, up-to-date information for pregnant women and parents on their website.

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We're here to support you and your unique experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

Our vision is that everyone who becomes a parent feels confident, connected, and safe.

We share evidence-based information you can trust

We create opportunities to connect with other parents

We listen to your experiences, amplify all parents' voices and campaign for change

We are strong advocates for improving experiences of pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, and early parenthood, equitably, for all parents.

Access networks of support and build friendships through our courses and community events.

Use our resources to make informed decisions that feel right for you.

Information for parents

If you're pregnant or a new parent, we know that you will have a number of questions and concerns about coronavirus. In our sections below, we've created a range of articles about how coronavirus might affect your pregnancy, birth and early days as a parent.

Pregnancy

When it comes to your pregnancy, we've got it covered. You'll find everything you need to help you feel confident and reassured over the next nine months right here.
Find out more

Labour & birth

Thinking about how, what happens and where to give birth? We're here to help you feel more confident. We've got information and tips on everything you need to know.
Find out more

Baby & toddler

Your baby's arrived and you've probably got 101 things on your mind. Don't worry, you're not on your own. We're here with information and support as your baby develops.
Find out more

Life as a parent

You've just had a baby and everyone is focused on your little one. But how about you? We're with you on your journey with support and tips from other mums and dads.
Find out more

Courses and workshops

Interactive, engaging and social, our antenatal course is a fun and exciting way to grow your knowledge of birth and early parenthood, and make life-long friends.
View all courses & workshops

Local activities and meet-ups

Our local activities and meet-ups can help you build up a supportive social network around you.

Support NCT Charity by becoming a member

Join NCT and there's great member benefits for you - exclusive live talks, money-saving offers & competitions, digital magazine & quick-read newsletters, plus early entry to every NCT Nearly New Sale - whilst you help fund free support for others.

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The UK's leading charity for parents | NCT

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We are the charity that supports people as they become parents. We're here for you through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

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Information and support for single parents, offered through a helpline, webchat, groups, forums and information pages

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How to not need a holiday after the holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time for single parents, Natalie is a volunteer in our Wellbeing Digital Group and recently held an online workshop where she shared her 'go to' tools for managing the...

Read more

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We are Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families. We provide expert advice and practical support for single mums and dads in England and Wales.

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Provide free legally-based advice to families who have children with special educational needs. Offer a range of helplines for advice and tribunal support.

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) - helping children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law

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The Institute of Health Visiting is a charity, an academic body and a UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of universally high-quality health visiting practice. It promotes excellence in health visiting practice to benefit all children, families and communities with the aim of reducing health inequalities.

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#ShapingUs - The Princess of Wales spotlights the vital role of Health Visitors

This new film shines a much-needed spotlight on health visiting, produced by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in partnership with the Institute of Health Visiting.
The film showcases Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales shadowing health visitors to gain a deeper insight into their role.

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iHV is a UK-wide organisation with a web-based Centre of Excellence to strengthen the quality and consistency of health visiting services for the benefit of all children, families, and communities.

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A national organisation with local branches of trained volunteers who support families with young children through challenging times. Offer both individual and group support.

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Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

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Provide support for families on topics including nutrition, parenting skills, breastfeeding, emotional wellbeing and increasing activity levels. Support is offered through family programmes, workshops, groups and 1 to 1.

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Provide support for stepfamilies or blended families on a range of topics through self-help resources, workshops, coaching and mediation services.

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Happy Steps - providing support and advice for stepfamilies in the UK…

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Provide information for families with disabled children, including guidance on early years, financial and educational support. Also offer a free helpline for parents/carers with a disabled child under 25 on the number 0808 808 3555.

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Contact - for families with disabled children | Contact

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We are Contact, the charity for families with disabled children. We support families, bring families together and help families take action for others.

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Provide information and advice relating to a range of family matters. They also offer a free helpline, online chat, and access to forums.

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Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus) | Family Lives

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Parenting and family support from Family Lives (formerly Parentline Plus) through our website, helpline 0808 800 2222, email service at askus@familylives.org.uk, live chat and local services.

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Family Links - The Centre for Emotional Health 

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Family Links - The Centre for Emotional Health 

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Provide training and resources for families, schools and professionals working with parents and children to promote emotional wellbeing.

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Family Links the Centre for Emotional Health | Training for professionals working with families

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We are the UK’s leading charity for emotional health training. We support professionals working with families, school staff and employees in the workplace to improve their wellbeing and create the foundations for good mental health.

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Provides support for dads with attachment and bonding, as well as general support with parental mental health and guidance on how to access appropriate services.

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We aim to help dads have successful relationships with their families, and to support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health issues.

We hope to get dads engaged with services that have traditionally been targeted at mums, and to train & support volunteer dads to work with us.

We work directly with services that support Dads, families and especially babies to increase engagement and knowledge across the sector.

We want to make sure dads know how important they are, how to access support when they need it and why it's essential for baby's development.

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VOLUNTEER WITH US EVENTS REGISTRATION FIND SUPPORT IN YOUR AREA DONATE HERE We aim to help dads have successful relationships with their families, and to support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health issues. We hope to get dads engaged with services that have traditionally been targeted at mums,

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Dad Info gives advice for parents from a dad’s perspective, including articles and ‘dad guides’ on pregnancy, birth and financial issues.

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DAD.info | Free expert advice and support for Fathers

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Dads play an important role in a child's life. We provide information, advice & support to help dads in their fatherhood journey.

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Provide support, advice and information for parents with crying and sleepless babies.

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Who we are

In 1981 a small group of parents, who were experiencing problems with their crying and sleepless babies, set up a support group. They discovered how important support is and how reassuring it can be to talk to someone. Today that support group has become Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. From modest beginnings Cry-sis has become a well-respected national charity which:

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Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis

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Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. Call the helpline now...

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Offers conductive education and a range of therapies for children with movement disorders such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or global development delay.

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CPotential provides integrated tailored therapy and support to children and young poeple with movement disorders, due to conditions such as cerebral palsy, global developmental delay or acquired brain injury.

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Provides information, advice and support for carers and their families, including a directory of local care organisations and sources of support near you.

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We're here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice and support, and also campaign to make life better for carers. Find out more

Preparing for the Carer's Leave Act?

It's important that all businesses are ready for the Carer's Leave Act becoming law. Find out how we can help you get prepared.

Become a member

Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes

You will receive the latest news, information, campaign updates, access to our user forum and more...

Talking to other carers on the forum is great. I've gained so much useful information from Carers UK

Mary from Bedford

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We're here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice & support and also campaign to make life better for carers.

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Provide information, advice, discussion and support for carers, including guidance on care services available near you and forums to connect with other carers.

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Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers.

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Provides evidence-based information about 'biologically normal' infant sleep for parents and practitioners, aiming to support parents to make informed choices about infant sleep and night-time care.

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Research-based information on baby sleep for parents and practitioners, covering normal infant sleep, sleep safety, where and how babies sleep, SIDS and SUDI, parental sleep and free resources.

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Offer virtual psychological parenting programmes for BAME communities from pregnancy to 3 years, including breastfeeding support and access to support through befriending or mentoring.

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We 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

We work with people from all backgrounds, cultures and faith communities, in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.

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Approachable Parenting | Approachable Parenting

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We 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 We work with people from all backgrounds, cultures and faith communities, in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.

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Offer independent information and support for breastfeeding women and others. They provide a helpline from 9:30am-9:30pm daily, available in English, Welsh and Polish, as well access to peer support groups, a live chat and regional drop-in services.

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The Breastfeeding Network | Independent Breastfeeding Support

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The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.

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Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB) are trained to provide practical and emotional support through expert clinical management of common and complex breastfeeding issues.

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Lactation Consultants of Great Britain - Charity

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LCGB is a registered charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of families through advocacy and expert IBCLC breastfeeding care

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A breastfeeding support charity run by volunteer breastfeeding counsellors, providing support and information from pregnancy through to weaning. Provide support via telephone, email, online forums and local support groups.

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Friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onward.

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A breastfeeding support charity training volunteer peer supporters and breastfeeding counsellors. They also provide information and training for healthcare professionals, search facilities for local support groups and breastfeeding counselling via email.

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ABM are a group of trained volunteers dedicated to supporting breastfeeding mums and their families. We’ve been supporting mums and nurturing families for almost 40 years. We’d love you to join us. Become a member of the ABM and help us continue our work.

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Provides information about pregnancy and parenting for families with twins, triplets and more. Also offers virtual clubs and courses for those expecting or parenting twins, and provides support via their helpline ‘Twinline’.

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Twins Trust - We support twins, triplets and more...

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Supporting you through every milestone of your journey with twins, triplets or more. From being pregnant with twins, triplets or quads through to parenting twins, triplets or quads, we are here for you.

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Provide support and information about pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) to women experiencing it, their families and healthcare professionals.

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Aim to improve care, treatment and support for people suffering with Nausea and Vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and the severe form of the condition - Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)

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What is pregnancy sickness?

Pregnancy sickness is often called morning sickness, but it can occur at any time of the day or night. Despite sickness being an expected part of pregnancy, severity does vary from person to person. Sickness isn't always vomiting; nausea can be so debilitating that it effects your ability to eat and drink.

Sometimes symptoms go beyond the realm of 'normal' and your quality of life becomes impacted, at this point it's important to seek medical care. Reach out to us for information and support to help you cope and get the right treatment.
Read more about pregnancy sickness
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness spectrum. It affects approximately 3% of pregnancies and is very debilitating for sufferers. HG strongly limits everyday activities; vomiting and/or nausea are severe.

It is important that you seek medical treatment if you are unable to keep any food or fluid down as you can become dehydrated very quickly. Often IV fluids are essential to become rehydrated, and medication is necessary to try and stabilise symptoms. Contact us to talk through your options and to help you advocate for yourself with your healthcare professionals.
Read more about HG

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Pregnancy Sickness Support home page - UK Charity

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Pregnancy Sickness Support UK Charity Supporting women with Morning Sickness Pregnancy Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum

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MAMA Academy provides information for mums on how to have a safer pregnancy, as well as links to training, research and innovations in stillbirth prevention for professionals.

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"When I got pregnant, I got a MAMA Academy Wellbeing Wallet, I read it all the way around. Being a new first-time ...

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Provides a pregnancy information guide for expectant parents focussing on baby movement monitoring and a range of support options.

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Your Baby's Movements Matter. Kicks Count is the UK's leading baby movement campaign, keeping mums and babies safe.

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Kicks Count is the UK's leading baby movement resource and awareness campaign. By empowering pregnant women with knowledge and confidence, babies' lives can be saved.

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UK research-based charity offering information and support to women affected by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

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The website for anyone affected by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) (also known as obstetric cholestasis (OC))

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Information and support on Group B Strep infection. On the charity's website is information for new or expectant parents about Group B Strep during pregnancy, labour and the first few months after birth, with links to where you can find out more.

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Group B Strep Support – Working to stop group B Strep infection in babies

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We are the UK charity working to stop group B Strep infection in babies. Find out more about group B Strep on our site.

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Campaign for respectful and safe maternity care that protects women's fundamental rights. Provide advice and information to women, as well as training for doctors and midwives

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Offer information and support before, during and after antenatal screening. Also provide a free helpline on the number 02074437895.

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AIMS support maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists and campaigns for improvements to the system. They offer a helpline for information and support on pregnancy and birth issues. They offer a listening space and practical support for those who are unhappy with their experiences of maternity services.

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Supporting you, Campaigning for all

* Campaigning for better births for all

* Protecting human rights in childbirth

* Independent information about pregnancy and birth

* Raising awareness of research

When's your due date?

What does your "due date" mean? How long is a normal pregnancy? How might being given a due date affect you and your baby? Enter the first day of your last period to discover when you're most likely to give birth.... and to find out more about due dates, induction and "post date" babies.

Date of the first day of your last period

The date of your last period allows an estimation of when you ovulated and conceived your baby.

A surprising number of women will have a bleed after they are pregnant, and although seeking advice from a doctor or midwife is recommended, usually this bleeding is not a problem.

Adjusted cycle length

Your menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but many women will have longer or shorter cycles than this.

Ovulation usually takes place about 14 days before the next period. This means in a short cycle ovulation will be less than 14 days after your last period and with a long cycle more than 14 days after your last period. Giving the length of the cycle allows this to be taken into account in calculating your due date.

Many women have irregular cycles which make using the last day of their period less reliable for estimating due date.

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Provide information and support for anyone affected by pre-eclampsia, including a confidential helpline available on 01386 761 848

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Action on Pre-eclampsia - Supporting familes affected by Pre-eclampsia

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Action on Pre-eclampsia aims to raise public and professional awareness of pre-eclampsia, improve care, and ease or prevent physical and emotional suffering caused by the disease.

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Provides services to bereaved children, young people and their families and offer practical support and guidance to anyone concerned about a grieving child. Offer a free helpline on the number 08088 020 021.

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Winston’s Wish is the UK’s childhood bereavement charity. We support children and their families after the death of someone important.

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Provides information and support during pregnancy, and following miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth

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Together, for every baby - Charity for Babies | Tommy’s

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Tommy’s is the largest UK pregnancy and baby loss charity, funding research into stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage and providing trusted pregnancy and baby loss information and support.

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Offer safe sleep advice and bereavement support. They also work with health visitors to deliver the Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme, an intensive health visiting programme for families having another baby after a sudden infant death.

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Offers information and support for bereaved families, including online support forums, retreats for bereaved individuals and a ‘Grief Companion Scheme’ providing one-to-one support for newly bereaved parents.

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Offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from pre-birth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago.

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Offer virtual support groups to bereaved parents across the UK and Ireland. They also donate memory boxes to maternity and neonatal units across the UK.

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SiMBA Charity, Simpsons Memory Box Appeal

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Our Goal is Simple

To honour babies who have died, been stillborn or miscarried. To help gather timeless memories. It wasn't so long ago that when a baby died it was taken away, no touch, no cuddles, no time together...no memories.

SiMBA is about memories. We help you to gather precious items for your Memory Box which we provide. We understand the importance of spending time with your baby in our Family Room. Adding a leaf on a Tree of Tranquillity shows that you are not alone in your loss, and acts as a place to remember and reflect.
Find out more about what we do.

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To honour babies who have died, been stillborn or miscarried. To help gather timeless memories. It wasn't so long ago that when a baby died it was taken away, no touch, no cuddles, no time together...no memories. SiMBA is about memories. We help you to gather precious items for your Memory Box which we provide.

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Provide bereavement support for families and healthcare professionals following stillbirth or neonatal death. They offer support via a helpline, online forums, and app, and also run football teams around the UK for bereaved families to come together.

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Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

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Petals provides and promotes specialist counselling for parents across the UK following baby loss

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Information and support for those affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy. Also offer a free helpline and online chat.

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After thirty years of service our very first National Director, Ruth Bender Atik is retiring and we are recruiting for a new CEO. Our next Chief Executive will have the full support of the trustees to develop the strategy that will take the Miscarriage Association through the next chapter of its journey, based on a [...]
Continue reading "

We are so thankful to everyone who contributes to Baby Loss Awareness Week. Sharing stories, raising funds and getting involved on social media - it all helps us to spread the word and raise awareness of the impact of miscarriage, ectopic and molar pregnancy. Crucially, you help us all create and maintain this special opportunity [...]
Continue reading "

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has updated its guidance for doctors on caring for people with recurrent miscarriage. They have also published a patient information leaflet. What is new? There is a change in the definition of recurrent miscarriage more consideration of the occasions where someone might be offered tests after two [...]
Continue reading "

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The Miscarriage Association:Pregnancy Loss Information & Support

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Learn about the Miscarriage Association, how to cope, and support those experiencing pregnancy loss. Access vital resources and information.

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Offers information and support around ectopic pregnancy, and provides access to online forums to connect with others with similar experiences

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The EPT1000 Challenge

Sign up to our EPT1000 Challenge for 2024! Participate in the EPT1000 Challenge local to your home or within your own home, at your pace. Covering 1000 miles or 100 km (your choice!) over the year, you can count climbing the stairs, joining in fitness videos online, and even gardening in totting up your distance. You can extend your timeframe or pause the Challenge too. Many previous Challengers express how The EPT1000 Challenge provides much-needed focus and time to reflect, helping their emotional and physical recovery while raising awareness and funds.
Sign up to The EPT1000 Challenge

Here for anyone who needs us

We're so sorry that you are going through a challenging time. It's natural to feel lost when dealing with an ectopic pregnancy. We hope to ease that slightly. Medical advice from your healthcare professionals is important, and so is emotional support.

No matter your circumstances, we're here for you.

Supporting family

You might have other children. You might find it challenging to talk to your parents about what you are going through. It could be that your child has experienced an ectopic pregnancy. We can help you find the words you may be looking for.
Read our guidance for families

Do you or someone you know have symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

There are a few key symptoms of ectopic pregnancy which can be similar to other conditions - like miscarriage, urinary infection, or upset stomach. If you have a missed period and symptoms such as abdominal pain or unusual vaginal bleeding, it is important to get checked out. It is a good idea to do a pregnancy test. Symptoms may be nothing to worry about and you may have a "normal" pregnancy - but it is worth getting medical attention to rule out an ectopic pregnancy to be on the safe side.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the cavity ("space") of the uterus (womb). The most common place for an ectopic pregnancy is in a Fallopian tube (also occasionally called a tubal pregnancy) but there are many other sites where an ectopic pregnancy can be located, such as the ovary, cervix, abdomen, or caesarean scar. It is, sadly, not possible to move an ectopic pregnancy into the uterus.

Any woman or person who is sexually active or having fertility treatment (like IVF) is at risk of an ectopic pregnancy. There are some situations which may make a woman or person higher risk but there is often no way of knowing for sure why an ectopic pregnancy has happened in many cases.

If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, doctors will conduct tests to confirm or rule it out. These tests include a scan called a transvaginal ultrasound scan and sometimes checking hormone levels.
Find out more about ectopic pregnancies

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

Although there could be another explanation, if vaginal bleeding occurs and you have had a positive pregnancy test, it's really important that you get it checked out. Some bleeding in early pregnancy can occur in a normal pregnancy - but still seek medical advice straight away.

Vaginal bleeding or pains in the abdomen should be investigated urgently by a medical professional as they could be signs of an ectopic pregnancy. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, it may be a life-threatening situation because of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. So don't wait.

These signs don't mean an ectopic pregnancy is the only outcome; it's just better to be safe. Always seek medical advice when experiencing abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding in any trimester of pregnancy. It is ok to trust your instincts.
Read about how an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed

How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?

After diagnosis by a doctor, there are three main treatment options:

- expectant management (watchful waiting to see if the pregnancy resolves on its own);

- medical management with a drug called methotrexate;

- surgery (usually a laparoscopy or keyhole surgery but sometimes a laparotomy or open surgery).

The treatment options available will depend on clinical factors such as your pregnancy hormone level (called human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG) and the extent of pain or bleeding, so follow guidance from your healthcare professional.
More about the different treatment options

We're here to help

Support after an ectopic pregnancy

From forums to virtual support groups, we have many ways to help you. You don't have to navigate this on your own.

Education

We work hard to increase awareness about symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, treatment options, and recovery.

Research

At The EPT, we pride ourselves in our contribution to ectopic pregnancy research and the medical community.

About The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

The EPT provides information about the causes, symptoms and treatment of ectopic pregnancy, as well as much-needed support to families affected by ectopic pregnancy and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
Find out more about The EPT

Giving support, giving guidance, giving comfort - give what you can, too.

Over the last year, we've seen a drop in donations. Help us continue driving awareness, education and support to those through diagnosis, treatment and recovery - donate to our cause now. Every penny makes a real difference!

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Information and support for anyone affected by ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy complications, and the healthcare professionals who care for them.

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Help for children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. Also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

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We help children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies.

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Raise awareness and provide support and information for anyone affected by a rare chromosome disorder or an autosomal dominant single gene disorder.

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Welcome to Unique!

Unique provides support, information and networking to families affected by rare chromosome and gene disorders.

Our helpline team can help you understand your family member's diagnosis and connect you with others. Why not join us today? Alternatively, have a look around first and contact us when you're ready....

Become a Member

New jargon buster from Unique

In this brand new animated video, we look at a genomic test called DNA Sequencing. But what is it and how does it work? Click the button below to watch it.

What is DNA Sequencing?

Free Disorder Guides

Click here to download our free guides on specific chromosome and gene disorders

VIEW GUIDES

News

New Research Study 16p11.2 duplication, 22q11.2 deletion and 1q21.1 deletion

Details of a new research study at Cardiff University focusing on 16p11.2 duplication, 22q11.2 deletion and 1q21.1 deletion

What is DNA Sequencing?

A brand new animated video from Unique, explaining what DNA sequencing is and how it works.

NEW Research: Trisomy 5p

Details of a new research project aimed at improving the lives of children, young adults, and families affected by Complete Trisomy 5p.

Please help us carry on by making a donation today

Only with your help at this time of uncertainty can we go on providing information and support to anyone affected by rare chromosome and gene disorders. All donations, however large or small, make a real and lasting difference. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

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Unique | Understanding Rare Chromosome and Gene Disorders

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Unique provides support, information and networking to families affected by rare chromosome and gene disorders. Our helpline team can help you understand your family member's diagnosis and connect you with others. Why not join us today? Alternatively, have a look around first and contact us when you're ready....

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Support for families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

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Rainbow Trust Children's Charity provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with life-threatening or terminal illness.

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Offer a range of advice and support for disabled people and their families. Also offer emotional support (6 sessions) for parents/carers who are finding out about their child’s additional needs (on a diagnostic pathway or within 1 year of diagnosis).

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We're Scope, the disability equality charity in England and Wales

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Provide information and support for families and individuals with Inherited Metabolic Disorders.

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Metabolic Support UK are the leading patient organisation for Inherited Metabolic Disorders, visit our home page for more information.

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Information and support for families and individuals living with Down's Syndrome.

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Provide information and support relating to heart and circulatory conditions.

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Volunteering with us can help you build new skills and make new friends. You can volunteer in our shops, at one of our events, or as part of a fundraising group.

Find the volunteering role for you

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With your donations, we harness the power of science to take on the world's biggest killers. And together, we give people more time with the ones they love.

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Offer information and guidance on injury or damage to the brain, spine or nerves. They provide a free helpline, online or local support groups, and sign posting to related services.

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Provide information and guidance to support those living with a lung condition. They provide a free helpline, as well as online or local support groups.

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Even before COVID-19, NHS hospital admissions for lung conditions were rising three times faster than average admissions. People living with lung conditions are often overlooked and being left behind. Their condition isn't accurately diagnosed at an early stage - and even when they are diagnosed, they're not given the care they need.

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We're the only UK charity looking after the nation's lungs. Together, we're making sure that one day everyone will breathe clean air with healthy lungs.

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Offer emotional and practical support for families during and after a stay on the neonatal unit

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For babies born premature or sick | Bliss

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Our vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

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Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit

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Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit

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A podcast focusing on the experience of having a baby in the neonatal unit through talking to parents, doctors, and allied health professionals

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Easily listen to Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit in your podcast app of choice

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Quickly and easily listen and subscribe to Unexpected Beginnings: The Neonatal Unit for free in your podcast app of choice.