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Information for parents about neonatal services and links to the local units

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London Neonatal Network Home - London Neonatal Network

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The London Neonatal network coordinate care for premature babies across the London hospitals.

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https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2018/04/05/pregnancystudy/

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A vision for improving the care and support available to families when baby loss occurs before 24 weeks' gestation.

Applies to England

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Details

The Pregnancy Loss Review Group was commissioned to consider the:

registration and certification of pregnancy loss occurring before 24 weeks' gestation

quality of National Health Service care

The review was led by 2 independent experts: Zoe Clark-Coates MBE BCAh and Samantha Collinge RM.

The review looks at options to improve NHS gynaecology and maternity care practice for parents who experience a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or termination for medical reasons.

It makes 73 recommendations, which are intended to support the government and the NHS in creating a forward-looking approach to improve the safety and care experience for all those who have a pre-24-week baby loss.

The independent Pregnancy Loss Review meets the requirement set out in the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019. This act requires the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to publish a report on whether the law should be changed to require or permit the registration of pregnancy losses that cannot be registered as still-births under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.

The government response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review sets out the immediate actions government will be taking in the short term in response to the recommendations made in the review.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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A vision for improving the care and support available to families when baby loss occurs before 24 weeks' gestation.

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maternal mental health services - HELIX - pregnancy loss

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maternal mental health services - HELIX - pregnancy loss

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Contraception and STI Screening Services for Bexley Residents

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Contraception and STI Screening Services for Bexley Residents

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Children's language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

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Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.

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Children’s language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A chatty child is a happy child, so Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s communication skills through simple interaction and play.

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Black & Ethnic Minority Mothers and Compromised Mental Health | Sandra Igwe | TEDxKingsCollegeLondon

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Black & Ethnic Minority Mothers and Compromised Mental Health | Sandra Igwe | TEDxKingsCollegeLondon

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Black & Ethnic Minority Mothers and Compromised Mental Health | Sandra Igwe | TEDxKingsCollegeLondon

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Contraction counter and relaxation techniques. Positive birth company

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‎Meet Freya, your virtual birth partner from The Positive Birth Company! Freya will coach you through every single surge with a simple breathing technique and visualisation. She will help you relax between surges with a mix of guided relaxations, positive affirmations, gentle music and calming visual...

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Swedish technique - choose English once downloaded in top left corner

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Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

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‎Birth Without Fear is a method that guides expectant parents and support persons to a safe birth without stress and fear. The method is now available as a digital birth support with the goal of giving you birth preparation and the best possible start to your birth.

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Free class options available which have been recommended by other women.

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The Baby Academy | Antenatal and Postnatal Classes from the Country’s Experts

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We run free online workshops and 1-day online antenatal classes to help 1st time parents. Our Midwife-led and parent-centric focus will empower you with knowledge to work through the often overwhelming amount of content around pregnancy and early parenthood.

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What is Tokophobia - Maternal Mental Health Alliance

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What is Tokophobia - Maternal Mental Health Alliance

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Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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Maternal Mental Health - Tokophobia (fear of child birth)

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BUMPS (medication use in pregnancy) best available evidence

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BUMPS (medication use in pregnancy) best available evidence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
bumps - best use of medicine in pregnancy

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This website provides reliable, evidence-based, and accurate information about use of medicines in pregnancy, in the form of freely available patient information leaflets called 'Bumps ' leaflets are produced by the UK Teratology Information Service ( UKTIS), a not-for-profit national organisation hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne hospital NHS Foundation Trust and funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of the UK Health Departments.

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Everything you need to know about C-Sections - Tommys's Charity

# data[].attributes.subject
Everything you need to know about C-Sections - Tommys's Charity

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**Trigger Warning**

A helpful resource for anyone affected by sexual trauma in either childhood or adulthood. It includes a helpful resource for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenthood under Resources.

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The Survivors Trust Resources site is an online platform designed to offer survivor-led resources and practical tools to help people affected by sexual violence and abuse, and their supporters navigate their journey of healing. We explore some of the common challenges that survivors may have including topics such as anxiety & panic; shame & guilt; intimacy; relationships; dissociation; sleep and much more.

The Survivors Trust delivers training to member charities, government agencies, police, health professionals, employers and schools to promote sensitive and informed responses to survivors. Our training is underpinned by a wealth of knowledge that comes from decades of experience working across the sexual violence and abuse sector.

Learn about our trauma-informed healthcare project #CheckWithMeFirst.

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charity rape sexual abuse exploitation support survivor victim counselling therapy help childhood men women raped the survivors trust

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National Umbrella Organisation for Specialist Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Services

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What is Fear of birth/tokophobia? Tommy's Charity

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What is Fear of birth/tokophobia? Tommy's Charity

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About the Children’s Centres | London Borough of Bexley

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Our Children’s Centres aim to improve outcomes for young children, ensuring they are happy, healthy and ready to begin school.

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Guide to breastfeeding a baby with Down Syndrome

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Guide to breastfeeding a baby with Down Syndrome

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Your child's growth charts and health records from the NHS

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eRedbook - The Digital Red Book For Parents

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Keep your child’s growth charts, vaccination data and other health records from the NHS with you wherever you are.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out about screening tests in pregnancy. These include ultrasound scans and blood tests to try to find any health conditions that could affect you or your baby.

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Sara Wickham - Ten things I wish every woman knew about induction of labour

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Sara Wickham - Ten things I wish every woman knew about induction of labour

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Induction of labour - Kings College Hospital Leaflet

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Induction of labour - Kings College Hospital Leaflet

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Find out what to pack in your bag ready for labour and birth, including essentials for you and the baby, plus suggestions for your birth partner, if you have one.

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Recommendations for exercise in pregnancy

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Recommendations for exercise in pregnancy

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What is PGP and how to get support

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Pregnancy and Early Postnatal Pelvic Health

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Pregnancy and Early Postnatal Pelvic Health

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Pelvic girdle pain, musculoskeletal, pelvic floor, perineum.

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Welcome to the POGP Pregnancy and Early Postnatal section.

Find out more about pregnancy and early postnatal topics on our dedicated pages:

External links

Coming soon - collection of videos featuring women who have spoken out about their experience of suffering from the effects of an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI)

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Welcome to the POGP Pregnancy and Early Postnatal section.

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The exercises in this series of videos are suitable for most people in good health with a reasonable level of fitness.

Unless stated otherwise, they are general exercises only and are not aimed at treating any specific cause of pain or condition. Video titles and descriptions can give more information on how difficult the exercises are and who they are for.

Get advice from a healthcare professional before trying them if:

you are not sure if the exercises are suitable for your current level of fitness

you have a health problem, an injury, any symptoms, are feeling unwell, or you have had a recent health event such as a heart attack or operation

you have any other concerns about your health

you are pregnant or have recently given birth

Stop the exercise immediately if you feel any pain or become unwell. If you are concerned about any symptoms, or they do not go away, get help from 111 online or call 111 for advice.

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Instructor Beth will take you through a sequence of mindfulness and meditation techniques in this home workout video from the NHS Fitness Studio, where you can find a range of workout routines to suit you, whether your aim is to lose weight, improve your overall fitness, or de-stress.

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Whether you’re currently pregnant or have recently given birth, look after your body with this prenatal and postnatal exercise home workout video from the NHS Fitness Studio.

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Link to translated versions

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Natasha shares great things to do in and outside of London. Some free, some reduced, some pop-ups

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Hoop is an app that helps families across the UK discover things to do with their kids.

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At SLOW we know that your grief cannot be fixed, and we do not strive to 'make things better'.

Instead we give you space and support, so that you may, in your own time, slowly rebuild your life.

In this way, we believe there is hope to be found in connecting with other bereaved parents and siblings, relief in sharing the pain of grief, and company in bearing the unbearable, alongside others who are living with loss.

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Support for Bereaved Parents and Siblings in the UK

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SLOW is an award-winning bereavement charity offering support for bereaved parents and siblings in the UK following the devastating loss of a child.

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It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast. You've been temporarily blocked from using it. If you think this doesn't go against our Community Standards let us know.

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We are raising awareness of the link between sleeping on your back in the third trimester and stillbirth. The safest thing to do is go to sleep on your side.

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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

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Dr Sara Wickham - author, speaker, researcher. Evidence-based pregnancy and birth information for women, families, midwives and birth folk.

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LAURA BRIDLE Decision POSTER interactive v1 10 FINAL

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Feeding your baby can feel quite overwhelming at first - whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both.

We have lots of guidance to support you, along with hints and tips from other parents.

There is a lot of evidence to show how beneficial it is to breastfeed your baby, especially in the early weeks. However, it can take time to get the hang of, and there may be reasons why you cannot breastfeed.

If you have any feeding worries or concerns, the best thing to do is speak to your midwife or health visitor.

In this section

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Whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both, we have lots of guidance to support you, along with hints and tips from other parents.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
6+ hours of video content (43 individual videos)

Closed Caption subtitles (option to switch on / off)

8x MP3s to download (option to have background music or voice-only)

A course notes booklet in PDF format to download

A fully editable birth preferences template to download and complete

A sample copy of completed birth preferences to use for reference

Access to a private Facebook group for ongoing support and daily positive birth stories

Regular Facebook Live Q&A sessions with Siobhan Miller, founder of The Positive Birth Company and creator of the Digital Pack

A fully comprehensive Infant Feeding Guide from Little Peach London (covering breastfeeding, bottle-feeding and pumping)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
6+ hours of video content (43 individual videos) Closed Caption subtitles (option to switch on / off) 8x MP3s to download (option to have background music or voice-only) A course notes booklet in PDF format to download A fully editable birth preferences template to download and complete A sample copy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

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Maternity: care during pregnancy - Antenatal classes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Information on antenatal classes for pregnant women.

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PLEASE BE AWARE - Due to the 'clinical' nature of some of these documents translation to different languages may not be completely accurate and the information contained in them should not be solely relied upon.

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PLEASE BE AWARE - Due to the 'clinical' nature of some of these documents translation to different languages may not be completely accurate and the information contained in them should not be solely relied upon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parent Education :: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

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Find out more about what jaundice is, the signs to look out for in your baby, and the treatment available.

Jaundice (jawn-diss) is the name for yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is very common for newborn babies to get jaundice. In most cases it is harmless and goes away without needing treatment by the time your baby is about two weeks old.

Sometimes jaundice can be serious and may be caused by a medical problem. Serious cases of newborn jaundice are more common in babies born premature. Because it can sometimes be serious, your midwife or baby's doctor needs to know if they have jaundice. Your baby can then get any treatment they need quickly.

What causes jaundice?

The yellow colour is caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin (billy-roo-bin).

Bilirubin is a normal body chemical, which is produced when red blood cells are broken down and replaced by fresh cells. Bilirubin is then processed by the liver and leaves the body in urine (pee) and stools (poo).

Jaundice is common in newborn babies because the baby's liver is not developed enough in the first few days to process all the bilirubin that is produced. Bilirubin then builds up in the blood, which causes jaundice.

Doctors call this ' physiological jaundice ', which means it is not caused by a medical problem. This is the most common type of jaundice and starts at about two days after birth, but is usually gone by about two weeks.

Other types of jaundice

Other types of jaundice may be caused by serious medical problems. Jaundice that occurs within the first 24 hours of life, which doctors call ' early jaundice', could be caused by conditions such as:

There is also a type of jaundice which causes babies to be jaundiced for longer (after they are around two weeks old). This is called ' prolonged jaundice '. It can also be referred to as 'breastmilk jaundice' because it is much more common in babies who are fed with their mother's milk.

Doctors are not sure why this happens, but it does not harm the baby and will go away without treatment. This type of jaundice can sometimes carry on for up to 12 weeks, but this does not mean that feeding with breast milk should stop.

Prolonged jaundice is usually harmless, but may occasionally be caused by more serious medical problems. Babies with prolonged jaundice will usually have some extra blood tests to look for any medical problems. This is often at a clinic in the hospital or may be done at home by a community midwife in some areas.

In most cases, no medical condition is found and the jaundice gradually goes away without needing treatment, but occasionally important medical problems are picked up by these tests.

Which babies are most likely to get newborn jaundice?

Jaundice in newborn babies is very common, but in most cases is not severe enough to need treatment. There are some things which make a baby more likely to have jaundice that needs treating:

Being born premature (less than 38 weeks) - the earlier a baby is born, the more likely they are to need treatment for jaundice.

Having a low birth weight.

Being male.

Being from an Asian or black family.

Getting jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth.

Having a brother or sister who needed treatment for jaundice after birth.

Being only fed with breastmilk.

Babies born prematurely are more likely to get jaundice. If they have jaundice, it is more likely to be severe and tends to last longer than in full term babies.

After your baby is born, they will be examined, both in hospital and at home. Every time your baby is examined, your care team will be checking for jaundice. You will be encouraged to check your baby too, especially after you take them home. If your baby has jaundice, their skin and the whites of their eyes will appear yellowish.

Signs of jaundice in babies with darker skin tones

It can be more difficult to tell if a baby has jaundice if they have darker skin, because the yellowing may be less obvious. Gently pressing on the tip of their nose or on their forehead can make it easier to see any yellowing.

The whites of the eyes should normally always be white, no matter how dark your baby's skin. So checking your baby's eyes is a good way to look for jaundice. It is best to check your baby in bright light, preferably daylight.

Tell your midwife, health visitor, or GP the same day if you think your baby has jaundice.

Jaundice on the neonatal unit

Jaundice is commonly seen on the neonatal unit, especially with preterm babies. Around 80% of preterm babies develop jaundice. The liver of a preterm baby is still developing, and is not yet able to process bilirubin as easily as term babies.

Preterm babies are also more sensitive to the potential complications of jaundice, so treatment often starts earlier than in babies born at full-term.

Jaundice is also more common in babies who are born at full-term but unwell, for example with an infection, or who have other risk factors. Their care team will know what to look out for and will check your baby's bilirubin level, but if you think your baby looks like they have jaundice, please mention this to them.

If you notice your baby has jaundice

If you think your baby may have jaundice, tell your midwife, health visitor or doctor straight away. Jaundice is not usually a serious problem, but it is best to get your baby checked.

If your baby's jaundice does not go away (prolonged jaundice)

In full-term babies, jaundice usually goes away on its own by the time your baby is two weeks old, or three weeks if they were premature. If the jaundice does not go away, it might mean that there is an underlying medical problem.

If your baby has jaundice for more than two weeks, tell your midwife, health visitor or GP the same day. Prolonged jaundice is usually harmless, but it is important to have your baby checked in case they need treatment for a medical problem.

Pale stools (poo) and dark urine

A newborn baby's stool should be yellowy orange and their urine should normally be colourless or yellow. If they are not, that can be a sign of a problem which needs to be investigated. If your baby has pale (cream or white coloured) stools then you should inform your Community Midwife, GP or Health Visitor immediately, and tests should be arranged that day.

Useful guide to baby stool colour.

When your baby needs immediate medical help

Get immediate medical help by contacting your GP or going to the hospital Accident and Emergency department if your baby:

Has jaundice in the first 24 hours after they are born.

Has jaundice and is unwell, becoming more drowsy or not feeding.

Is becoming more and more yellow.

What tests might my baby have?

To accurately check whether your baby has jaundice, the level of bilirubin in their blood needs to be measured. Your midwife may be able to do this test at home, or you may need to take your baby to the hospital. If you are on a neonatal unit, doctors and nurses will check your baby's bilirubin level regularly.

The two main ways to check your baby's bilirubin level are:

By using a small device called a bilirubinometer (billy-roo-bin-ometer), which shines a light onto your baby's skin.

With a blood test from a heel prick. This may be needed depending on the results of the bilirubinometer test and the age of your baby.

The results of the test are used to see whether your baby needs any treatment. The doctor may also recommend further tests to look for other causes of jaundice. If so, they will explain what these tests involve.

Most babies with newborn jaundice do not need treatment. If your baby does need treatment, this will usually be given in hospital, but sometimes it can be given at home. Some people believe that sunlight is a good treatment for newborn jaundice but this is not correct.

The main treatment for newborn jaundice is called phototherapy. This is where your baby lies in an incubator with a blue light source above them. Some babies may be able to have phototherapy by lying on a special light-up blanket (called a 'biliblanket') instead. The blue light changes the bilirubin into a form that your baby's body can more easily process.

You will usually still be able to feed your baby, change their nappies, and give them a cuddle. Find guidance on how you can be more involved in your baby's care on the unit.

Preterm babies may need multiple treatments over a number of days and sometimes weeks. The more preterm your baby is, the more likely it is they will need phototherapy. Once treatment has stopped, your baby's bilirubin level will be checked again as they may require more phototherapy.

Very occasionally, a baby with jaundice needs a treatment called exchange transfusion. This is where your baby's blood is slowly replaced with blood from a blood donor, to remove the bilirubin. This treatment will happen in a neonatal unit and will only be done if your baby's bilirubin level is very high, or if phototherapy has not worked.

Your baby may need other treatments if they have a medical condition causing their jaundice. You can ask your nurses or doctors to explain what these involve.

Are there any short-term or long-term effects from having newborn jaundice?

Most newborn babies who have jaundice are not ill, and the jaundice goes away on its own in a few weeks without causing any problems.

But high levels of bilirubin can be harmful. That is why some babies need treatment. Fortunately, treatment usually works well to bring down the high level of bilirubin before it causes harm.

In a small number of babies, levels of bilirubin go very high. This can affect the brain and cause a condition called kernicterus (ker-nic-ter-us). Babies with this condition will be very unwell and will need care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Signs of kernicterus include:

Being overly sleepy

Being irritable

Being floppy, or stiff with an arched back

Having pauses in breathing (apnoea)

Having unusual movements (seizures)

Kernicterus can lead to long-term problems for babies. These include seizures (fits), learning difficulties, and hearing problems. If your baby has had kernicterus, they will have follow up appointments to check their development.

If jaundice is caused by a baby having a different blood type to their mother ( Rhesus disease), this can also cause the baby to develop anaemia (ah-nee-mee-ya), which is when they have less healthy red blood cells.

Where can I get more help and support?

It is natural to feel worried if something seems wrong with your baby. Your midwife, health visitor, or your baby's doctor will be able to talk to you about newborn jaundice. In most cases they will be able to reassure you that your baby's jaundice will get better without causing problems.

If your baby needs treatment, you can talk to the nurses and doctors in the hospital. If you are unsure about any part of your baby's diagnosis, treatment or care, just ask.

If you feel like you are struggling, we have lots of information and tips on how you can look after yourself and find support.

If your baby is found to have an underlying liver problem, you may find it helpful to visit the website of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. We also have some other links to charities and organisations who can provide support.

If you need someone to talk to, you can contact us on hello@bliss.org.uk or arrange a video call with one of our volunteers.

If you have any feedback about this page, please email: information@bliss.org.uk

Last reviewed: April 2022

Next review date: April 2025

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Find out more about what jaundice is, the signs to look out for in your baby, and the treatment available.

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Maternity Passport - For Autistic people

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Maternity Passport - For Autistic people

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Evelina London celebrates patient involvement in new Children's Day Surgery Unit

Evelina London invited children and young people for a preview of the new Children's Day Surgery Unit.

Professor David Edwards receives James Spence Medal

Professor David Edwards has won the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's (RCPCH) highest honour, the James Spence Medal, for 2023.

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Evelina London Children's Hospital and community services are part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. We are the second largest provider of children's services in London. Our vision is to be a world leading centre of life-changing care for children, young people and their families.

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Lewisham Hospital Maternity - Video Tour

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Lewisham Hospital Maternity - Video Tour

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Maternity services walkthrough at University Hospital Lewisham

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Queen Elizabeth Maternity Hospital - Video Tour

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Queen Elizabeth Maternity Hospital - Video Tour

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Darent Valley Maternity Hospital - Video Tour

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Darent Valley Maternity Hospital - Video Tour

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Virtual Tour of Maternity Services at Darent Valley Hospital

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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Princess Royal University Hospital - Video

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Princess Royal University Hospital - Video

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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Maternity at Princess Royal University Hospital

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Home > Who we are > Our work > Local Maternity and Neonatal System

Our work

Local Maternity and Neonatal System

Who we are
The Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) in south east London is a partnership between care providers, commissioners, service user representatives and other stakeholders including NHS England and public health representatives. The system works to develop and transform maternity services in response to local needs and national recommendations.
Our vision
Our ambition is that women, birthing people, babies, and their families experience joined up, high quality and kind care during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally. They should be informed and supported to make choices that are right for them, and where a higher chance of complications mean additional assessment is required, the care is collaborative, individualised, safe and with a good outcome. As a system we will continually strive to improve maternity and neonatal services and the experience of women, birthing people, and their families within south east London.
Our services - There are three providers of maternity care:
Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (St. Thomas' Hospital https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust https://www.kch.nhs.uk/service/a-z/maternity and Princess Royal University Hospital https://pruh.kch.nhs.uk/services/maternity/

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/maternity (University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital)

You can choose to have your maternity care with any of these providers. Please take a look at their websites for more information on the services they offer.

Listening to and working closely with women, birthing people, and their families to ensure they have care that is respectful of their needs is a priority for the LMNS.
Once you have given birth you may decide that you want to share your experiences of your care or become a member of a Maternity Voices Partnership. A Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) is a team of women, birthing people, their families, commissioners, and providers (midwives and doctors) working together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity care. https://nationalmaternityvoices.org.uk/

In south east London there are six Maternity Voices Partnerships. Please find below their contact details:

PRUHmaternityvoices@outlook.com
kingsmvp.southwark@gmail.com
lambethandstthomasmvp@gmail.com
Bexleymvp@selondonics.nhs.uk
mvp.lewisham@gmail.com
greenwichmvp@gmail.com

If you want to provide feedback directly to your care provider you can contact the trust's Patient Advice and Liaison Services:

Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/contact-us/your-feedback/contact-pals

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (King's College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital)
kch-tr.palsdh@nhs.net

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
pals.lewisham@nhs.net
pals.qeht@nhs.net

Recent achievements
South East London Perinatal Pelvic Health Service:
In April 2021 SE London became one of 14 pilots to develop perinatal pelvic health services across our three maternity providers. The aim of this service is to support every woman and birthing person receiving maternity care to be able to access a pelvic health service throughout their pregnancy, which includes providing exercises that can help to prevent problems from developing in the first place.

Specialist Pelvic Health Midwives and Physiotherapists have been employed as part of this pilot to support the existing workforce and embed pelvic health services across the three maternity providers. More than three hundred GPs, Health Visitors, Obstetricians and Midwives across Kings College Hospital, Guys and St Thomas Hospital and Lewisham and Greenwich have attended pelvic health awareness sessions.

Pelvic Health dedicated classes are now available for women who are at risk of pelvic floor dysfunction at Guys and St Thomas Hospital https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity-care-during-pregnancy/antenatal-classes and Kings College Hospital https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/kings-college-hospital-maternity-28026537005.

The SE London Perinatal Pelvic Health Pilot was also presented at the International Continence Society held in Vienna in September 2022 https://www.ics.org/2022/session/7478.
Colourful Wallets for Black and Brown women
A collaboration between Kings College Hospital and Five X More has culminated in the design and production of a practical resource for women and birthing people in south east London. The wallets have been designed to keep maternity specific papers safe, but they also provide empowering and encouraging messages with a focus on support for Black and Brown pregnant people.
The wallets are now being offered across all of the maternity care providers in south east London.

Further information
General enquiries
Email: contactus@selondonics.nhs.uk

Postal address: South East London Integrated Care System, PO BOX 64529, London SE1P 5LX
Media Enquiries
Email: media@selondonics.nhs.uk
Contacting NHS South East London
For enquiries, comments and complaints relating to NHS South East London, head to www.selondonics.org/icb/contact-us

News, stories and events

Theatre performance highlights issues faced by migrant women

Stronger together leaders from Creating Ground performed a short theatre piece ahead of the NHS South East London ICB meeting in public on 19 July 2023 highlighting some of the issues migrant women face with public sector services. It covered the lack of agency that migrant women may have and how they can be perceived [...]

South Asian Heritage Month gets underway

NHS South East London Integrated Care Board and our local partners hope all our residents and staff of South Asian heritage have a chance to mark the month. The fourth South Asian Heritage Month started on Tuesday 18 July, the date in 1947 that King George VI signed the Indian Independence Act. It runs through [...]

NHS webinar on childhood immunisation

Leading NHS clinicians and public health experts talked about why and how we can improve vaccination uptake in Lambeth and Southwark

South East London ICS
160 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2TZ

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Local Maternity and Neonatal System - South East London ICS

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The Local Maternity and Neonatal System for our Integrated Care System is focussed on women, birthing people, babies, and their families to ensure they experience a joined up, high quality and kind care during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally.

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antenatal colostrum (hand expressing in preparation for baby)

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antenatal colostrum (hand expressing in preparation for baby)

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Bexley Maternity Voices, Bexley, Bexley, United Kingdom. 158 likes · 1 was here. Bexley Maternity Voices (MSLC) oversees maternity services provided to pregnant women and new parents and recommends…

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Social services teams are part of your local council. Their job includes helping people who are in need of additional support or are at risk of harm. This can include helping babies and children, and also helping adults with certain care needs.

The part of social services that works with children and their families is called children's services (we use 'children's social services' to refer to these teams).

Children's social services departments have two main responsibilities:

To support children and their families. This can include providing information, advice and signposting to other services.

To work to protect children who are suffering harm or are at risk of harm. This second type of work is called 'child protection' or 'safeguarding'.

A referral can happen if healthcare professionals have good reason to think that:

You are struggling, or will struggle to meet the needs of your baby when it is born, and may need additional support, or

Your child will be at significant risk of harm once they are born. Significant harm means that the way a child is cared for is seriously damaging their health or development.

This factsheet gives more information about the processes children's social services must follow when they receive a referral. It refers to processes in England.

Doctors and midwives must not refer you to children's social services on the basis of your birth choices only. You have the right to make any choices you wish to regarding your birth even if it might result in your death or the death of your baby.

Doctors and midwives must never use the threat of calling in children's social services to make you choose a treatment or care that you do not want.

Even if healthcare professionals do not agree with your choices, it is your right to decide where you give birth, who attends you, and the treatment and care you want.

If you think you need some support during your pregnancy, or might want support when the baby is born, you can talk to your midwife about what support might be available from local agencies and services. Each area should have support services that are available to families, without children's social services being involved. For example, your midwife might suggest support from a health visitor or a local parenting group. This type of support may be called 'early help'.

If you have particular needs, for example if you are disabled and think you might benefit from additional support, your midwife might suggest contacting adult social services for an assessment and support. Or they may contact children's social services if they think you and your child may need extra help, support and services. This is called 'child in need' support/services. Children's social services can assess your situation to work out if your child is likely to be a child in need. They can decide whether they will be in need enough to receive services and to find out what extra support or services may most help your child and your family.

Anyone can tell children's social services that they are worried about a child's welfare, including members of the public. This is called making a referral.

Hospitals, birth centres and GP surgeries have named people who deal with child protection issues. They follow set rules for the way they tell children's social services that they are concerned about a child. These are called procedures or child protection policies.

An individual healthcare worker can make a direct referral themselves. They can make a referral when you are pregnant if they think your child may be at significant risk of harm once they are born.

Hospitals have rules (child protection policies) that set out how they deal with child protection issues. These rules say that healthcare professionals must talk with parents-to-be if they are worried about whether their child will be safe after their birth. They must obtain parents' consent before making a referral to social services, unless doing this may put the pregnant person's welfare, or the child's welfare once it is born, at risk of greater harm.

For example, if you are experiencing domestic abuse, the NHS in England says that you should be able to speak in confidence to a healthcare professional such as a GP or your midwife. They say that information should only be shared with social services without your permission if your child will be at risk once born or if any other people (including other children in your family) are at risk of serious harm.

This means that your doctors, midwives and nurses should not normally refer you to social services without your knowledge.

A baby does not have any rights separate to its mother until it is born. Therefore, even if a healthcare professional believes the baby may be harmed during birth because of your choices, this is not a good enough reason on its own to refer you to children's social services.

Midwives and doctors should never refer you to children's social services on the basis of your birth choices alone, or because you do not want to accept certain aspects of care. They must have a reasonable belief that your baby is threatened with significant harm once it is born.
For example, you can imagine two different women who are planning an unassisted birth. The first woman has had a previous traumatic birth and there is no evidence that the parents will have problems looking after the baby once it is born. The choice to have an unassisted birth in this situation should not raise concerns about the safety of the child once born. In the second scenario, the midwife has visited the woman's home and seen evidence of heavy drinking or drug taking. The woman attends antenatal appointments erratically and then says that she plans to give birth without assistance. In this example, looking at the whole picture, it is likely that a children's social services referral may be made.
If you have made an informed decision to refuse care or to give birth outside hospital, you cannot be made to accept care or give birth in a hospital. The only reason you can be made to accept care is if you lack the mental capacity to make your own decisions about medical treatment, and this is very rare.

If you give consent to aspects of care only because you were threatened with children's social services, your consent was not given freely. If a healthcare professional carries out treatment knowing that you did not freely consent to it, they could be taken to court.

Healthcare professionals should never make a referral to children's social services just because you are disabled or have a physical or mental health condition.

Some disabled parents and those with health conditions may feel that they could benefit from extra help and support to care for their child. If this applies to you, healthcare professionals should work with you to find the best way to support you. They may suggest making a referral to see if adult social services, children's social services or both are able to offer you extra support and services.

Asking for, or agreeing to a referral for help of this sort should not raise 'child protection' concerns (that is, concerns about the safety of your child).

Asking for reasonable adjustments to be made during your maternity care should not raise child protection concerns.

A healthcare professional can also make a referral to children's social care if they have evidence or are concerned that your condition may directly prevent you from meeting the needs of your child and that your child will be at significant harm once born. A healthcare professional should ask for your consent before making a referral to social services, unless they are concerned that this will put your welfare at risk, or the welfare of your child once born.

If you are referred to children's or adult social services for support for you or your child, or if safeguarding concerns have been raised, any assessments should involve a 'multi-agency' team of professionals and specialists. This is to help make sure that they have expert input on your situation. It will help to make sure your needs and your child's needs are properly understood.

The purpose of any assessment should be clearly explained before it starts. There should be a chance to ask questions about it or to raise concerns. You should be told who will be doing the assessment, how long it will take and when it will be shared with you. You should be fully involved throughout. Professionals should listen carefully and respectfully to your plans for parenting.

Some people are very anxious about being assessed on how they plan to care for their baby. For example, someone with little use of their arms may fear that healthcare professionals will criticise their decision to use their mouth or legs when changing their baby. Or someone with a severe visual impairment may be worried that healthcare professionals will not understand that they are fully independent. Healthcare professionals and social workers should not assume that you will not be a good parent because of your impairments or health condition.

You may find it helpful to think about any support you might want. Your existing healthcare team might be able to help you think about this. You could talk to a trusted friend about what they think might be useful to you. You may also find it useful to talk to other parents with similar conditions about the parenting strategies that have worked for them. You can ask your healthcare team if they are able to put you in touch with someone who has had a similar experience. It may be helpful to make a note or a voice note (on your phone) about the support you think you might want.

If you are having any assessments, or if professionals have raised any concerns about your support needs, you can ask that professionals carry out any home visits, or come back for a return visit, after you have recovered from the birth and are able to use your usual parenting strategies. This might apply, for example, if you have had a c-section. You might want to test out things that are worrying you before your baby arrives if you can. For example, whether you can strap the car seat in comfortably if you use a wheelchair.

There are a number of organisations and networks which may be able to provide support and help, depending on your circumstances.

If you have previously been referred to children's social services, then you may be referred to them when you get pregnant again.

If you have previously had children who have been subject of care proceedings in the Family Court, children's social services are likely to want to see that your current situation is different. They will likely want to do a pre-birth assessment. It is worth working in partnership with the social worker. This will help to make sure that a good assessment is done and social workers have the right information about your current situation. It will help to make sure the right plan is in place once your baby is born. It is also important to carry on accessing maternity care and any other health services you need during your pregnancy and after the birth.

If you are a young person in local authority care, or who has previously been in local authority care, then children's social services should work with you to make sure that you have the help you need during your pregnancy and after the birth.

The charities Family Rights Group and Become offer specialist advice and support to care-experienced young parents and expectant parents.

This will depend on what happened in your situation. A referral should still only be made if there is a reasonable belief that your unborn child will experience significant harm once born.

If you are sent to prison whilst you are pregnant then it is highly likely that a referral will be made to children's social services.

When children's social services carry out an assessment in relation to an unborn child, this is called a pre-birth assessment.

A pre-birth assessment is carried out in a similar way to other children's social services assessments, but it happens before the baby is born. It aims to find out whether a family will need extra support, and/or whether a baby will be safe when they are born.

There can be different outcomes depending on the assessment. The assessment may conclude that the baby will need additional help once it is born. Or it may decide that there are concerns that it will suffer significant harm once it is born. Sometimes the assessment will decide that no additional help is needed from children's social services.

It can be helpful to keep a constructive and civil conversation with social services if your child is referred to children's social services.

It may be useful to make a written note of key points of meetings and appointments with health and social work practitioners. You can do this in a notebook, or on your phone. If it is easier, you could make a voice note on your phone. Having a note can help you remember what has been discussed. You can ask if minutes (formal notes) of meetings are being prepared and when you will receive these.

If you are told that social services are assessing your child or taking action to protect your child, you may wish to seek legal advice from a solicitor specialising in family law. Birthrights do not provide legal representation in family law cases.

The charity Family Rights Group provides information about situations in which it is particularly important or urgent to have a solicitor, and top tips on working with them. These include if children's social services are starting ' pre-proceedings ', which means that social services are thinking about whether they will apply to the Family Court to become involved in your child's care.

If you need help from a solicitor regarding children's social services, then it is important to find a solicitor who is a specialist in children law, or who has 'Children Law Accreditation'.

Many solicitors offer one hour of free legal advice, and there can be legal aid available for situations involving children's social services. You can ask the solicitor if legal aid (public funding for legal costs) is available in your case. For example, if your child is subject to care proceedings - that is, if children's social services are applying to the Family Court to be involved in your child's care - then you will automatically get free legal aid to cover the cost of a solicitor advising and representing you.

If you think a healthcare professional threatened you by saying they would call social services, or made an unjustified referral to social services, you can make a complaint to their employer.

If your complaint is about a social worker, you can complain to the local authority (council) social services department. They will have a formal complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with the result of your complaint, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.

You need to complain as soon as possible. The NHS and social services ask you to complain within 12 months unless you have a good reason for not being able to.

You can find more information about challenging decisions and making a complaint on the Family Rights Group website.

Child protection describes the policies, procedures and processes that children's services must follow if they ways that children's social services can intervene in families when they believe children are at risk of 'significant harm'. This is directed and guided by law, policies and procedures. The principles of child protection are similar in each nation of the UK but the processes vary slightly. This factsheet describes the processes in England.

Social services departments are part of local councils, also known as Local Authorities. The team that looks after children is called the Children's Services department. They plan and provide child protection services in the council's area.

The government's Department for Education is responsible overall for child protection. It provides guidance to social services.

Child protection principles are set out in the Children Act 1989.

In England, ' Working Together to Safeguard Children ' is the core government guidance on child protection. It is intended to provide a national framework. Local agencies and professionals use this framework to agree on their own practices.

The Children Act 2004 established Local Safeguarding Children's Boards which make sure that the key agencies are involved.

In the UK, unborn children are not given legal recognition. However, child protection procedures can apply to parents-to-be if there is a reasonable belief that the baby will be at risk of significant harm when it is born.

The legal term 'significant harm' is defined in the Children Act 1989. It includes physical and non-physical ill-treatment and impairment of a child's health or development.

The guidance explains that there are no absolute criteria for determining what constitutes significant harm. The decision whether a child is at risk will be made by local social services departments. If they decide to start child protection proceedings, that decision can be challenged in a Court.

There is no national guidance on what constitutes a risk of harm to an unborn child. Local safeguarding children's boards and social services departments have varied protocols on protecting unborn children. Common issues often identified in these protocols include:

maternal drug or alcohol dependence

domestic violence

parent aged under 16

parent who has previously harmed a child

previous unexplained death of a child where abuse or neglect is suspected

denial of pregnancy

avoidance of antenatal care*

non-cooperation with healthcare services and/or non-compliance with medical treatment*

* You have the legal right to decline antenatal care and to make your own choices in maternity care (see our Consenting to treatment factsheet) and these should not raise safeguarding concerns in isolation.
About Birthrights
Birthrights factsheets give you information about your human rights when you are pregnant and giving birth. Contact Birthrights for help on our advice form or by emailing advice@birthrights.org.uk.

Birthrights champions respectful care during pregnancy and childbirth by protecting human rights. We provide advice and information to women and birthing people, train doctors and midwives, and campaign to change maternity policy and systems.

We are a charity, independent of the government and the NHS.
Disclaimer: Our factsheets provide information about the law in the UK. The information is correct at the time of writing (May 2021). The law in this area may be subject to change. Birthrights cannot be held responsible if changes to the law outdate this publication. Birthrights accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from reliance on information contained in this factsheet. Birthrights has provided links to third party websites where these may help provide relevant further information. Birthrights takes no responsibility for the contents of linked websites and links should not be taken as an endorsement.
Do you work with pregnant women and birthing people?

Our training equips doctors, midwives and other birth workers with knowledge of the law and human rights principles, an understanding of how to apply it in practice, and the ability to communicate effectively with women and birthing people in a way that upholds their human rights. We offer a 10% discount to multidisciplinary teams.

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Social Services and Maternity Care - Birthrights

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What do social services do? Why might I be referred to children's social services? Can I be referred to children's social services because of my birth choices? How can I get support from local services? What happens if someone is worried about my child? Can I be referred to social services because of my birth ...

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Birthright's factsheets provide you with the latest information on your rights, where they come from in law, and how they are backed up in guidance.

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Birthright's factsheets provide you with the latest information on your rights, where they come from in law, and how they are backed up in guidance.

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Knowing your rights and the law in pregnancy and childbirth is important. Our factsheets provide you with the latest information on your rights, where they come from in law, and how they are backed up in guidance.

Each link below goes to a new page where you can read the information or download a printable PDF document.

We do not deal with maternity-related employment or benefits issues. Maternity Action provide comprehensive information on your rights at work, access to benefits, breast-feeding and chest-feeding rights.

Birthrights is a UK-based organisation and our factsheets cover the law in the UK, except where stated. They were last updated in August 2021 (written in May 2021).

Read our legal statement and copyright for terms and conditions of use of these factsheets.

If there's an area we've missed that you would like to see covered, please get in touch.
We are grateful to Looseleaf Productions, the Hollick Family Foundation, the Baring Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund for supporting our factsheets.
Do you work with pregnant women and birthing people?

Our training equips doctors, midwives and other birth workers with knowledge of the law and human rights principles, an understanding of how to apply it in practice, and the ability to communicate effectively with women and birthing people in a way that upholds their human rights. We offer a 10% discount to multidisciplinary teams.

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Knowing your rights and the law in pregnancy and childbirth is important. Our factsheets provide you with the latest information on your rights, where they come from in law, and how they are backed up in guidance. Each link below goes to a new page where you can read the information or download a printable ...

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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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Improving the outcomes of Black people globally through education and therapy.

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We are a group of Black mothers who rarely agree on anything. Except, of course, changing the narrative and putting Black motherhood upfront.

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Learning with Ez and Friends helps parents with toddlers introduce the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum at Home Through Diverse Educational Flashcards for toddlers

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Support Groups

National Support Groups

Living with ADHD

This website has been developed to support those who come into contact with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - parents/carers and teachers - and also provides resources for children and teenagers themselves, to help them understand and manage the condition.
www.livingwithadhd.co.uk
addup was set up to bring families together, to guide parents in the right direction to find the practical help they need for their children and to promote both public and professional awareness of ADHD.
http://www.addup.co.uk
ADD / ADHD Online Information
www.adders.org
ADDISS, The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
www.addiss.co.uk
ADHD VOICES

ADHD Voices brings the perspectives and experiences of children into international debates around rising child psychiatric diagnoses and the increasing use of drugs in child psychiatry. These voices contribute to an empirical evidence base that helps to inform ethical debate, clinical judgment, and national policy. VOICES is a Wellcome Trust funded research project based at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
www.adhdvoices.com
ADHD Foundation
www.adhdfoundation.org.uk
ADDNI Children's Charity - Belfast
www.addni.net Mindroom is a special needs charity for children and adults affected by learning difficulties and learning disabilities www.mindroom.org
PATOSS - The professional association of teachers of students with specific learning difficulties
www.patoss-dyslexia.org The Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has a Policy Unit which deals with issues affecting National Mental Health policy and psychiatric practice. Details can be found on the website www.rcpsych.ac.uk/policy (under Policy and Parliamentary).

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition brings together leading charities to campaign jointly on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. http://www.cypmhc.org.uk/

Baldock / Hitchin / Letchworth / Royston / Stevenage

Angels Support Group - http://www.angelssupportgroup.org.uk/index.htm

Brighton

ADHD Brighton Support Group - http://adhdbrighton.org.uk/

Bristol

Adult ADHD Support Group - http://aadduk.org/help-support/support-groups/bristol-adult-adhd-support-group/

Cambridgeshire

C ambridgeshire Adult ADHD Support Group - http://addventure-within.co.uk/support/

Chichester

The Hyperactive Children's Support Group - http://www.hacsg.org.uk/page6.html

Coleraine

Phoenix ADHD Project - http://www.phoenixadhdproject.org/contact/

Essex

Chelmsford ADHD Support Group - http://www.adhd-support.org.uk/index.html

Gateshead

Gateshead ADHD Support - http://www.gatesheadadhdsupport.co.uk/whatis.html

Support group for parents of children with ADHD/ADD and Autism in Farnborough Hampshire. We run every month (1st Tuesday of every month) at the Ship Inn Pub in Farnborough. - Contact Nikki Roberts - adhdtimeout@outlook.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdandASDtmeout/
Harrow
Centre for ADHD and Autism Support Harrow - http://adhdandautism.org/

Contact : adhd@adhdandautism.org

Hastings

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Hertfordshire

Understanding ASD and ADHD in Hertfordshire - http://www.add-vance.org/

Lambeth ADHD Support Group: - http://turneyschool.co.uk/2018/10/14/lambeth-adhd-support-group-meetings/

Lancashire

ADHD Lancashire Support Group - http://www.adhdlancashire.co.uk/

Lincoln

Lincoln ADHD Support Group - http://lincolnadhd.org/

Liverpool

Liverpool Adult ADHD (Ladders of Life, LOL) - http://www.meetup.com/Liverpool-adult-adhd-ladders-of-life-meetup-com/

London

London adult ADHD support group - https://sites.google.com/site/joyfivolous/home

Manchester

Manchester Region Attention Deficit Disorder Group - http://www.maddchester.com/

Newcastle

KICK ADHD Support Group - http://www.netmums.com/newcastle/local/view/support-groups/special-needs-adhd/kick-adhd-support-group-keep-including-challenging-kids

Norfolk

Oxfordshire

ADHD Oxfordshire - http://www.adhdoxfordshire.co.uk/Support-Group.html

Richmond

Richmond ADHD Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/AdhdRichmond

Stockport

Stroud District Adults with ADHD - Support and Social Group (Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2123882871088294) or email stroudadhd@gmail.com for more information.

Central Scotland Adult ADHD Support - https://sites.google.com/site/scottishadhdadultsorg/Home

Dundee and Angus Support Group - www.adhddasupport.org

Glasgow Support Group - www.adhdglasgow.org

West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/WestYorkshireAdhdSupportGroup

Life Coach Directory

Life Coach Directory was set up to increase the awareness of life coaching and enable visitors to find the most suitable coach. Coaching is the process of guiding a person from where they are, to where they want to be. To ensure a professional website is maintained, only life coaches who have shown proof of qualifications and insurance cover, or proof of membership with a professional body, are listed.

The directory has a page dedicated to ADHD - http://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/articles/adhd-coaching.html

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Support Groups | The UK ADHD Partnership

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The UK ADHD Partnership supports clinicians and allied professionals to identify and meet the needs of children and young people affected by this disorder. ADHD is now recognised as a condition that may cross the lifespan and there are multi-modal interventions for ADHD that can be delivered at every age.

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I would describe being a same sex couple experiencing baby loss as being in a small pond, within a small pond. Whilst neither pond is actually that small once you start swimming around in it - you have to search far and wide to find others likes yourself. Families from around the world have shared their stories with me, and I couldn't be more humbled. The #LGBTBabyLoss blog series shares experiences of early miscarriage, recurrent loss, stillbirth, neonatal death, prematurity, preeclampsia, and twin loss. I hope, if you need it, you find something here that makes you feel less alone.

Charities and organisations are inclusive in recognising that same sex couples are also affected by baby loss, yet often there is only one or two examples of families that have been affected. Whilst this is brilliant, there are so many variables in each story that mean it can be tricky to find another experience that echos yours. And similarities, whatever they are, help us to feel less alone.

By creating the #LGBTBabyLoss blog series and section on my website, I aim to present a diverse collection of stories about loss and life after loss that enable other LGBT families experiencing baby loss to feel less alone.

STORIES OF LOVE AND LOSS

I CAN CARRY YOU | "If Jess had asked me to do the next cycle after Leo, I would have. But I know that she needed to do that herself."

THEY MATTER, YOU MATTER | "People like to say 'you can just try again' but for us LGBT families it isn't that simple"

OUR GOLDEN LIGHT | "At 39 weeks and 1 day, our beautiful Luca D'oro was born. And everything turned horribly wrong."

THINGS I GOOGLED | "I desperately wanted to know that there were people LIKE US who had been through something similar."

CREATING A DASH | "At 1pm we said our goodbyes in person. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do."

A TOWER BLOCK OF GUILT | "I feel guilty for not crying. I feel guilty for crying."

A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING | "We have faith. When the time is right we believe we will be blessed with our rainbow baby."

LIFE AFTER LOSS | "Life after loss is not about living in the past, it's about honoring, moving forward and keeping those moments alive."

A MISSION OF MINE | "I spoke with the donor and he told me to try one last time. I HAD to, because he had hope. Hope that I couldn't see, but I believed him."

THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE | "We dreamed and we talked and we wondered out loud who you would be."

AND I HELD HER HAND | "The three of us share a hospital bed until we run out of time"

A MOTHER LOOSING HER SOON | "I was a mother losing her son yet I didn't look like it because he wasn't in my body"

To connect with other parents, feel free to join the LGBT Bereaved Parents Community Facebook Group on my page - its a small, quiet community, but it is there for you.

Should you wish to share your story as part of this series, please just email me.
#LGBTBabyLoss

OTHER RESOURCES & STORIES FROM ELSEWHERE

Help for Same Sex Partners from ARC UK - booklet from ARC supporting those considering, during or following a termination of pregnancy. https://arc-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ARC-Help-for-Same-Sex-Partners-booklet.pdf

Trans Dads to Our Rainbow - two trans dads sharing their pregnancy and parenting after loosing their son

Two Dads and Baby - Leigh, Justin and their baby Owen

Natalie & Sarah shared their story with Tommys, the Baby Charity here

Laura & Hannah shared their story with Tommys, the Baby Charity here

When it all goes wrong in delivery - Sara and Hilary's story - An episode of the If These Ovaries Could Talk podcast - Sara and Hilary easily get pregnant and have a smooth pregnancy. But their story takes a horrific turn when the baby is stillborn. How do they recover when the most unimaginable happens? Do they try again?

'It's been 1245 days, 1012 injections and five IVF cycles. People keep saying the wrong thing.' - An article on MamaMia from MummyPlusMama, who also blog on Instagram, and feature int he Australian documentary, Misunderstanding of Miscarriage

Two Moms Make A Right - their journey through parenthood

Thoughts on a Life Upended - widowed and bereaved seahorse Dad

Suffolk Dad - a parenting blog from Kaiden, including his experiences of miscarrying as a birth father

Confronting the 'failure' of miscarriage as a Trans Man - Freddy McConnel's experiences after experiencing a miscarriage following IVF

You can explore a range of stories from the Miscarriage Association from lesbian and same-sex partners here

'Losing our Baby' - a vlog from 'Rose & Rosie'

Pregnancy Loss - The Neverknown - a dad's experience of pregnancy loss with a surrogate

Marjanna Barber-Dubois 's Pregnancy After Loss Bump Day Blog series - from Pregnancy after Loss Support
Pink Elephants LGBTIQ+ Miscarriage & Preconception Facebook support group
Aimee & Rebekah's story shared by Held In Our Hearts

Our son is our rainbow, but our daughter made us mums - story from Maisie, and wife Becca who is transgender, on the TOMMYS website; also featured on the BBC podcast When Are You Having Kids?

LGBTQ Pregnancy Loss And Miscarriage Often Means Grieving In The Gaps - an article from HuffPost Canada

When miscarriage happens to LGBTQ2 parents - an article from Jessica Zucker, from #IHadAMiscarriage

Finding support as an LGBTQ parent after the death of a child

Resources for LGBTQ+ families experience loss and pregnancy after loss - from Pregnancy After Loss Support

LGBT Mummies Tribe share a range of experiences from the community, and will regularly also include stories of loss, including a IG support group - DM for details

LGBT Pregnancy Loss Information Sheet from the Australian Psychological Society

Pregnancy loss: Lesbian and bisexual womens' experience of loss - from Pink Families
LGBT Baby Loss Blog Series has also appeared in the below places (click on the image to read the articles)
Resources & Support for LGBTQ Parents - from Baby in Heaven

Men, trans/masculine, and non-binary people's experiences of pregnancy loss: an international qualitative study. Read here.

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By creating the #LGBTBabyLoss blog series and section on my website, I aim to present a diverse collection of stories that enable other LGBT families experiencing baby loss to feel less alone.

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If you are LGBTQ+ and on a fertility journey and would like to meet others on a similar journey, then we have two peer support groups: For those just starting out who are looking for information and support at the beginning of their journeys, we have a group who meet

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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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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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It;s natural to feel concerned if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, or you have been told you are at risk. But gestational diabetes is fairly common: it affects around 18% of pregnant women. There are some things that increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes, but any pregnant woman can develop it.

In the UK, all pregnant women who are considered at risk are offered a test for gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Women are sometimes surprised to find out they have the condition because it's often picked up before it shows any obvious symptoms.

"Most mums I've met who had gestational diabetes have struggled with guilt, particularly in the beginning. Yes, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the condition, such as diet and exercise. But if you do develop gestational diabetes, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Anyone can develop it."

Isabel

There are several medical treatments that can help with gestational diabetes. However, some women are able to manage it by eating a healthy, balanced diet, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight.

Some women feel anxious about the potential complications or the long-term impact of gestational diabetes. Others feel worried about the diagnosis affecting their birth plan. Try to remember that most women who develop gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies if their condition is diagnosed and carefully managed and treated.

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It;s natural to feel concerned if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, or you have been told you are at risk. But gestational diabetes is fairly common: it affects around 18% of pregnant women. There are some things that increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes, but any pregnant woman can develop it.

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It's possible to become pregnant again very soon after the birth of a baby, even if you're breastfeeding and even if your periods have not returned.

You usually release an egg (ovulate) about 2 weeks before your period starts, so it's possible to get pregnant before you have a period.

Find out about your options

It's important to plan contraception in advance. If you have your baby in hospital, you'll probably discuss contraception with a midwife before you go home.

You'll also be asked about contraception at your postnatal check, which happens 6 to 8 weeks after the birth. But you can discuss it at any time (including while you're still pregnant) with a:

health visitor

midwife

GP

doctor or nurse at a contraception or sexual health clinic

pharmacist

Not all methods of contraception are safe for all women. For example, you should not use some methods if you have certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension).

You can discuss with your doctor or nurse which methods are suitable for you.

Contraception choices immediately after birth

At any time after the birth of your baby, as long as you have no medical risks, you can use:

Or, you can choose to have an IUD (intrauterine device) (more than 99% effective), or an IUS (intrauterine system) (more than 99% effective) inserted within 48 hours of the birth.

If an IUD or IUS is not inserted within 48 hours, you'll usually be advised to wait until 4 weeks after the birth.

3 weeks after birth

If you're not breastfeeding and your healthcare professional has checked you have no medical risk factors for a blood clot in a vein, you can start to use the:

But if you're breastfeeding, have certain health conditions, or a risk of blood clots, you'll usually be advised to delay using the combined pill, ring or patch until at least 6 weeks after the birth.

4 weeks after birth

If you did not have an IUD or IUS inserted within 48 hours of the birth, you can have one inserted later. But you'll usually be advised to wait at least 4 weeks after the birth.

6 weeks after birth

If you're breastfeeding or you've developed certain medical conditions during pregnancy or delivery, you'll need to wait until at least 6 weeks before you can use the:

combined pill

vaginal ring

contraceptive patch

You can usually start using a diaphragm or cap (92% to 96% effective if used correctly) around 6 weeks after giving birth.

If you used a diaphragm or cap before becoming pregnant, see a GP or a doctor or nurse at a contraception clinic after the birth, to make sure it still fits correctly.

This is because childbirth and other factors, such as gaining or losing weight, can mean you need a different size.

Find contraception services near you.

Page last reviewed: 29 June 2020
Next review due: 29 June 2023

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When can I use contraception after having a baby?

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Find out when you can start each method of contraception after having a baby, how effective they are, and which methods are safe to use if you're breastfeeding.

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The Bexley Sexual Health homepage signposts users to the key areas of the site: STI Kits and testing, contraception, sexual health services, free condoms.

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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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Music Football Fatherhood | For dads who want more open conversations around fatherhood - Music.Football.Fatherhood - open conversations around fatherhood

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Relationships after having a baby - for dads and partners

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Relationships after having a baby - for dads and partners

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Relationships after having a baby - for dads and partners

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Having a baby brings a lot of changes to your life, which may affect your relationships with your partner, family and friends.

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Becoming a parent often puts a strain on relationships, regardless of what they were like before.
Part of the problem is that you're tired and have so much less time to spend with friends, family or your partner than you did before the baby arrived.

It's a lot harder to go out together and enjoy the things you used to do. If you have a partner, they may feel left out, and you may resent what you see as a lack of support.

But the stage when babies and children take up all your physical and emotional energy doesn't last forever.

If you're having your first baby, you may feel lonely and cut off from your old life.

A partner can't give you everything you used to get from work and friends. You need other people in your life for support, friendship and a shoulder to cry on.

Take time to listen to your partner

If you have a partner, make time for each other when you can. Do little things to make each other feel cared for and included.

However close you were before the baby was born, your partner can't read your mind. Both your lives are changing, and you have to talk about it. You and your partner need to tell each other what you want and what's bothering you if you're resentful, angry or upset.

Be honest about what you need: do you need a hug or to feel understood?

It's important to talk about how you want to bring up your children. You may find you don't agree on basic matters like discipline and attitudes.

Share the housework and childcare so you can have more time together.

It's important to talk about how you want to bring up your children. You may find you don't agree on basic matters like discipline and attitudes.

Find a way of dealing with these issues without disagreeing in front of your child.

If you think a relationship is in danger of breaking down, help is available.

Help from a trained counsellor or therapist

If you'd like to talk to someone who's not a friend or family, there are lots of ways you can contact a relationship counsellor, some of them for free.

Relationships with family and friends

Bringing a baby into your life changes your relationships with family and friends, whether you're part of a couple or single.

Everyone's situation is different. For example, some mothers feel that their own mothers are taking over, whereas others resent the fact their mothers don't help them more.

It's best to be clear about the kind of help you want, rather than going along with what's offered and feeling resentful.

Your relatives are also getting used to a completely new relationship with you. They won't know what to do for the best unless you tell them.

You may find your old friends stop coming to see you, or they seem to expect you to drop everything and go out for the evening.

This can make keeping up with friends difficult, but explain to them how your life has changed. They may not understand the changes you're going through.

Keep in touch and keep some space for them in your life, as the support of friends can be really valuable.

Domestic abuse and how to get help

Domestic violence, also called domestic abuse, includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members.

Domestic abuse against women often starts in pregnancy. Existing abuse may get worse during pregnancy or after the birth.

Nobody has to put up with domestic abuse. It puts your health and that of your baby at risk.

There are lots of ways you can get help:

Witnessing domestic abuse can have a serious effect on children. Social workers can help you protect your child. If you wish, they can help you take steps to stop the abuse or find refuge.
Read more advice about recognising the signs of domestic violence and abuse and where to get help

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Advice for new parents on coping with changing relationships, both as a couple and with friends and family, plus what to do if you're a victim of domestic abuse.

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Refuge, the largest UK domestic abuse organisation for women

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Empowering women to live without violence & fear. Refuge is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the UK. Supporting thousands of women & their children overcome the physical, emotional, financial impacts of abuse.

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I need help - information and support on domestic abuse

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Women's Aid Live Chat does your relationship not feel right? It could be domestic abuse. Send an email to a Women's Aid domestic abuse support worker. Help for all aspects of domestic abuse, suc...

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How to make a complaint - Bexley children's social services

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How to make a complaint - Bexley children's social services

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Complain about Children’s social care | London Borough of Bexley