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Phone: 0131 220 3547

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Perinatal Counselling Edinburgh | CrossReach

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Our dedicated team of therapists offer specialist counselling support to new and expectant mothers, fathers and carers from our central Edinburgh base. For over four decades CrossReach has supported the perinatal mental health and well-being of the whole family – get in touch today to see how we can help. It has massively changed how I feel about myself and my relationship with my child. It helped me through an unbelievably difficult timePerinatal mental health is crucial for the well-being of parents and their babies. This period, encompassing pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life is a time of significant emotional, physical, and social changes. Many parents experience mental health issues during the perinatal period. If you are struggling, you are not alone. We have experience in working with anxiety, depression, birth trauma, bonding, isolation, loss of self and the stress of transitioning into parenthood. Our team can help you to manage the challenges, promoting your overall health and happiness and the emotional and developmental outcomes for your child. Clients can refer themselves or through a health professional from pre-birth to their child being 3 years old. What to expect? To make sure that we are the right service for you we offer you an ‘Initial Appointment’ discussion where you will be able to meet with one of the team to tell us a little more about what has brought you to counselling and to explore what service might be good for you. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. If you have difficulties accessing childcare support for your appointment, please let us know. We have a number of spaces in our Care-Inspected perinatal creche available to access during counselling sessions. If our service is suitable and you would like to go ahead you will then be offered a weekly 50 minute one to one session or space in a group with a Counsellor or Art Therapist. Your appointment with us: Appointments are weekly and last 50 minutes. We will discuss the day and time of these sessions with you when we first meet. We consider different types of support that might suit you, from one-to-one psychotherapy or counselling, to art therapy and group therapy. Both the counselling and crèche are located at our perinatal base at 8a Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. Counselling is also available online via a secure video platform. What pathways do we offer? We offer both a Donation and Self-Funded pathway into the service. When referring we ask you to specify which route you wish to take. Donation Pathway CrossReach Counselling rely on donations from our clients and supporters to deliver counselling across Scotland. You will be asked to donate towards the cost of your session, at a rate that is affordable for you. This will be discussed at your first appointment. However, inability to pay will never be a barrier to accessing our service. Our Donation pathways has an estimated waiting time of around 4-6 months from referral. If you are currently pregnant we will do our best to see you as soon as possible. Self-Funded With our Self-Funded service, your first appointment will normally be arranged within 2 weeks. Not only does this service have great benefits for you – fast and flexible access to counselling with one of our qualified and experienced counsellors – it also helps fund our donation-based service, so we can provide counselling to those who might otherwise struggle to access support. sessions are charged at a fixed rate of £60 a session and we recommend you are able to pay for a minimum of 6 sessions. Specialist Care-Inspected creche sessions are also available to use alongside counselling sessions for a small fee. My daughter dearly enjoyed spending time at the creche and built a positive bond with the practitioners and volunteers. I felt always at ease and relaxed during my sessions, knowing that my daughter was happy and in safe hands You can complete our referral form or contact pnd@crossreach.org.ukAdditional specialist perinatal groups for those accessing the service: Stay and Play: Offering play experiences in different environments, our stay and play group supports parents to meet others as well as enhance infant relationships and child development. Click here for more information. Infant Massage: Our baby massage programme is well respected, well researched and has been endorsed to be a high quality parent education programme. Art at The Start Art at the Start is a programme run in partnership with Dr Bells Family Centre (Dr Bell’s Family Centre – Supporting Families in Leith Since 2006) We offer Art Therapy Groups for primary care givers and their children under three - offering joint play activities through art making, helping to increase emotional wellbeing for parents and supporting the infant/parent relationship. This group is open to those living in the EH6 and EH7 postcode areas. For more information about any of our services please contact us on pnd@crossreach.org.uk8a Palmerston PlaceEdinburghEH12 5AA0131 220 3547 Accessibility Information The building is not currently wheelchair accessible and is located at basement level. Unfortunately, there is no lift access. Disabled Parking is available outside the building. Online appointments are available as an alternative.

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Phone: 01620431000

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Aberlour Children’s Charity - Stop children suffering | aberlour-front-end

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Aberlour is there for Scotland’s hidden children. Because every child deserves the chance to thrive. Donate, fundraise, volunteer now!

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Phone: 07807498709

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What to expect

When you find out you're going to be a parent the spotlight is on expectant mums, but dads role during the antenatal period is just as important, even if it's not always recognised. Our antenatal workshop helps Dads get ready for the arrival of the baby.

This informal and relaxed 2 hour workshops runs on a weekday evening and provides a range of activities including;

what to expect when your partner goes into labour and how to support them

what to expect in the first days of being a Dad

safe sleeping & sleep patterns

important information about perinatal mental health

a judgement free space for dads to chat and ask questions

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Come learn how to change nappies, bath baby, about feeding, sleeping, and more, also meet other dads to be.

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Phone: 0131 220 3547

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Perinatal Counselling Edinburgh | CrossReach

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Our dedicated team of therapists offer specialist counselling support to new and expectant mothers, fathers and carers from our central Edinburgh base. For over four decades CrossReach has supported the perinatal mental health and well-being of the whole family – get in touch today to see how we can help. It has massively changed how I feel about myself and my relationship with my child. It helped me through an unbelievably difficult timePerinatal mental health is crucial for the well-being of parents and their babies. This period, encompassing pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life is a time of significant emotional, physical, and social changes. Many parents experience mental health issues during the perinatal period. If you are struggling, you are not alone. We have experience in working with anxiety, depression, birth trauma, bonding, isolation, loss of self and the stress of transitioning into parenthood. Our team can help you to manage the challenges, promoting your overall health and happiness and the emotional and developmental outcomes for your child. Clients can refer themselves or through a health professional from pre-birth to their child being 3 years old. What to expect? To make sure that we are the right service for you we offer you an ‘Initial Appointment’ discussion where you will be able to meet with one of the team to tell us a little more about what has brought you to counselling and to explore what service might be good for you. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. If you have difficulties accessing childcare support for your appointment, please let us know. We have a number of spaces in our Care-Inspected perinatal creche available to access during counselling sessions. If our service is suitable and you would like to go ahead you will then be offered a weekly 50 minute one to one session or space in a group with a Counsellor or Art Therapist. Your appointment with us: Appointments are weekly and last 50 minutes. We will discuss the day and time of these sessions with you when we first meet. We consider different types of support that might suit you, from one-to-one psychotherapy or counselling, to art therapy and group therapy. Both the counselling and crèche are located at our perinatal base at 8a Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. Counselling is also available online via a secure video platform. What pathways do we offer? We offer both a Donation and Self-Funded pathway into the service. When referring we ask you to specify which route you wish to take. Donation Pathway CrossReach Counselling rely on donations from our clients and supporters to deliver counselling across Scotland. You will be asked to donate towards the cost of your session, at a rate that is affordable for you. This will be discussed at your first appointment. However, inability to pay will never be a barrier to accessing our service. Our Donation pathways has an estimated waiting time of around 4-6 months from referral. If you are currently pregnant we will do our best to see you as soon as possible. Self-Funded With our Self-Funded service, your first appointment will normally be arranged within 2 weeks. Not only does this service have great benefits for you – fast and flexible access to counselling with one of our qualified and experienced counsellors – it also helps fund our donation-based service, so we can provide counselling to those who might otherwise struggle to access support. sessions are charged at a fixed rate of £60 a session and we recommend you are able to pay for a minimum of 6 sessions. Specialist Care-Inspected creche sessions are also available to use alongside counselling sessions for a small fee. My daughter dearly enjoyed spending time at the creche and built a positive bond with the practitioners and volunteers. I felt always at ease and relaxed during my sessions, knowing that my daughter was happy and in safe hands You can complete our referral form or contact pnd@crossreach.org.ukAdditional specialist perinatal groups for those accessing the service: Stay and Play: Offering play experiences in different environments, our stay and play group supports parents to meet others as well as enhance infant relationships and child development. Click here for more information. Infant Massage: Our baby massage programme is well respected, well researched and has been endorsed to be a high quality parent education programme. Art at The Start Art at the Start is a programme run in partnership with Dr Bells Family Centre (Dr Bell’s Family Centre – Supporting Families in Leith Since 2006) We offer Art Therapy Groups for primary care givers and their children under three - offering joint play activities through art making, helping to increase emotional wellbeing for parents and supporting the infant/parent relationship. This group is open to those living in the EH6 and EH7 postcode areas. For more information about any of our services please contact us on pnd@crossreach.org.uk8a Palmerston PlaceEdinburghEH12 5AA0131 220 3547 Accessibility Information The building is not currently wheelchair accessible and is located at basement level. Unfortunately, there is no lift access. Disabled Parking is available outside the building. Online appointments are available as an alternative.

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Provide feedback about your maternity care directly to NHS Lothian. Choose between a short survey (5 min) or a long survey (25 min).

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NHS Lothian Maternity Care Survey (long version)

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NHS Lothian Maternity Care Survey (long version)

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These are resources produced by the Scottish Government to support you throughout pregnancy and into parenthood.

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Bliss - for babies born premature or sick

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Bliss - for babies born premature or sick

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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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NHS Lothian Patient Experience Team will support women, birthing people, their partner and family to give feedback about maternity care whether they want to:

Highlight very good care

Raise a concern

Make a formal complaint

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Patient Experience Team – Tell us about your experience – Your Rights & Privacy

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NHS Lothian is committed to providing quality care to patients and their families. By giving feedback, you can help us understand what we are doing well and the areas that we need to improve on. Your feedback is therefore valuable to us.

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If you decide to formula feed your baby, we are here to support you. The following information will help you to do so as safely as possible and will help you and your baby to form a close and loving relationship.

Your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse should always be the first point of contact and support if you are experiencing any feeding issues. Don't hesitate to ask for help, your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse are all trained to the very high standards of Unicef UK Baby Friendly and are there to support you with where you are in your feeding journey.

Responsive bottle feeding

It is best for just you and your partner to feed baby in the early weeks. This will help baby to feel safe and secure, get used to your way of feeding and enable you to form a close loving bond with your baby.

Offer feeds when your baby shows early signals of being hungry. If your baby is upset, try to soothe her before you offer a feed. Skin contact is great for calming babies at any time

Hold baby close to you, in a slightly upright position and look into baby's eyes and talk gently to her. This will help calm and reassure her

Gently rub the teat above baby's top lip to encourage her to open her mouth and poke her tongue out. Place the teat into front of baby's mouth allowing her to draw it further in

Allow just enough milk to cover teat and pace the feed to meet baby's needs, gently removing it if baby appears to want a break

Offer frequent breaks throughout the feed sitting baby upright to help bring up her wind

Never force baby to take a whole feed as she will know when she has had enough

Discard any left over milk

First Steps Nutrition offers unbiased, up to date and evidence based information on formula milks. They also have a range of resources which are free to access and download.

The Parentclub website Formula feeding | Parent Club has lots of information to support formula feeding, including how to make up formula feeds and how to sterilise your feeding equipment.

The safest way to make up formula feeds is to use a kettle. If you have formula preparation machine, the following information will help to ensure feeds are made up safely.

First Steps Nutritionopens a new window offers unbiased, up to date and evidence based information on formula milks. They also have a range of resources which are free to access and download.

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If you decide to formula feed your baby, we are here to support you. The following information will help you to do so as safely as possible and will help you and your baby to form a close and loving relationship.

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Hello

Thank you for accessing these resources collated by Lothian Perinatal Collaborative. These resources are links to information provided by the individual organisations. All attempts are made to ensure information is as up to date as possible but please contact loth.pairs@nhs.scot if any links are broken.

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Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support was founded in February 2015 by a group of mums in Edinburgh who all have personal experience of perinatal mental health difficulties. We support mums through

Our main aim as Juno is to help mums with perinatal mental health difficulties realise that they are not alone in how they feel and what they feel is indeed a very real illness. It is very common to think 'why me?' 'why can everyone else cope?' 'will I ever feel normal again?' 'it's not supposed to feel like this...is it?'

We all have personal experience of these feelings of isolation/despair and the devastating impact it can have on the whole family. Juno is here to reassure mums and mums-to-be, that there is light at the end of what appears to be a very long, dark tunnel and with the right support you can, and will, get better. For most mums with perinatal mental health difficulties, their first stop is usually a health visitor or GP. We are here to offer additional support in a number of ways with the aim of ensuring that families suffering have as much choice as possible to aid their recovery. Here at Juno we have built up an extensive knowledge of local resources in the hope that we can always aid families, whether it be directly, or through referral to another body. We offer a safe, relaxed environment in our groups alongside friendly chat, a welcoming smile and absolutely no judgement. Our day time groups also provide play equipment for babies and toddlers.
Why Juno?
Juno is the Roman goddess of love, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth who was regarded as a female guardian angel. She is queen of all the gods and is connected with all aspects of the life of women. We can't think of a better embodiment of our aims through our services.
What is meant by perinatal mental health?
The term perinatal cover the time period from the moment of conception until the child is 2. Some women aren't diagnosed until their child is 2 or beyond but might have had symptoms of depression or anxiety for some time.

We use the phrase 'mental health' because it covers a broader spectrum - many people may not suffer depression, but battle with anxiety, stress, PTSD/birth trauma and OCD for example.

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Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support was founded in February 2015 by a group of mums in Edinburgh who all have personal experience of perinatal mental health difficulties. We support mums through Our main aim as Juno is to help mums with perinatal mental health difficulties realise that they are not alone in how they feel and what they feel is indeed a very real illness.

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NHS LOTHIAN | OUR SERVICES Feeding Your Baby Feeding Your Baby Whichever way you decide to feed your baby, we are here to support you. We are here to support you to make feeding time a special time where you and your baby can build a close and loving relationship ensuring your baby has the best start in life.

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If you have just found out you're pregnant, or would like some pregnancy related information this is a great place to start

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Welcome to NHS Lothian Maternity Services

Each year, NHS Lothian provide care during pregnancy, birth and postnatally for around 8000 women, pregnant people and their babies. This website was designed in collaboration with parents to provide up-to-date information about your local maternity services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

How to contact NHS Lothian Maternity Services

To book your first appointment with a midwife, call: 0131 536 2009

Lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.45pm

If you are less than 12 weeks pregnant and are concerned about abdominal pain or bleeding, contact:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - Pregnancy Support Centre 0131 242 2438 St John's Hospital - Early Pregnancy Unit 01506 524 015
If you are over 12 weeks pregnant and have urgent health concerns requiring same day assessment, such as vaginal bleeding or reduced movements of your baby, contact:

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - Triage on 0131 242 2657

St John's Hospital - Labour Ward on 01506 524 125

The above telephone numbers are answered by midwives 24hrs each day.

If you are over 37 weeks pregnant and you think you are in labour or your waters have broken, contact:

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - Labour Line on 0131 242 2672

St John's Hospital - Labour Ward on 01506 524 125

The above telephone numbers are answered by midwives 24hrs each day.
If you have an emergency of a life-threatening nature, call 999 for an emergency ambulance.

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MATERNITY SERVICES Welcome to Maternity Services Being pregnant is a special time in your life and we will be right alongside you, all the way throughout your journey. Thinking of Having a Baby? MATERNITY SERVICES Pregnant - What Next?

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Phone: 0131 220 3547

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Perinatal Counselling Edinburgh | CrossReach

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Our dedicated team of therapists offer specialist counselling support to new and expectant mothers, fathers and carers from our central Edinburgh base. For over four decades CrossReach has supported the perinatal mental health and well-being of the whole family – get in touch today to see how we can help. It has massively changed how I feel about myself and my relationship with my child. It helped me through an unbelievably difficult timePerinatal mental health is crucial for the well-being of parents and their babies. This period, encompassing pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life is a time of significant emotional, physical, and social changes. Many parents experience mental health issues during the perinatal period. If you are struggling, you are not alone. We have experience in working with anxiety, depression, birth trauma, bonding, isolation, loss of self and the stress of transitioning into parenthood. Our team can help you to manage the challenges, promoting your overall health and happiness and the emotional and developmental outcomes for your child. Clients can refer themselves or through a health professional from pre-birth to their child being 3 years old. What to expect? To make sure that we are the right service for you we offer you an ‘Initial Appointment’ discussion where you will be able to meet with one of the team to tell us a little more about what has brought you to counselling and to explore what service might be good for you. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. If you have difficulties accessing childcare support for your appointment, please let us know. We have a number of spaces in our Care-Inspected perinatal creche available to access during counselling sessions. If our service is suitable and you would like to go ahead you will then be offered a weekly 50 minute one to one session or space in a group with a Counsellor or Art Therapist. Your appointment with us: Appointments are weekly and last 50 minutes. We will discuss the day and time of these sessions with you when we first meet. We consider different types of support that might suit you, from one-to-one psychotherapy or counselling, to art therapy and group therapy. Both the counselling and crèche are located at our perinatal base at 8a Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. Counselling is also available online via a secure video platform. What pathways do we offer? We offer both a Donation and Self-Funded pathway into the service. When referring we ask you to specify which route you wish to take. Donation Pathway CrossReach Counselling rely on donations from our clients and supporters to deliver counselling across Scotland. You will be asked to donate towards the cost of your session, at a rate that is affordable for you. This will be discussed at your first appointment. However, inability to pay will never be a barrier to accessing our service. Our Donation pathways has an estimated waiting time of around 4-6 months from referral. If you are currently pregnant we will do our best to see you as soon as possible. Self-Funded With our Self-Funded service, your first appointment will normally be arranged within 2 weeks. Not only does this service have great benefits for you – fast and flexible access to counselling with one of our qualified and experienced counsellors – it also helps fund our donation-based service, so we can provide counselling to those who might otherwise struggle to access support. sessions are charged at a fixed rate of £60 a session and we recommend you are able to pay for a minimum of 6 sessions. Specialist Care-Inspected creche sessions are also available to use alongside counselling sessions for a small fee. My daughter dearly enjoyed spending time at the creche and built a positive bond with the practitioners and volunteers. I felt always at ease and relaxed during my sessions, knowing that my daughter was happy and in safe hands You can complete our referral form or contact pnd@crossreach.org.ukAdditional specialist perinatal groups for those accessing the service: Stay and Play: Offering play experiences in different environments, our stay and play group supports parents to meet others as well as enhance infant relationships and child development. Click here for more information. Infant Massage: Our baby massage programme is well respected, well researched and has been endorsed to be a high quality parent education programme. Art at The Start Art at the Start is a programme run in partnership with Dr Bells Family Centre (Dr Bell’s Family Centre – Supporting Families in Leith Since 2006) We offer Art Therapy Groups for primary care givers and their children under three - offering joint play activities through art making, helping to increase emotional wellbeing for parents and supporting the infant/parent relationship. This group is open to those living in the EH6 and EH7 postcode areas. For more information about any of our services please contact us on pnd@crossreach.org.uk8a Palmerston PlaceEdinburghEH12 5AA0131 220 3547 Accessibility Information The building is not currently wheelchair accessible and is located at basement level. Unfortunately, there is no lift access. Disabled Parking is available outside the building. Online appointments are available as an alternative.

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All the current FREE breastfeeding support groups run by trained peer supporters & additional breastfeeding resources. Whether you live in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian or West Lothian.

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Breastfeeding in the Lothians | Linktree

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Groups run by trained peer supporters and additional breastfeeding resources

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Info on pregnancy, labour and birth and Early parenthood. This resource is also available in easy read formats and other languages, and includes info on financial support

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Your guide to pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks

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Phone: 0131 467 7052

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If you want to provide feedback but do not want to give your name, Care Opinion is a way to share your experience of UK health and care services, good or bad.
They pass on your stories to the right people to make a difference.

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The UK's independent non-profit feedback platform for health and social care. Share your story - help make our services better.

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Phone: 0131 467 7052

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Danny Bhoy - '12 Nights 12 Charities'

www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities

Promoting the well-being and life opportunities of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families

Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances.

Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community.

Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners.

Find out more
News

As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

Our Projects

The 4Corners Project is for children aged 8 to 14 years (mainly BAME) who may be having difficulties due to experiences of loss, migration...

The 4-2-7 Project is for children aged 4 to 7 years, who may be experiencing difficulties managing the transition to primary school. We...

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www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances. Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community. Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners. Find out more As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

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Neonatal Unit – NHS Lothian | Our Services

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We use cookies on this site to analyse traffic and optimise user experience. OK Privacy Policy

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NHS inform

NHS inform provides a co-ordinated, single source of quality assured health and care information for the people of Scotland.
Read more

111

Our 111 service is here to provide urgent care advice and mental health support day or night.

Read more

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NHS 24 - Scotland's national telehealth and telecare organisation. We're one of Scotland's 7 special health boards. Find out about how we're run, our values and our performance.

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If you see a health visitor this pathway outlines the number of times you can expect to meet them. You can always contact your health visitor outside of these times

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Support for parents following a miscarriage

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Support for parents following a miscarriage

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Sadly, sometimes a pregnancy does not continue beyond a few weeks or a baby dies during the pregnancy. This can be an overwhelming time for the parents, with many mixed emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt or disbelief. These are all normal feelings and there is no right or wrong way to react.

The important thing to know is that you are not alone and there is help from NHS Lothian Maternity Services and local or national charities to support you and your partner at this difficult time. Your midwife or doctor will be there to guide you and help you access the support which is the most suitable for you, your partner and your family.

NHS Lothian Pregnancy Support Centre

The Pregnancy Support Centre provides specialist care for women until twelve weeks of pregnancy.

If you are LESS THAN 12 WEEKS PREGNANT and are concerned with abdominal pain or bleeding, please contact:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - Pregnancy Support Centre 0131 242 2438 St John's Hospital - Early Pregnancy Unit 01506 524 015
NHS Lothian works closely with the Miscarriage Association which offers a range of support and resources, including an information section on their website, help to deal with feelings and emotions and a phone helpline 01924 200799 open Monday - Friday from 9am-4pm.

For information on local support offered by the Miscarriage Association, please phone the local coordinators Nicky (0131 447 5038) or Lindsay ( 07929 727 189).

NHS Scotland

NHS Scotland offers advice and information to parents following a miscarriage or the death of a baby during pregnancy:
Miscarriage | NHS inform
Local and national charities who can offer support

We recognise that when a pregnancy does not continue or a baby dies during pregnancy, it can be an incredibly painful and traumatic experience. It can also be an extremely lonely time as you may struggle to find others who understand the feelings and emotions you are experiencing. We understand how difficult it might be to reach out or pick up the phone and yet support at this time can be hugely beneficial. A member of your family, a friend or your healthcare professional can also contact these charities on your behalf.

Held in Our Hearts - An Edinburgh-based charity providing support to affected families. Our counsellors guide bereaved parents through the grieving process and our peer supporters give compassionate and flexible care in person, on Zoom, by text, email or by telephone. Our peer supporters are all bereaved parents. Our aim is to offer the best possible individualised support to families at all times. Families can contact us directly or someone can refer them on their behalf.

Email: info@heldinourhearts.org.uk

Website: www.heldinourhearts.org.uk
Little Babes Support Group Edinburgh | Facebook
Little Babes is a peer support Facebook group to support women and their partners in the Edinburgh area. This page is a safe, private space to share your thoughts and feelings. They also arrange regular coffee catch ups to meet in person.

Miscarriage Association The website is a comprehensive source of information and the pregnancy loss helpline is open Monday - Friday from 9am-4pm 01924 200799.

For information on local support offered by the Miscarriage Association, please phone Nicky (0131 447 5038) or Lindsay ( 07929 727 189).

SIMBA A Lothian-based charity providing memory boxes to bereaved parents to help gather timeless and precious memories of their child.

SANDS A national charity providing help to parents affected by miscarriage, pregnancy loss and the death of a baby. They provide a variety of resources and various forms of support.

ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices) offer support for parents who have lost a baby after a pregnancy diagnosis.
Our bereavement support - Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) (arc-uk.org)
The helpline can be contacted in various ways and is answered by trained staff.

Monday to Friday: 10.00am - 5.30pm
call 020 7713 7486 or text: 07908 683004

Tuesday and Thursday: 8 - 10pm - email info@arc-uk.org to arrange an evening call.

NHS Lothian Bereavement Service

This service provides practical support to parents. Depending on your circumstances, we can help with registration processes, funeral options and arrangements and can also signpost families to the bereavement support most suited to them.

Support Services - Bereavement Service (nhslothian.scot)

Tel: 0131 242 6995 or 0131 242 1996 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Email: bereavement.service@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Spiritual Care

Spiritual care is part of the care offered by the NHS. It recognises that our beliefs, values, and understanding of life can help us cope at times of illness, change, or bereavement.

As chaplains, we offer spiritual care to patients, their family and loved ones, as well as to staff and volunteers.

We do this by listening to your story, offering space for reflection, supporting you at times of loss, and by facilitating prayer, blessings, ritual and celebration.

If you are a patient in hospital and would like to speak to a chaplain, we can be contacted via ward staff or you may phone our offices 0131 242 1990.

If you are not in a hospital, or should you need to speak with us urgently, please call Switchboard 0131 536 1000.

We're also on Facebook and Twitter - search 'NHS Lothian Spiritual Care'

Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss

Miscarriages can sadly happen at any stage and a baby may die later in the pregnancy, during the second-trimester. You may find it very hard to understand why, when a baby dies late in pregnancy, it is called a miscarriage rather than a stillbirth and accept how that affects your ability to register your baby's death with the registration office. The reason is that 24 weeks of pregnancy is currently the legal age of viability in the UK.

Parents have campaigned to change this and the National Records of Scotland now offer the opportunity to register a pregnancy loss or the death of a baby that occurred before 24 weeks. The Memorial Book, launched in October 2023, provides recognition and may offer comfort to those who wish to have a record of their baby's existence. It was developed after listening to people who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Applications for entries to be made in the Memorial Book are provided on a voluntary basis as there is no legal requirement to record the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby which took place before the 24th week.

There is no time limit on making an application for an entry in the Memorial Book. Applications may be submitted for an historical or a recent loss. A commemorative certificate of the entry will be issued to the applicant(s) free of charge.

For more information or to apply:
Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)
Helping you make a decision about a post mortem

We hope that this film, made by parents for parents, will help you with making your decision about whether to have a post mortem for your baby. We created the film from the experiences of other bereaved parents and we hope that knowing others have faced the same decision, will help you feel less alone at this painful time and give you some comfort. We hope that this animation will help you make an informed choice to decide what is best for your family.

We hope you found the information you were looking for on this page. Please, talk to your midwife or doctor if you have any question about anything. The important thing to know is that you are not alone and that there is help available from NHS Services and local or national charities to support you, your partner and your family at this difficult time.

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Support for parents following a miscarriage - Maternity Services

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Sadly, sometimes a pregnancy does not continue beyond a few weeks or a baby dies during the pregnancy. This can be an overwhelming time for the parents, with many mixed emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt or disbelief. These are all normal feelings and there is no right or wrong way to react.

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Support for parents after the death of their baby

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Support for parents after the death of their baby

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Support for parents following the death of their baby - Maternity Services

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Image kindly shared by Held in our Hearts, a charity supporting bereaved parents in Lothian. Please know that our thoughts are with you, your partner and your family at this very sad time. The loss of a baby is a shocking and devastating experience for parents and everyone affected. The important thing to know is that you are not alone…

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What is the Memorial Book?

The Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks ("the Memorial Book") is a commemorative record held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

It offers the opportunity to provide recognition and may offer comfort to those who wish to have a record of their loss. It was developed after listening to people who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Applications for entries to be made in the Memorial Book are provided on a voluntary basis as there is no legal requirement to record the loss of a pregnancy which took place before the 24th week, where there were no signs of life when the loss occurred.

There is no time limit on making an application for an entry in the Memorial Book.
Applications may be submitted for an historical or a recent loss.

Once the loss has been recorded in the Memorial Book, a commemorative certificate of the entry will be issued to the applicant(s) free of charge.

A certificate from the Memorial Book has no legal status and cannot be used as evidence of the loss.

Who may apply for an entry to be made in the Memorial Book?

The mother/woman/person who has had the loss prior to the end of the 24th week of pregnancy may apply for an entry to be made in the Memorial Book.

Details of the father/parent/partner of the person who has had the loss may only be recorded in the Memorial Book if the person who had the loss also signs the same application form.

If the mother/woman/person who has had the loss is deceased, the application may be completed solely by the father/parent/partner of person who has had the loss and may contain both parties' details.

If the father/parent/partner of person who has had the loss is deceased, the application may be completed solely by the mother/woman/person who has had the loss and may contain both parties' details.

The loss must have occurred in Scotland, or the applicant must be resident in Scotland at the time the application is made.

How can I apply?

The application form with guidance notes can be found here: Application Form (MB1) and Guidance Notes (157 KB PDF), or you can contact our Memorial Book team to request that an application form be posted out to you.

Application forms can be signed digitally or with a typed signature, or can be printed and signed in ink, before being posted or emailed to our team at the address listed on the form.

What evidence is required to be submitted along with the application?

No evidence is required to be submitted along with the application. No proof of pregnancy or the loss will be requested in support of an application.

Is the Memorial Book visible to the public?

No.

Who can request a copy of a certificate from the Memorial Book?

Requests for a certificate from an event recorded in the Memorial Book will only be considered from the person(s) named on the entry.

Restrictions on access to information contained in an entry in the Memorial Book expire once the subjects are deceased. However, NRS will look to maintain a duty of confidentiality with regards to personal data held within the Memorial Book. Further information can be found in the Memorial Book Privacy Notice. (153 KB PDF)

A person's signature on the application form is taken as confirmation that they have read, and are in agreement with, the provisions in the Privacy Notice.

How to I request a correction to an entry in the Memorial Book?

If you are a person named on an entry in the Memorial Book and wish for that entry to be corrected, please contact our Memorial Book team for further advice.

How do I cancel my entry in the Memorial Book?

If you are a person named on an entry in the Memorial Book and wish for that entry to be cancelled, please contact our Memorial Book team for further advice.

Contact details for the Memorial Book team

If you have any queries regarding the Memorial Book or how to order a certificate, please contact our team at:

The Memorial Book Team
Room 36
New Register House
3 West Register Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0131 314 4314

Further information can be found in our Certification of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior To 24 Weeks Leaflet. (1.29 MB PDF)

Contact details for other organisations who may be able to provide support for those who have experienced a loss

If you are seeking support regarding a loss, please check the list of organisations (118 KB PDF) that may be able to provide further information.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Please check our FAQs. (112 KB PDF)

Last updated May 2024

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Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks

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What is the Memorial Book? The Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 Weeks ("the Memorial Book") is a commemorative record held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). It offers the opportunity to provide recognition and may offer comfort to those who wish to have a record of their loss.

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Email: admin@midlothiansurestart,org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

Essential preparation and information for expectant Dads and Mums, join us for Dads2B and now Baby Steps.

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Parent club has a range of information and support available for families from pregnancy to the teen years

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Held in our Hearts (formerly SANDS Lothians)

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Held in our Hearts (formerly SANDS Lothians)

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offering counselling and support for baby loss

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Skip to content

We are an Edinburgh based charity providing baby loss counselling and support to families, with over 40 years' experience of offering compassionate bereavement care in the community.

Sands Lothians is now Held In Our Hearts

We are a local charity providing baby loss counselling and support to families. Formerly known as SANDS Lothians, we have 40 years' experience of offering compassionate bereavement care in the community.

You may be reading this because your precious baby has died just hours ago, a few days ago or it may be months or even years. Whatever your circumstances, we are so sorry you find yourself here. We want you to know that you are not alone.

When your baby dies, it is an incredibly traumatic and extremely lonely time as you may struggle to find others who understand the overwhelming emotions you experience. We can be there to hold your hand and walk with you on your journey, as you start to find a way to cope with your grief.

Our families are at the heart of everything that we do. All our bereavement support services are free and for as long as they are needed. We know that no one person's grief is the same, so our support services are individualised for each family we support.

Your support and assistance with our work with the families is invaluable and we will support you as best we can. This may be through training, information sharing, organising a joint visit to a family or perhaps you wish to fundraise for us. We hope you find lots of information here but please contact us should you wish further support.

Held In Our Hearts has been our lifeline since our daughter was stillborn at 29 weeks last year.
The support they provide to bereaved families is immeasurable. Our very first phone call made such a huge impact on us, as well as receiving amazing practical advice about funeral arrangements, our emotions were suddenly validated - it was ok and normal for us to be feeling not only devastation and heartache but also huge amounts of love and pride for our beautiful little girl. Held In Our Hearts is so special, their support is family and person-centred and entirely tailored to each family's individual needs, not only when newly bereaved but throughout our lives. As bereaved parents themselves, they are in a unique position to understand and empathise with those of us who access their services and know all too well there is no "right and wrong" when it comes to grief. It's horrible that such a charity has to exist but thank goodness that it does!

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings ACCEPT

UPDATE ON OUR SERVICES DURING COVID-19

We are so pleased to share that our sites in Edinburgh and West Lothian are now open and we are able to offer support either in person or remotely:
With love from us all Held In Our Hearts x

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Held In Our Hearts - Providing baby loss counselling and support

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Skip to content We are an Edinburgh based charity providing baby loss counselling and support to families, with over 40 years' experience of offering compassionate bereavement care in the community. Sands Lothians is now Held In Our Hearts We are a local charity providing baby loss counselling and support to families.

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Phone: 07850725740

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The Village, was created following the learning from our Parent and Child group. We wanted to expand the group to all new and expectant parents with care experience in Scotland. Our research tells us there are over 500 babies born to mums with care experience each year. We want to reach them, and to reach the dads with care experience as well.

We know becoming a parent is a transformational experience for everyone and we would love to be alongside you on that journey.

The Village is a place where people choose what is helpful for them, finding information, accessing resources or reaching out to our team members through our digital platforms or becoming involved through our new peer mentoring scheme.

Parents with experience of care told us they often felt stigma and judgement when reaching out, so we worked together to create an environment in which we understand support and encouragement are helpful; stigma, blame or judgement are not.

We know it can feel awkward reaching out to people you don't know, but we really are a friendly bunch, and every friend you have was a stranger before you met them.

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The Village, was created following the learning from our Parent and Child group. We wanted to expand the group to all new and expectant parents with care experience in Scotland. Our research tells us there are over 500 babies born to mums with care experience each year.

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Phone: 0131 553 0100

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NHS Lothian Perinatal Mental Health Support

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NHS Lothian Perinatal Mental Health Support

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NHS Lothian provide specialist services to support women, birthing people and families who require additional help with their mental wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and during the early childhood years. This period is called the perinatal period.

This page explains what the services are and who they are for.
Talk to your GP, midwife, FNP nurse or health visitor if you feel unwell or are struggling as a family. They can give you advice and, with your agreement, they can refer you to the appropriate specialist service.
Community Perinatal Mental Health team

A service for women experiencing severe or complex perinatal mental illness, at risk of developing a perinatal mental illness or requiring pre-conception counselling related to mental health history. You may find it useful to read about the Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways information on Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams.

Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit

Specialist mental health inpatient unit at St John's Hospital for women with severe mental ill health during pregnancy or where women can be admitted with their baby in the first year after their birth. The Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways website has more information about Mother and Baby Units in Scotland.

Maternity & Neonatal Psychological Interventions (MNPI)

Service for parents experiencing mental health distress affecting maternity care, arising from pregnancy and birth complications and loss, adjustments to pregnancy and childbirth and neonatal stays. The service also provides support for maternity and neonatal staff who care for these families. You can read more about MNPI teams throughout Scotland.

Lothian Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

Service for families where there are difficulties in the parent-infant relationship. Initial support is via consultation for Health Visitor, Family Nurse or Midwife followed by individual or group direct intervention where appropriate. Further information and useful resources can be found on the service website.

There is further information about PAIRS throughout Scotland.

Resources in other Languages

The charity Acacia have produced a series of short films in other languages:
Dr Zahera Kapasi Talks About Perinatal Mental Health in Gujarati - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Urdu - YouTube
Amandeep Soomal talks about perinatal mental health in Punjabi - YouTube
Katarina Rigova talks about perinatal mental health in Slovak - YouTube
Faiza Rehman talks about perinatal mental health in Mirpuri - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Dari - YouTube
For adult mental health support (not maternity specific)
NHS Lothian work with some of the Perinatal Mental Health Support Charities listed in these directories
If you feel you are struggling, it can be useful to talk to your GP about how you are feeling. You can find advice about talking to your GP about your mental health.
Directory of perinatal mental health support in Lothian Directories of perinatal mental health support by locality:
A 'walk-in' mental health information service -

The Mental Health Information Station is open for walk-in visits at the Walpole Hall, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AW (next to St Mary's cathedral) every Thursday 10.30 am to 3.00 pm.

Visitors with mental health issues can drop in without an appointment and receive support and guidance on the day from mental health professionals.

Local services for adult mental health support (not maternity specific)

Midlothian - To arrange an appointment please call the team secretary on 07779 565607

East Lothian - Phone us on 0300 790 6292

West Lothian - All GP practices within the West Lothian area can signpost to our service. We have a Wellbeing Hub in Livingston and Boghall.

NHS Lothian's mental health and wellbeing website information pages - Information and tools to help with your wellbeing and mental health.

Perinatal Mental Health Charities Directories

You can look for local organisations and how to access their support in the following directories:

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NHS Lothian Mental Health Services - Maternity Services

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NHS Lothian provide specialist services to support women, birthing people and families who require additional help with their mental wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and during the early childhood years. This period is called the perinatal period. This page explains what the services are and who they are for.

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Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Scotland

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Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Scotland

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Information for parents

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Parent and Infant Mental Health Scotland

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Information for Parents - Parent and Infant Mental Health Scotland

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Information for Parents In an emergency Samaritans Samaritans provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, or struggling to cope. Visit website Breathing Space Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Visit website NHS 24 NHS…

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Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

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Supporting healthy minds for every infant

A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

Our team at PAIRS will work directly with infants and their parents/carers, as well as those who work with families, to help understand and support this relationship.

PAIRS also work to ensure that the infant's voice is central to any discussions or decisions involving them.

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Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) - Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

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Supporting healthy minds for every infant A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

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Phone: 07850725740

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Promoting the importance of relationships across the care experienced community.

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Phone: 0131 447 0876

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The Maternity Voices Partnership brings together NHS Lothian maternity services and the families who use these services to improve maternity care. You are welcome to join the group during your pregnancy or as a new parent.

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Lothian Maternity Voices Partnership - Maternity Services

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Are you pregnant and living in the Edinburgh & Lothian area? Have you had a baby recently? Are you the parent of a young child? Find out more about the Maternity Voices Partnership What is the Lothian Maternity Voices Partnership? The MVP is a unique collaborative forum where the families who access maternity and neonatal services and the people who work…

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Third sector Organisations are organisations such as charities and community interest companies. They are non-profit organisations who work alongside statutory (NHS, local authority) organisations supporting families. They offer a huge range of supports and are open to a range of families. The vast majority of their services are free at point of delivery. This directory outlines services the government fund through Perinatal and Infant mental health funding. Many organisations are funded outside of this fund 

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Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Third Sector Service Directory - Inspiring Scotland

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Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Third Sector Service Directory - Inspiring Scotland

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This directory lists organisations across Scotland who currently offer perinatal and infant mental health support.

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Information listed by language and format.

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Resources by Language and Format - Maternity Services

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Language identification chart. BigWord Language Identification ChartDownload English You’re pregnant! Scans and tests Your baby! Newborn screening tests Ready, Steady, Baby Protect your baby against respiratory syncytial virus Protect your baby against tuberculosis (TB) Protect your baby from whooping cough Protect your child against serious diseases Frequently Asked Questions: Pain Relief During Labour What matters to me and my baby…

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Phone: 0131 553 0100

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Early Years Home Support - Home Link Family Support. Homelink family support offer early years support to families expecting a baby and/or with a child under 5

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Phone: 01316610890

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Early Years Home Support - Home Link Family Support

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This service is available to families in Edinburgh and Midlothian, with a child under 5 years old or if expecting a baby.

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Talking about Mental Health in another language

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Talking about Mental Health in another language

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At Acacia, we are committed to making sure that all mothers receive equitable access to excellent perinatal mental health support services and information.  To help with this, we have produced a series of short multilingual films, each in a different language: Punjabi, Mirpuri, Urdu, Gujarati, Slovakian and Dari. Each film aims to raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues in a culturally appropriate way and explain how to seek help.

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At Acacia, we are committed to making sure that all mothers receive equitable access to excellent perinatal mental health support services and information. To help with this, we have produced a series of short multilingual films, each in a different language: Punjabi, Mirpuri, Urdu, Gujarati, Slovakian and Dari. Each film aims to raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues in a culturally appropriate way and explain how to seek help.

We are hoping that these films are dissemintated far and wide in the UK and this is only the beginning. More films/languages will be added as funding allows. Click on the films below to view.
If you would like to share the films with others by email/txt just cut and paste these youtube links:
Dr Zahera Kapasi Talks About Perinatal Mental Health in Gujarati - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Urdu - YouTube
Amandeep Soomal talks about perinatal mental health in Punjabi - YouTube
Katarina Rigova talks about perinatal mental health in Slovak - YouTube
Faiza Rehman talks about perinatal mental health in Mirpuri - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Dari - YouTube
If you'd like to share the films on social media (please do!) either cut and paste the links above into a message/page or just click on the video and a 'Share' arrow should appear in the top right of the video pane, just click on this and choose where you want to share it to.

If you require the embed codes to add the videos to your website you'll need to go to Youtube. Click on the Youtube icon on the bottom left of the video pane below to open it on Youtube then click on the 'Share' icon below the video and choose the embed code option, you can then cut and paste the code to your site. If you have any difficulties, let us know and we'll send you the embed codes.
The films are all available free of charge and if you require the actual film files (MPEG) for any purpose please email teamacacia@acacia.org.uk to request a download link.
If you have any problems accessing the films please let us know by contacting us through our website.

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postnatal support services west midlands

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Acacia Family Support | Postnatal Depression Support Services | BAME | Black, Asian and Multi Ethnic | Videos

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Acacia Family Support - Prenatal Depression and Postnatal Depression Support Services

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Email: EdinburghFST@children1st.org.uk

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A partnership between CHAI, Children 1st, the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian

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Sleep action offer support for sleep related concerns

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Good sleep is for everyone

Sleep Action believes that everyone should be able to thrive through healthy sleep.

Sleep support tailored to you

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.

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Good sleep is for everyone Sleep Action believes that everyone should be able to thrive through healthy sleep. Sleep support tailored to you We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

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Please contact MCFB directly for details Phone: 0131 467 7052

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Danny Bhoy - '12 Nights 12 Charities'

www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities

Promoting the well-being and life opportunities of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families

Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances.

Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community.

Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners.

Find out more
News

As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

Our Projects

The 4Corners Project is for children aged 8 to 14 years (mainly BAME) who may be having difficulties due to experiences of loss, migration...

The 4-2-7 Project is for children aged 4 to 7 years, who may be experiencing difficulties managing the transition to primary school. We...

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www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances. Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community. Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners. Find out more As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

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Please contact directly for details Phone: 07807498709

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Come hear hints and tips on sleep patterns, steps you can take to help and we will have time for answering questions.

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Multi Culutural Family Base offer support during and post pregnancy

Phone: 0131 467 7052

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Early Years | MCFB - Multi Cultural Family Base

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Two toddlers playing with a shovel and pail on the beach. One wears a striped onesie and the other wears a flannel and jeans.

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Please contact directly for details Phone: 01316610890

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Phone: 07968200760

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Kin Collective Wellbeing CIC is a community hub based in Edinburgh connecting families together. We provide a space supporting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in pregnancy and early parenthood and a place to meet, share and connect. Our services include ante and postnatal classes and courses, community groups and therapies to help you to feel more confident on your journey into parenthood.

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Kin Collective Wellbeing CIC is a community hub based in Edinburgh connecting families together. We provide a space supporting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in pregnancy and early parenthood and a place to meet, share and connect. Our services include ante and postnatal classes and courses, community groups and therapies to help you to feel...

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Phone: 0131 564 3970

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Some parents require additional support with their mental health during the perinatal period (pregnancy and post birth) your midwife, health visitor, GP or family nurse is there to support you. If further support would help you the specialist mental health care pathways are designed for you, your family and baby

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*update – June 2023* Our groups currently running are as follows… Online Group: Our weekly Zoom group runs every Monday evening from 8-9pm. Please email us on juno.enquiries@gmail.c…

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1. Welcome and Introduction

2. The Perinatal Period

3. Scottish Government Resources and Information

4. NHS Lothian Maternity & Perinatal Services

5. Support for families from multi ethnic backgrounds

6. Birth Preparation & Pregnancy Support

7. Dads, partners and co parents

8. Support after birth

9. Neonatal and Special care baby unit

10. Feeding your baby

11. Community Perinatal Mental health and wellbeing support

12. Baby Massage & Sleep Support

13. Pregnancy loss and bereavement care

14. Giving feedback on care

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Phone: 01315511632

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Information on pregnancy from NHS Lothian, sections on maternity care, pregnancy rights, becoming a parent, scans, baby loss (miscarriage and stillbirth), mental health and stopping smoking & alcohol

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Your Guide to Your New World of Being Pregnant

Whatever you want to know about being pregnant, from what to expect to which prenatal vitamins you should take, you should find it here. We're here to give you the essential guide to having a healthy, happy baby. Listed below are some of our main topics of interest.

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Pregnancy Everything you need to know about having a safe and healthy pregnancy. Congratulations on Your Pregnancy! Finding out that you are pregnant, whether you have been trying for a pregnancy or not, can come as quite a surprise - or even a shock!

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NHS Lothian Parent and Infant relationship service

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NHS Lothian Parent and Infant relationship service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Supporting healthy minds for every infant

A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

Our team at PAIRS will work directly with infants and their parents/carers, as well as those who work with families, to help understand and support this relationship.

PAIRS also work to ensure that the infant's voice is central to any discussions or decisions involving them.

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Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) - Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

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Supporting healthy minds for every infant A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

# data[].attributes.headline
NHS Lothian Parent and Infant relationship service

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NHS Lothian Parent and Infant relationship service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Supporting healthy minds for every infant

A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

Our team at PAIRS will work directly with infants and their parents/carers, as well as those who work with families, to help understand and support this relationship.

PAIRS also work to ensure that the infant's voice is central to any discussions or decisions involving them.

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Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) - Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

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Supporting healthy minds for every infant A nurturing and strong relationship with at least one parent/carer helps a baby get off to the best start in life. There are lots of reasons why developing this relationship can be difficult.

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This information explores the specialist perinatal mental health services offered in Lothian. Including resources in Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Slovak, Mirpuri and Dari

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NHS Lothian provide specialist services to support women, birthing people and families who require additional help with their mental wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and during the early childhood years. This period is called the perinatal period.

This page explains what the services are and who they are for.
Talk to your GP, midwife, FNP nurse or health visitor if you feel unwell or are struggling as a family. They can give you advice and, with your agreement, they can refer you to the appropriate specialist service.
Community Perinatal Mental Health team

A service for women experiencing severe or complex perinatal mental illness, at risk of developing a perinatal mental illness or requiring pre-conception counselling related to mental health history. You may find it useful to read about the Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways information on Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams.

Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit

Specialist mental health inpatient unit at St John's Hospital for women with severe mental ill health during pregnancy or where women can be admitted with their baby in the first year after their birth. The Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways website has more information about Mother and Baby Units in Scotland.

Maternity & Neonatal Psychological Interventions (MNPI)

Service for parents experiencing mental health distress affecting maternity care, arising from pregnancy and birth complications and loss, adjustments to pregnancy and childbirth and neonatal stays. The service also provides support for maternity and neonatal staff who care for these families. You can read more about MNPI teams throughout Scotland.

Lothian Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)

Service for families where there are difficulties in the parent-infant relationship. Initial support is via consultation for Health Visitor, Family Nurse or Midwife followed by individual or group direct intervention where appropriate. Further information and useful resources can be found on the service website.

There is further information about PAIRS throughout Scotland.

Resources in other Languages

The charity Acacia have produced a series of short films in other languages:
Dr Zahera Kapasi Talks About Perinatal Mental Health in Gujarati - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Urdu - YouTube
Amandeep Soomal talks about perinatal mental health in Punjabi - YouTube
Katarina Rigova talks about perinatal mental health in Slovak - YouTube
Faiza Rehman talks about perinatal mental health in Mirpuri - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Dari - YouTube
For adult mental health support (not maternity specific)
NHS Lothian work with some of the Perinatal Mental Health Support Charities listed in these directories
If you feel you are struggling, it can be useful to talk to your GP about how you are feeling. You can find advice about talking to your GP about your mental health.
Directory of perinatal mental health support in Lothian Directories of perinatal mental health support by locality:
A 'walk-in' mental health information service -

The Mental Health Information Station is open for walk-in visits at the Walpole Hall, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AW (next to St Mary's cathedral) every Thursday 10.30 am to 3.00 pm.

Visitors with mental health issues can drop in without an appointment and receive support and guidance on the day from mental health professionals.

Local services for adult mental health support (not maternity specific)

Midlothian - To arrange an appointment please call the team secretary on 07779 565607

East Lothian - Phone us on 0300 790 6292

West Lothian - All GP practices within the West Lothian area can signpost to our service. We have a Wellbeing Hub in Livingston and Boghall.

NHS Lothian's mental health and wellbeing website information pages - Information and tools to help with your wellbeing and mental health.

Perinatal Mental Health Charities Directories

You can look for local organisations and how to access their support in the following directories:

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NHS Lothian Mental Health Services - Maternity Services

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NHS Lothian provide specialist services to support women, birthing people and families who require additional help with their mental wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and during the early childhood years. This period is called the perinatal period. This page explains what the services are and who they are for.

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Phone: 0131 467 7052

Multi Cultural Family base support families in Edinburgh from a variety of cultures, specifically around times of transition such as a welcoming a new baby, changes in school and being new to Edinburgh

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Danny Bhoy - '12 Nights 12 Charities'

www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities

Promoting the well-being and life opportunities of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families

Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances.

Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community.

Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners.

Find out more
News

As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

Our Projects

The 4Corners Project is for children aged 8 to 14 years (mainly BAME) who may be having difficulties due to experiences of loss, migration...

The 4-2-7 Project is for children aged 4 to 7 years, who may be experiencing difficulties managing the transition to primary school. We...

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www.dannybhoy.com/12-charities Children have improved emotional well-being, leading to improved life chances. Children are less socially isolated and more able to take part in the life of their community. Children have improved social skills and are more successful learners. Find out more As we approach the summer holidays, many of our weekly...

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Home-Start East Lothian | Because childhood can’t wait

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Lothian Perinatal Collaborative (LPC) is a collaboration of organisations offering supportive services to families across NHS Lothian in the perinatal period.

Organisations within the collaborative offer a range of support to families including; emotional, wellbeing and practical support,

support targeted to particular demographics,

Perinatal and infant mental health support and support for families in distress

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Unlike babies, this padlet comes with instructions!

This is more to help you find your way around the padlet rather than saying how to use it

All the supports are grouped into categories along the top. The different sources of information are under each category heading, scroll down to find the information you are looking for. Clicking on the information you would like to access opens that link in a new screen.

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Phone: 07807498709

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Weekly group for Dads with babies under one at The Gorgie Mem, Edinburgh from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Pop in and join us for a chilled out time with your baby, grab a cuppa and hang out with other dads. Greg from Dads Rock will be around to help you explore babies needs and how to grow your connection with your wee one, or just chat.

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Videos about perinatal mental health in Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Slovak, Mirpuri and Dari

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At Acacia, we are committed to making sure that all mothers receive equitable access to excellent perinatal mental health support services and information. To help with this, we have produced a series of short multilingual films, each in a different language: Punjabi, Mirpuri, Urdu, Gujarati, Slovakian and Dari. Each film aims to raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues in a culturally appropriate way and explain how to seek help.

We are hoping that these films are dissemintated far and wide in the UK and this is only the beginning. More films/languages will be added as funding allows. Click on the films below to view.
If you would like to share the films with others by email/txt just cut and paste these youtube links:
Dr Zahera Kapasi Talks About Perinatal Mental Health in Gujarati - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Urdu - YouTube
Amandeep Soomal talks about perinatal mental health in Punjabi - YouTube
Katarina Rigova talks about perinatal mental health in Slovak - YouTube
Faiza Rehman talks about perinatal mental health in Mirpuri - YouTube
Dr Anita talks about perinatal mental health in Dari - YouTube
If you'd like to share the films on social media (please do!) either cut and paste the links above into a message/page or just click on the video and a 'Share' arrow should appear in the top right of the video pane, just click on this and choose where you want to share it to.

If you require the embed codes to add the videos to your website you'll need to go to Youtube. Click on the Youtube icon on the bottom left of the video pane below to open it on Youtube then click on the 'Share' icon below the video and choose the embed code option, you can then cut and paste the code to your site. If you have any difficulties, let us know and we'll send you the embed codes.
The films are all available free of charge and if you require the actual film files (MPEG) for any purpose please email teamacacia@acacia.org.uk to request a download link.
If you have any problems accessing the films please let us know by contacting us through our website.

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postnatal support services west midlands

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Acacia Family Support | Postnatal Depression Support Services | BAME | Black, Asian and Multi Ethnic | Videos

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Acacia Family Support - Prenatal Depression and Postnatal Depression Support Services

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The perinatal period is the time from pregnancy to when your baby is 1 year old. However many of the services provided by Lothian Perinatal Collaborative will be accessible to families with babies up to 2, or in some case 3 years old.

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Families in Midlothian can access PEEP which is a great place to meet others and spend time with your baby. PEEP is free and is available from pre birth to 5 - Enjoy!

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Peep sessions

In Midlothian, our free Peep sessions run during school term time.

To book

Bookings are via Eventbrite. There are links for each session on the Peep timetable.

What to expect at Peep

Free one hour weekly groups for parents and carers and their children, from pre-birth to five years old.

Parents and carers are children's first and most important role models. Children learn most at home during the early years. At Peep we help parents and carers to give their children a flying start in life.
Fact - 80% of the brain is developed by the age of 3.
What Peep offers

Time to enjoy playing with your child

A place to meet other families

Ideas for parents and carers to help their children's early learning

Free, fun, easy ways to make the most of everyday activities

Builds on what parents and carers already do

Some groups offer parents/carers the chance to gain a qualification for their role in helping their children's learning, by completing the Peep Progression Pathway.

Peep to be - antenatal programme

What happens at Peep

A warm welcome for everyone with our 'Hello Song'

Singing and rhymes

Story time

Time to play together

A chance to talk with other parents and share ideas about children's learning and development

Ideas for things to do at home

Wind down before finishing with our 'Goodbye Song'.

Watch our short videos to meet our team of Peep leaders, and hear more about what to expect at Peep.

Meet the Peep leaders

What to expect at a session

Hello song

Goodbye song
Find out about the Midlothian Early Years Song Book
Feedback from families

'The classes gave us something to look forward to!'

'Although it's not the same as attending a class with the opportunity to watch children interacting it has provided some great ideas to try at home.'

Contact

Newsletters

More information

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Peep - Learning Together Programme | Midlothian Council

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At Peep we help parents and carers to give their children a flying start in life.

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Email: info@counsellingandcare.co.uk

Our counselling service is here for men and dads – whether you’re a dad with young children, a dad-to-be, you’ve lost a baby, are struggling to become a dad or if you are unsure if you want to become a dad.  We provide a well-established, quality counselling service, offering confidential, non-judgemental support

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Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) – Supporting people through pregnancy

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We provide bespoke Baby Packs for families in need, including clothes, toys and essential equipment for babies and children up to two years old

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Email: info@counsellingandcare.co.uk

Phone: 0131 553 5565

Our specialist perinatal counselling service is offered free of charge or by donation to anyone struggling with their mental health as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, baby loss, miscarriage, termination, stillbirth or infertility issues.

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Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) – Supporting people through pregnancy

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We provide bespoke Baby Packs for families in need, including clothes, toys and essential equipment for babies and children up to two years old

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Email: info@counsellingandcare.co.uk

Our specialist perinatal counselling service is offered free of charge or by donation to anyone struggling with their mental health as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, baby loss, miscarriage, termination, stillbirth or infertility issues.

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Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) – Supporting people through pregnancy

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We provide bespoke Baby Packs for families in need, including clothes, toys and essential equipment for babies and children up to two years old

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Midlothian Sure Start Dad2B and Dad & Me

Essential information and peer support in pregnancy and post natal up to age 3.

www.midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Email: admin@midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

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Email: admin@midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

Across all of Midlothian and Prestonpans, Tranent and Dunbar in East Lothian.

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Email: admin@midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

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Email: admin@midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

Across all of Midlothian and Prestonpans, Tranent and Dunbar in East Lothian.

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Email: admin@midlothiansurestart.org.uk

Phone: 0131 654 0489

A Good Start Programme across Midlothian, Prestonpans, Tranent and Dunbar in East Lothian.

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Please contact directly for details Phone: 01315537819

Home Start Edinburgh believes every child deserves a fair and equitable start to life. That is why we work in partnership with families who have young children supporting those that need some additional help providing the best start for children.

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Support and friendship for families, because childhood can’t wait Home-Start Edinburgh supports parents with young children at home, recruiting and training volunteers to provide this support. Additionally we run regular parent and children groups and arrange social events for referred families. “Home-Start has helped me so much and has turned my life around” We work with ... Read more

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Please contact directly for details Phone: 01315537819

Home Start Edinburgh believes every child deserves a fair and equitable start to life. That is why we work in partnership with families who have young children supporting those that need some additional help providing the best start for children.

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Support and friendship for families, because childhood can’t wait Home-Start Edinburgh supports parents with young children at home, recruiting and training volunteers to provide this support. Additionally we run regular parent and children groups and arrange social events for referred families. “Home-Start has helped me so much and has turned my life around” We work with ... Read more

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Please connect with us to find out more about our  'Preparing for Baby Course'

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Please connect with us to join our Dads Group

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We offer support on feeding your baby fortnightly Monday 1-2pm for dateshttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dr-bells-family-centre-wee-feeders-tickets-594660293947   

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Email; info@counsellingandcare.co.uk

Our Baby Bank provides essential baby items to families referred by health and social care professionals. Bespoke baby packs of preloved baby clothes, toys and safety equipment are delivered directly to families. Families can continue to self-refer for further items until their child is two.

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Supporting people through pregnancy, early parenthood and at times of loss At Pregnancy Counselling & Care Scotland (PCCS), we provide practical and emotional support for people facing pregnancy-related challenges through our Baby Bank and Counselling services. We are a Scottish charity an

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

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The Parent-Infant Partnership (PIP) is a Whole Family Wellbeing collaborative, working across Edinburgh to support parents and babies experiencing adversity – and to improve our collective response to early parenting. We are creating clearer referral pathways, embeding more reflective tools, working in closer ways and amplifying the voice of the infant so we can create the best opportunities for parents and infants to stay safely together and to be safe, healthy and supported in those first 1000 days of a new babies’ life, starting from conception.  We accept professional referrals for unborn babies anywhere in the city.

Dean & Cauvin - Parent-Infant Partnership

parentinfantpathway@edinburgh.gov.uk

07395 357251

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Our baby bank provides essential baby items to families referred by health and social care professionals. Bespoke baby packs of preloved baby clothes, toys and safety equipment are delivered directly to families.

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Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) – Supporting people through pregnancy

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We provide bespoke Baby Packs for families in need, including clothes, toys and essential equipment for babies and children up to two years old

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Watch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.

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Look Say Sing Play - Supporting your babies development

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Look Say Sing Play - Supporting your babies development

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Right from birth, every time you talk, sing or play with your child, you’re not just bonding, you’re building their brain. Get free brain-building tips.

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

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The Parent-Infant Partnership (PIP) is a Whole Family Wellbeing collaborative, working across Edinburgh to support parents and babies experiencing adversity – and to improve our collective response to early parenting. We are creating clearer referral pathways, embeding more reflective tools, working in closer ways and amplifying the voice of the infant so we can create the best opportunities for parents and infants to stay safely together and to be safe, healthy and supported in those first 1000 days of a new babies’ life, starting from conception.  We accept professional referrals for unborn babies anywhere in the city.

Dean & Cauvin - Parent-Infant Partnership

parentinfantpathway@edinburgh.gov.uk

07395 357251

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

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Parent and Infant Collaborative (Edinburgh City)

# data[].attributes.body
The Parent-Infant Partnership (PIP) is a Whole Family Wellbeing collaborative, working across Edinburgh to support parents and babies experiencing adversity – and to improve our collective response to early parenting. We are creating clearer referral pathways, embeding more reflective tools, working in closer ways and amplifying the voice of the infant so we can create the best opportunities for parents and infants to stay safely together and to be safe, healthy and supported in those first 1000 days of a new babies’ life, starting from conception.  We accept professional referrals for unborn babies anywhere in the city.

Dean & Cauvin - Parent-Infant Partnership

parentinfantpathway@edinburgh.gov.uk

07395 357251