Help for expectant and new parents

Support during pregnancy, pre-birth and with your new baby can often be referred to as antenatal, perinatal and postnatal support.

Your baby and child's health and development has more information on services provided by midwives, health visitors and the school nurse health and wellbeing service.

Childcare -  this may not be at the front of your mind, but it pays to think early if you are considering childcare for your baby. Childcare can get booked up well in advance so head over to our childcare pages to plan what type of childcare you want and arrange some visits.

Face-to-face support 

• Midwives - Midwives will support you through pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. They can tell you about the different support that’s on offer and help you decide what’s right for you. 
• Health Visitors - Health visitors offer expert advice and guidance on the mental health and wellbeing of the whole family. They play a key role in promoting good family mental health and wellbeing; the healthy physical and emotional development of infants; and the parent-infant relationship.
• Early Intervention Health Visiting - This is a new service run as part of the Family Nurse programme to support young mothers aged 21 or under with additional vulnerabilities in the north of the county. Support will be offered during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. Contact:
  • Bedworth, central Nuneaton, Bulkington and surrounding areas - Steph Ventress on 02476 491138 / 07500 471181.
  • Coleshill, Nuneaton, Atherstone and surrounding areas - Marianne Rutter on 01675 461966 / 07500 471168.
• Family Nurse - This is a voluntary home visiting programme for young mums and their families, that works with you to have a healthy pregnancy, support your child’s health and development, and helps you to plan your own future and achieve your goals. It is available to mums aged 19 or under. A family nurse will work with you to deliver the Family Nurse Partnership Programme as well as undertaking the role of a health visitor.
  • Contact: fpartnership@nhs.net.
• Children and Family Centres - One in four parents in Warwickshire have told us that they have felt lonely and isolated. To find support and meet other parents in your local area ask at your local centre. Check their website or Facebook pages to find timetables of all the events and activities being run from the centres. 
• Maternal Circles - Maternal Circles is here to support families living in Nuneaton and Bedworth through their maternity journey. Maternal Circles can offer extra help with transport, mental health and wellbeing, understanding appointments, financial information and access to other support services. They can attend appointments with you, or simply be a listening ear. Whatever you need, they are here to support through pregnancy and early parenthood.
  • Referrals can be completed by families or professionals by completing the online referral form
  • You can contact Maternal Circles by calling 02477 102230 or emailing maternalcircles@barnardos.org.uk.
• Find your local GP
• Quit4Baby - Smoking and nicotine cravings can increase feelings of stress and anxiety. The Warwickshire stop smoking in pregnancy service can help you to quit smoking. The service can support you, your partner and anyone else living in your home to quit during pregnancy and for two weeks after birth.
• Warwickshire breastfeeding support
• Sleeping advice - advice for safe sleeping with a new baby 

Help with baby essentials and clothing

New parents who are struggling to afford essential items for their baby or young child can apply to the following not for profit organisations to receive items such as baby starter packs, clothing, cots, pushchairs, as well as formula and feeding equipment. All items are new or good quality pre-loved. 

For Little Bird and Baby Godiva, please complete the self-referral online form. For Baby Basics, you will need a professional referral - for example your health visitor, a family support worker, or call the Family Information Service who can make the referral for you.

Linked-Up offers pre-term baby clothing and hire of the NCT bednest co-sleeper cot for mothers of pre-term or low birthweight babies in South Warwickshire.

Growbaby provide good quality new and used baby clothes and equipment (aged 0 – 5) free to anyone who requires it in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

• Sure Start Maternity Grant
• Little Bird Baby Bank
• Baby Basics
• Baby Godiva
• Linked-Up
• Growbaby Bedworth
• Growbaby Nuneaton
• Baby Collective Rugby

Online and digital resources

• Baby Buddy is a free downloadable app designed to guide you through pregnancy, birth, parenting and beyond. 
• DadPad - DadPad is an evidence-based app accessible to all fathers living in Warwickshire FREE of charge. It is designed to reduce your anxieties, create a strong bond and healthy attachment with your baby. It can help you build stronger family relationships and recognise when you or your partner might need to get help for your mental health.
• Mamma Mia - In addition to the care you receive from your healthcare teams, this free online self-help support tool is available for pregnant women in Coventry and Warwickshire.
• Becoming Dad - a guide for new fathers.
• ICON is an online resource about infant crying and how to cope. The advice page for parents contains some useful videos which explain early infant crying, ways to cope, how to soothe and comfort your baby, tips on parent relaxation methods and dads talk.
• Getting to know your baby - A series of useful videos covering bonding, baby states, early interactions and sleeping and soothing.
• Small Talk - Little ways to make a big difference.
• NHS Your pregnancy and baby guide takes you from finding out you are pregnant through keeping well in pregnancy, labour and birth, your new baby and a forum to connect with others. 
• Best Beginnings - Pregnancy and Postnatal exercise videos to help you keep active during pregnancy and beyond. 
• Tommy’s having a safe and healthy pregnancy - Midwife-led information covering everything you need to know about having a safe and healthy pregnancy from conception to birth. 
• Your Baby’s Mum: Tommy’s Wellbeing Plan helps you start thinking not just about your new baby but about how you feel emotionally and what support you might need in your pregnancy and after the birth. Watch the video and click through to create a pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan.
• Bounty Pregnancy Information Pack - Practical advice plus all the latest medical information that you can refer to time and time again throughout your pregnancy.
• National Childbirth Trust (NCT) New Parent Support - While your baby is getting a lot of attention at this stage, what about you? Support and tips for parents from other mums and dads. 
• Understanding Your Pregnancy and Understanding Your Baby - Two free online guides designed to help you bond with your baby. They are also used by Warwickshire midwives and health visitors in the work that they do with children and families. 
• NHS Tips for new parents - A quick guide to everything you need to know about caring for your new baby in those first few weeks. 
• Little Lullaby - Support for young parents by young parents.
• Hungry Little Minds has lots of ideas and activities to share with your baby and child to help them learn and bond.
• Better Health Start for Life: Learning to Talk