Help for expectant and new parents

Feeling anxious in the early days, recovering from a difficult birth, lack of sleep, changes to relationships and other challenges can all lead to low mood or loss of confidence. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. One in five women and one in ten dads need help with their emotional wellbeing during pregnancy or in the first year after their baby is born. Seeking help early is important as it will speed your recovery.

All the face-to-face support contacts listed below are trained to listen to you and can help you decide what is right for you.

Local health services

• Midwives - will support you through pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. You can discuss any concerns or worries you have with your midwife. They can tell you about the different support that’s on offer and help you decide what’s right for you. Contact details for Maternity at UHCW.
• 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.
• Specialist Health Visitors – There are three specialist health visitors in parent and infant mental health across Warwickshire. They work with the health visiting team to support families during times when mental health support is needed. They provide training to all health visitors so that you can feel confident to talk about how you feel with competent and compassionate staff. They work closely with other health professionals, such as GPs, midwives, adult psychological therapy (IAPT) and the perinatal mental health team, to help you get the support needed.
• Video Interactive Guidance – Specialist health visitors also deliver video interaction guidance. VIG can support enhanced communication, relationships and understanding between parent and child. Local parents in Coventry and Warwickshire have created a video to show their experience of VIG.
• 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.
• IAPT Healthy Mind Service - Talking therapies for anyone experiencing depression or anxiety. The service has five perinatal mental health champions to support mums, dads and partners. You can self-refer.
• Find your local GP

Other local support

• 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 children and family centre. Timetables of all the events and activities being run from the centres plus information on one to one support is available from the centre and/or their facebook page.
• Parents in Mind – Trained peers offer group and one to one support to mums experiencing emotional difficulties in pregnancy up to the second year after birth. Support is available across Warwickshire with groups in Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington and Stratford.
• By Your Side - supports families with emotional difficulties in pregnancy or following the birth of a child. There are currently twice weekly online support groups as well as a weekly stay and play group plus one to one support. Wellbeing packs can also be requested. There is an active X (previously Twitter) page.
• Parenting Project Family Wellbeing Pathway - a pathway of support which includes family wellbeing, counselling and parent mentoring. Parents and carers of children 0 to 19-years-old (25 for those with SEND) can self refer.
• Wellbeing for Warwickshire - 24/7 telephone assistance. The service offers online, face2face support and drop-ins. 
• 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.
• 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, build stronger family relationships and recognise when you or your partner might need to get help for your mental health.
• Home Start South Warwickshire - offers compassionate, confidential support to families where parents are experiencing emotional health difficulties such as post-natal depression or anxiety. It is a service for parents with at least one child under 5 years of age. Parents can self refer or a professional you are working with can make a referral for you.
• Dad Matters Warwickshire - support for new dads in Stratford and Warwick within the perinatal period which is from conception to two years.  

National support

• PANDAS – Charity for perinatal mental illness offering free telephone support seven days a week 9am-8pm on 0808 1961 776 or by email info@pandasfoundation.org.uk (response within 72 hours).
• Out of the Blue is a series of videos on the Baby Buddy app to support parents who are experiencing low mood, anxiety and/or depression either leading up to or following the birth of your baby.
• Shout – This service provides 24/7 help in a crisis. Text shout to 85258.
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance - support for mums and families. 

Additional help

• Specialist support for expectant and new parents - For additional specialist mental health support.
• Relationship conflict - Advice, support and resources for family relationships.
• Domestic abuse - Support in Warwickshire.
• Quit4Good - 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 stay smoke-free.

Mental health support in pregnancy and following the birth of your baby for Coventry and Warwickshire residents.

• Coventry and Warwickshire partnership - Support during and after pregnancy

This external site has been created by local partners and CWPT that have a remit around mental health and wellbeing for parents and families during pregnancy and up to when a child turns two.

Parents and families may find additional sources of support via this site, particularly if they are feeling a range of difficult emotions and feelings during pregnancy or following the birth of a child.