Ante-Natal, Pregnancy and New Baby Activities
Birmingham Forward Steps: delivering education, health and wellbeing for children and young people aged 0 to 5 in Birmingham.
Antenatal, pregnancy and new baby support
What is the Birmingham Forward Steps (BFS) antenatal offer?
Birmingham Forward Steps offers all pregnant women the opportunity to explore their thoughts and feelings during pregnancy. We can support you to recognise and respond to your baby's needs and develop a positive relationship with your growing baby in utero.
We can also support you to explore your thoughts and feelings about feeding your baby.
Antenatal and new baby activities
Your local Family Hub or Children's Centre runs the following activities that will give you opportunities to meet other parents and ask any questions you have regarding your baby's development.
- Support can be provided 1 to 1 or in groups in our Family Hubs and Children Centres, they deliver weekly activities that give opportunities for expectant and new parents to meet other parents and ask any questions regarding babies development.
- Baby Shower events are delivered in the Family Hubs to support expectant parents. The group provides a welcoming, informative and supportive environment to prepare families for a safe and healthy pregnancy, as well as the arrival of their baby.
- Baby Group will give you ideas and inspiration of what to do to help with your baby development at home. These include communication, language, physical development, and social and emotional development.
To find out more information and how to access these activities by contacting your local Family Hub or Children's Centre.
Antenatal parenting programmes
The Antenatal Togetherness Course, offered by Birmingham Forward Steps is a free five week course designed for all pregnant women, partners and family members.
You'll learn about pregnancy, labour and birth and your baby in a friendly, safe space. You can find details on the next available course by contacting your local Family Hub or Children's Centre.
We also offer free Togetherness understanding your pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby virtual classes (available in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Welsh. Women couples classes are also available).
Antenatal home visit
Every expectant mother in Birmingham will receive a letter from a local Health Visiting team between 28 and 34 weeks gestation informing them of Health Visiting services and what the Family Hubs and Children Centres offer.
Once received, expectant mothers can have the opportunity to contact the Health Visiting team if needed for support, advice and an antenatal visit to help prepare a positive bond with baby and enable professionals to identify any extra support which may be needed for families.
This early engagement will compliment support from the midwife.
To contact your local Health Visiting team, please call the BFS Health Visiting Hub on 0121 683 2330.
As part of the Antenatal Offer, you can also contact the Family Hub Worker in your local Family Hub or Children's Centre. They also have a Duty Worker who can give you advice and guidance on wider issues.
Dad groups
We provide Dads' groups across the city to provide a network of support and advice. For more information, get in touch with your local Family Hub or Children's Centre.
Exploring feeding options
To explore options on how you could feed your baby:
You can discuss these options further with your midwife, health visitor or Family Hub worker, who will help you make an informed decision that is right for your family: contact your local Family Hub or Children's Centre.
Family Hubs offer friendly spaces to access information and support towards getting breastfeeding off to the best start. This will be provided by Family Hub workers and linking in with the Breastfeeding Network who provide 1 to 1 or group support in Family Hubs and community venues.
Resources
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NHS: Best Start in Life: from finding out your due date, early pregnancy signs and symptoms, to getting ready for labour and birth - this is your complete pregnancy guide. |
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National Childbirth Trust: supports thousands of expectant and new parents across the UK. |
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