Maternity Health

02/06/2026

🥰A Little Message...🥰

02/06/2026

🌟Birth Trauma🌟

Research shows at least 1 in 3 women find some aspect of their birth traumatic. This translates to 200,000 new mums in the UK each year.
Feeling supported after a traumatic experience often starts with finally being able to put a name to what happened, gain an understanding of what happened and accessing appropriate support to cope going forwards.
If you have been affected by birth trauma please check out Make Birth Better website:

Birth can be distressing sometimes. So much so, it's traumatising. We want to make birth better. For you, for all.

02/06/2026

🌟Birth Trauma🌟

A traumatic birth can feel like an emotional shock.
Birth was not ‘meant’ to be this way so it can feel understandably hard to make sense of what has happened or how you are feeling.
This can be doubly difficult when you add in the pressure of trying to get on and care for your new baby, recover physically or navigate other people’s opinions and feelings. All of this takes immense energy and especially so after trauma.

Please access the following site for more advice & support:
The Birth Trauma Association:

BTA is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. We work to support parents and families, improve parents’ experience of birth, and engage with health professionals and research.

01/06/2026

🌟Pregnant & Screwed🌟

Are you having problems at work or feel you are being unfairly treated JUST because you are pregnant?... yes it happens, crazy in this day and age but sadly thousands of women are facing these issues.
Pregnant & Screwed are the most amazing charity set up to help and advise & support women and families in this situation - they fiercely campaign to protect YOUR rights and help you have your voice heard.

Being pregnant should not mean you are discriminated against or treated any differently - this charity will give you the advice and strength to fight those companies who think its OK to be unfair.

Please check out the below link:

Our vision is a world where the mothers, parents and families of today and tomorrow thrive. But the reality right now is mothers, parents and families are repeatedly failed by systems that are supposed to help them, systems which set up unfairness and disadvantage across a lifetime. This is the moth...

01/06/2026

🌟Working and Pregnancy – Your Rights🌟

Are you a working mother-to-be or new parent? The below links give you information on your rights and benefits during pregnancy and maternity leave.
Some of the key points:

• All workers are protected against discrimination if you are dismissed or treated unfairly because of pregnancy or childbirth. It is discrimination to dismiss you or treat you unfairly because you have taken maternity leave or exercised any of your maternity rights at work.
• It doesn’t matter if you work full-time or part-time, the same rights still apply.
• You have the same maternity rights if you are an employee on a term-time only, fixed-term or temporary contract or if you are an apprentice. If you are not an employee, for example, because you are self-employed or doing casual work, you do not have the right to maternity leave but you may still get maternity pay and have other rights.
• Agency workers are protected against discrimination during pregnancy and after childbirth. Most agency workers are entitled to maternity pay. Agency workers who have completed 12 weeks in the same placement have the right to paid time off for antenatal care and health and safety protection.
• Any pregnancy- related absence will not affect the qualifying period.

🔸Maternity Action: https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/pregnant-at-work/
🔹GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights
🔸Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/rights-while-youre-pregnant-at-work/
🔹Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): https://archive.equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace

30/05/2026

Please share!

30/05/2026

Twins in the Billericay area? Check this out!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

30/05/2026

Expecting a baby or finding your feet as a new parent this June and over the summer months? 🌷

With longer, brighter days and the warmth of summer ahead, this is a lovely time to focus on feeling supported, confident, and connected as you prepare for — or settle into — life with your baby 👶🤍

Our June timetable and summer sessions are full of warm, welcoming support designed for every stage of pregnancy and early parenthood. From gentle fitness and calming baby sessions to practical antenatal workshops and friendly peer support for mums and partners, there’s something for everyone 🌿

✨ Whether you’re looking for reassurance, hoping to meet other parents, or taking a little time just for you, Parents 1st UK is here to support you every step of the way

📅 Take a look at what’s on this month and book your place today:
👉 parents1st.org.uk/book-a-course

29/05/2026

🌟Emotional Abuse🌟

Emotional abuse can feel as destructive and damaging as physical abuse, and can severely impact your mental health. The scars of emotional abuse are real and long-lasting.

It’s often used as a way to maintain power and control over someone.
Emotional abuse may be accompanied by other kinds of abuse. (see attached poster created by CAMHS)
Physical violence is often seen as being more serious than emotional abuse, but this simply isn’t true.

As well as having a negative impact on your self-esteem and confidence, emotional abuse can leave you feeling depressed, anxious or even suicidal.

The first step in escaping an abusive situation is realising that you're not alone and it's not your fault.
If you decide to leave be careful who you tell. It's important your partner does not know where you're going.
Before you go, try to get advice from an organisation that can give you information and support about making a safety plan.

🔸Women's Aid: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
🔸Refuge: https://www.refuge.org.uk/
🔸Changing Pathways (Essex): https://changingpathways.org/

🔸Whilst women are the predominant victims of violence at the hands of men we know that men also so suffer this link for men: Men's Advice Line: https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

🔸And for those in the for LGBT+ community – GALOP: https://galop.org.uk/

27/05/2026

Myth: Good parents love everything about being a parent.
Reality: Early parenthood can be joyful, exhausting, isolating, overwhelming and meaningful all at once.

Being heard without judgement can change how supported a parent feels in some of the hardest moments of early parenthood.

Find out more about what peer support actually is: https://parents1st.org.uk/what-do-we-mean-by-peer-support