Support if things haven’t gone to plan or you want to make a complaint
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National organisations with helplines
• AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services). An organisation
that supports all maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists, and campaigns for a system which truly meets the needs of all. Its helpline offers information and support on pregnancy and birth issues to help people make informed decisions, support them to have their decision respected by their health care providers, and provide a listening ear and practical support for
women who are unhappy with their experiences.
Tel: 0300 365 0663 Email: helpline@aims.org.uk https://www.aims.org.uk
• ARC – Antenatal Results and Choices. The only national charity helping
parents through antenatal screening and its consequences.
Tel: 0845 077 2290 https://www.arc-uk.org/
• Association for Post-Natal Illness. An organisation for women suffering from
any type of perinatal illness.
Tel: 0207386 0868 https://www.apni.org
• The Lullaby Trust. A charity that offers emotional support for bereaved
families, as well as raising awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
and providing expert advice on safer sleep for babies.
Tel: 0808 802 6868 https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk
• The Miscarriage Association. A charity offering support and information to
anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy, raising awareness and
promoting good practice in medical care.
Tel: 01924 200799 Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
• PANDAS Foundation UK. Support and advice for any parent who is
experiencing a perinatal mental illness.
Tel: 0843 2898 401 Email: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk
https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/
• Samaritans A free, confidential listening service for anyone struggling to cope
and needing emotional support.
Tel: 116123 Email: jo@samaritans.org https://www.samaritans.org.uk
• Tamba. Twinline is Tamba’s listening service for parents of twins, triplets and
more. All the calls are answered by volunteers who have multiples themselves.
Tel: 0800 138 0509 Email: asktwinline@tamba.org.uk
https://www.tamba.org.uk/support/twinline
• The 1001 Critical Days. A campaigning organisation that highlights the
importance of intervening early in the 1001 critical days between conception to
2 years to enhance the outcomes for children.
https://www.1001criticaldays.co.uk
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis. A national charity for women and families
affected by Postpartum Psychosis (PP), a severe mental illness that begins
suddenly following childbirth. It offers a moderated forum and one-to-one
messaging. https://www.app-network.org/
• Best Beginnings. A charity aiming to empower parents with the knowledge
and confidence to look after their own health and their children’s long term
development and well-being. https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk
• The Birth Trauma Association. A charity that supports women who have had
a traumatic birth experience or are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
• Birthrights. A charity dedicated to improving women’s experience of
pregnancy and childbirth by promoting respect for human rights; offers free
factsheets and an advice service. http://www.birthrights.org.uk
• Bliss. A charity that aims to give every baby born premature or sick the best
chance of survival and quality of life and supports parents and health
professionals. https://www.bliss.org.uk/
• Gingerbread. A charity supporting single parent families.
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk
• Home-Start. A national charity with local branches across the UK whose
volunteers offer support and practical help to families with young children who
are facing challenges around mental and physical health, isolation, disability,
postnatal depression, money problems and more.
https://www.home-start.org.uk
• Make Birth Better. A network of parents and professionals who aim to improve
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of birth trauma through clinically-led
education, campaigning and research. https://www.makebirthbetter.org/
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance. A coalition of national professional and
patient organisations committed to improving perinatal mental health.
https://www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org
• Mind. A leading national mental health charity with local branches, which offers information, advice and support about mental health issues and treatment choices. https://www.mind.org.uk
• The Multiple Births Foundation. Employs healthcare professionals dedicated
to supporting multiple birth families and educating and advising professionals
about their special needs. http://www.multiplebirths.org.uk
• National Breastfeeding Helpline The National Breastfeeding Helpline is open
on 0300 100 0212 from 9.30am-9.30pm every single day of the year, offering
non-judgemental, evidence based, caller centred, independent, friendly
breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it.
http://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/
• NCT. A leading charity for new parents providing information and support for
the first 1,000 days as a parent, through pregnancy, birth and beyond.
https://www.nct.org.uk
• PETALS: The baby loss counselling charity.
Tel: 0300 688 0068 Email: counselling@petalscharity.org
https://petalscharity.org
• Royal College of General Practitioners. A medical royal college that provides
a perinatal mental health toolkit for women and their families with websites,
information leaflets and literature recommendations.
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-andresearch/resources/toolkits/perinatal-mental-health-toolkit.aspx
• SANDS. The stillbirth and neonatal death charity, supporting anyone affected
by the death of a baby, working to improve the care bereaved parents receive,
and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
https://www.sands.org.uk
• Tommys. A charity funding research into stillbirth, premature birth and
miscarriage, and providing pregnancy health information for parents.
https://www.tommys.org
• Unfold Your Wings. Supporting people affected by birth trauma and PTSD.
http://www.unfoldyourwings.co.uk
Support for mums by mums
• Maternal OCD. A charity co-founded by two mothers, which provides
information and support for those who suffer from extreme perinatal obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD). https://maternalocd.org
• PND and Me. An online blog set up by a woman with personal experience of
postnatal depression.
http://www.pndandme.co.uk, also on Twitter @PndandMe
For dads
• Dr Andrew Mayers. An academic psychologist specialising in mental health,
particularly perinatal mental health (Including fathers) and young people’s
mental health. His website includes information on support for fathers’ mental
health: https://www.andrewmayers.info/fathers-mental-health.html
• Dads Matter UK. Support and information for dads worried about or suffering
from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
https://www.dadsmatteruk.org
• The Fatherhood Institute. The UK’s fatherhood think-and-do tank.
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
• Fathers Reaching Out. The website of Mark Williams, a campaigner, author
and speaker on fathers’ mental health.
https://www.reachingoutpmh.co.uk/sample-page/
• PANDAS Foundation. Amongst other support, offers closed Facebook groups
for Dads: https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/online-support/
Other useful links
• Money with Kids. A guide to help ensure those with children are taking
advantage of all the financial assistance available and making the most of
their money. https://moneywithkids.co.uk/
• Mental Health & Money Support. Clear, practical advice and support for
people experiencing issues with mental health and money.
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/