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Pregnancy and Childbirth

UK sources of information and / or support

The leaflets section of Patient UK

Includes several leaflets on various aspects of Pregnancy

The Pregnancy Book

Information from the Department of Health. This book is full of useful information and advice about all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. The Pregnancy Book has been written with advice from: Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, Department of Health, Maternity Alliance, National Childbirth Trust, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, St. John Ambulance. Chapters in PDF format include:

Your health in pregnancy
Conception
How the baby develops
Deciding where to have your baby
Feelings and relationships
Mainly for men
Antenatal care and antenatal classes
The feeding question
Problems
What you need for the baby
Labour and birth
When pregnancy goes wrong
The first days with your new baby
The early weeks
Rights and benefits

Emma's Diary

A step-by-step pregnancy guide, produced by The Royal College of General Practitioners in association with Lifecycle Marketing. It provides healthcare information and advice, written in the form of a diary by 'Emma' a first-time mum. The diary takes readers through all stages of pregnancy on a week by week basis, using the experiences of Emma and her friends. It provides a valuable insight into the changes experienced during pregnancy along with detailed information on areas of interest such as nutrition, morning sickness, breast feeding and relationships.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Their website has a section aimed at the general public. All the information on this section comes from up-to-date and carefully-checked guidance for doctors, but it's been written in a way that makes it clearer for the non-medical person. Topics include:

A breech baby at the end of pregnancy
A difficult birth: what is shoulder dystocia?
A low-lying placenta after 20 weeks (placenta praevia):
Alcohol and pregnancy
Amniocentesis
An assisted birth (operative vaginal delivery)
Antenatal Care: routine care for the healthy pregnant woman
A third- or fourth-degree tear during childbirth
Birth after previous caesarean
Bleeding and pain in early pregnancy
Blood transfusion, pregnancy & birth
Chickenpox in Pregnancy
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
Cord blood banking
Couples with recurrent miscarriage
Early miscarriage
Genital herpes in pregnancy
HIV in pregnancy
Induction of labour
Monitoring your baby's heartbeat in labour
Obstetric Cholestasis (itching liver disorder)
Pre-eclampsia
Preventing Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies
Recreational exercise and pregnancy
Turning a breech baby in the womb (external cephalic version)
Umbilical cord prolapse in late pregnancy
Venous thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth
When your waters break early (preterm prelabour rupture of membranes)

Informed Choice Leaflets

A set of evidence based leaflets which examine key decisions facing expectant mothers during pregnancy and is designed to assist them in making informed choices. Produced by MIDIRS - Midwives Information and Resource Service. Topics include:

Support in labour
Listening to your baby's heartbeat during labour
Ultrasound scans - what you need to know
Alcohol and pregnancy
Positions in labour and delivery
Epidural pain relief in labour
Feeding your baby - breast or bottle?
Is my baby alright? Screening in pregnancy
If your baby is in the breech position, what are your choices?
Where will you have your baby - at home or in hospital?
Do you want a waterbirth?
When your baby is overdue
Eating well - for your baby and for you
Non-epidural pain relief
Caring for yourself and feeling well after you have had your baby

Other titles which have been commissioned are Caesarean Section & VBAC, Vitamin K, Mode Of Delivery, Postnatal Depression, and Smoking In Pregnancy.

Direct Gov

Directgov is the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information. Includes a section about having a baby.

Maternity Matters: Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service

From the Department of Health. Highlights the Government commitment to developing a high quality, safe and accessible maternity service through the introduction of a new national choice guarantee for women. This will ensure that by the end of 2009, all women will have choice around the type of care that they receive, together with improved access to services and continuity of midwifery care and support.

National Childbirth Trust

The National Childbirth Trust is the leading charity offering information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.

Mom-e

For the pregnant woman or one contemplating pregnancy this site provides up-to-date and comprehensive information from pre-conception to mother and baby. The author is a leading UK obstetrician.

Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association

Professional body but their website includes information on 'Pain Relief in Labour' and 'Caesarean section: your choice of anaesthesia' and a video.

Eat well be well

Advice about what to eat and what to avoid when pregnant and when trying to become pregnant. From the Food Standards Agency.

Eating while you are Pregnant.

Information booklet from the Food Standards Agency.

Diet Advice for Diabetes Diagnosed in Pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes)

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust provide a wide range of patient information, including one in this area.

Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC)

A UK charity set up in 1991 to ease and prevent suffering from pre-eclampsia and improve care and understanding of the condition. Includes information and support for women at risk of or affected by pre-eclampsia.

Baby Registry

Pregnancy and parenting information/reference site for new and expectant parents in the UK. 1000 pages of factsheets, advice from mums and dads and hundreds of contacts.

Twins and Multiple Births Association

A registered charity in the United Kingdom for all parents with twins, triplets, quads, sextuplets or more. The organisation provides information and a mutual support networks for families.

Eating for Pregnancy

Information form the University of Sheffield. This site is for you if you're thinking about having a baby or you're already expecting a baby. Lots of information about eating a healthy diet during pregnancy.

Ready, Steady, Baby

Whether you're planning on having a baby, are already pregnant, or are supporting a partner or a friend, this website offers a guide to pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

Maternal and infant nutrition

Advice and information from the Department of Health.

Multiple Births Foundation

Information and support for parents and professionals involved with multiple births.

Premature Babies UK

A site set up by a mother of a premature baby, including information on a range of issues connected wtih premature babies and links to other sources.

Pregnancy - I am Pregnant, is it safe for me to travel by air?

Frequently Asked Questions of the The Aviation Health Unit.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

From the 'Behind the Medical Headlines' website developed to provide authoritative and independent expert commentaries on topical medical matters reported in the international media. Produced by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Insights into Early Fetal Development

Fetal Surgical Intervention

Fetal Interventional Surgery

When is the ideal time for a pre-term fetus to be delivered?

Umbilical cord-derived stem cell transplants – what’s changed in three years?

Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services

Information and support for parents and professionals. Online articles cover many maternity issues such as breech birth, caesareans, pain relief and miscarriage.

Association of Radical Midwives

Midwives and others in the UK committed to improving the maternity care provided by the NHS. The association believes that all women have the right to a service tailored more closely to their needs, and a sympathetic attitude on the part of their professional attendants. Primarily a support group for people having difficulty in getting or giving good, sympathetic, personalised midwifery care.

Meet A Mum Association

Aims to provide friendship and support to all mothers and mothers-to-be, especially those feeling lonely or isolated after the birth of a baby or moving to a new area. By attending a local MAMA group, mums become part of a network of women wanting to make new friends and support each other.

Miscarriage Association

The Miscarriage Association is a UK National Charity which gives support and information for all on the subject of pregnancy loss.

Tommy's

Tommy's, the baby charity funds research into the causes of stillbirth, miscarriage nad premature birth. It provides parents and parents-to-be with information on these areas and information on how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

Support and information about ectopic pregnancy.

Jane's Breastfeeding and Childbirth Resources

Large collection of links to breastfeeding, pregnancy and childbirth related information.

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative

Working with the UK's health services to ensure that all parents are enabled and supported to make informed choices about how they feed and care for their babies. Lots of information on breast feeding.

MorningWell

Site from Daval Ltd, producers of MorningWell, a simple audio cassette tape containing a revolutionary audio programme that has been created from a unique blend of music, specific frequencies and pulses to cure the symptoms of morning sickness.

CareConfidential

For free, confidential advice if facing an unplanned pregnancy or dealing with post abortion concerns.

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

A small UK based registered charity, controlled by disabled parents, which promotes better awareness and support for disabled people considering, during and after pregnancy and as parents. DPPi is a charity for disabled people who are already parents and their families, those who wish to become parents and their families and also for health and social work professionals and other individuals and organizations concerned with disability and/or pregnancy and parenting.

BirthChoiceUK

This non-commercial website helps women in the UK choose where to give birth using information about maternity care, maternity statistics and research-based information about childbirth.

Home Birth Reference Site

What is the evidence on home birth safety and outcomes? Summaries of research, and information on booking a home birth in the UK.

Foresight

Foresight - the Association for the Promotion of Pre-conceptual Care - works to promote the importance of good health and nutritional status in both parents before conceiving a baby. Foresight has put together a thoroughly researched pre-conception programme. A number of literature summaries are available summarise all the relevant information.

LIFE

Dedicated to caring for pregnant women and their children. It is non-political and non-denominational. Committed to upholding the utmost respect for human life from fertilisation.

Tiny Tickers - Echo UK

A charity which aims to improve the detection, care and treatment of heart disease in babies, before birth.

Society for the Protection of the Unborn Children (SPUC)

Primarily an educational and lobbying organisation but also responds to requests for assistance from expectant mothers facing difficulties. Counselling for those harmed by abortion is provided by the British Victims of Abortion, a division or the SPUC Educational Research Trust.

Midwivesonline.com

This site is a response to the information needs of professional midwives, student midwives and to some extent other related professions such as neonatal nurses and health visitors. The ultimate aim is to ensure that midwives and the Mothers/Families cared for by them, have easy access to user-friendly, relevant, up-to-date information necessary to make decisions about their own and their baby's treatment and care.

MIDRIS.org (Midwives Information and Resource Service)

Information on midwifery, pregnancy, childbirth, the newborn, and maternity services. statistics, government and official reports, books, conference proceedings, newspaper articles, and consumer information leaflets etc.

Healthy Start

Healthy Start is planned for national rollout later in 2006 - the reformed Welfare Food Scheme gives pregnant women and children under 5 in low income families vouchers for free milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk.

ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices)

ARC is the only national charity offering information and support to parents throughout the antenantal testing process and when an abnormality is diagnosed in their unborn baby. Ongoing support is offered whatever decision is made about the future of the pregnancy

Pregnancy

Healthtalkonline, is an award-winning charity website, which lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. The information is based on qualitative research into patient experiences led by experts at the University of Oxford.

Pregnancy

Youthhealthtalk is a website about young people’s real life experiences of health and lifestyle. It is not just a website about the medical facts, this is about real people and real lives.

Making Decisions About Birth After Caesarean

Babyview

A 4d scanning service, showing moving images of babies in the womb. The scans are of a high quality.

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health

Mainly for members but site includes some useful leaflets on a variety of topics, including Aquanatal Guidelines.

Babyworld

Parenting website for new and expectant parents to find advice and support. Information on all aspects of parenting, daily updates, competitions, celebrity news, a friendly and thriving community, experts include GP, midwife, health visitor, breastfeeding counsellor, online antenatal classes run by NCT antenatal teacher, babynamer and pregnancy planner.

Birth Trauma Association

Aims to support women suffering from Post Natal PTSD (Post Traumtic Stress disorder) and to offer basic advice and support to women who are traumatised by childbirth but who do not have PTSD.

Doula UK - 'A network of Doulas, run by Doulas'

Doula is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. Website gives information about doulas and how to find one.

UK Vasa Praevia Awareness Group

Raising awareness about Vasa Praevia and provides information on the condition.

Amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios during pregnancy

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios during pregnancy.

Antenatal Care

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Antenatal Care.

Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health.

Caesarean section

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Caesarean section.

Diabetes in pregnancy

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Diabetes in pregnancy.

Fetal Cystoscopy for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Urinary Outflow Tract Obstruction

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Fetal Cystoscopy for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Urinary Outflow Tract Obstruction.

Induction of Labour

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Induction of Labour .

Insertion of pleuro-amniotic shunt for fetal pleural effusion

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Insertion of pleuro-amniotic shunt for fetal pleural effusion.

Intrapartum care

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Intrapartum care .

Intrauterine Laser Ablation of Placental Vessels for the Treatment of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Intrauterine Laser Ablation of Placental Vessels for the Treatment of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome .

Postnatal Care

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Postnatal Care.

Pregnancy (rhesus negative women) - Routine Anti-D (review)

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Pregnancy (rhesus negative women) - Routine Anti-D (review).

Septostomy with or without Amnioreduction for the Treatment of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Septostomy with or without Amnioreduction for the Treatment of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Blockage in an Unborn Baby Using a Vesico-Amniotic Shunt

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Fetal Vesico-Amniotic Shunt for Lower Urinary Tract Outflow Obstruction .

Hydatidiform Mole Pregnancies

This site is edited by Derek McLintock, BSc MB BS FRCOG, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician based in Hertfordshire, UK.

Medicine Guide for Caesarian Section

Medicine Guides provide reliable information about medicines (drugs), conditions and the different treatment options available. They have been developed in the UK as part of the Medicines Information Project.

Medicine Guide for Premature Labour (Stopping)

Medicine Guide for Inducing Labour

Medicine Guide for Labour (preventing bleeding after)

Medicine Guide for Labour (premature)

Provides detailed information about the drugs available to treat this condition. Medicine Guides provide reliable information about medicines, conditions and the different treatment options available. They have been developed in the UK as part of the Medicines Information Project.

International Vasa Previa Foundation

Information and support for this rare pregnancy complication.

The Baby Ultrasound Company

Medical site that specialises in providing information regarding the process of a baby ultrasound test.

Clever Little Things

Inovative products for pregnant women, babies and children.

Percutaneous laser therapy for fetal tumours

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Percutaneous laser therapy for fetal tumours.

Ultrasound-guided catheterisation of the epidural space

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Ultrasound-guided catheterisation of the epidural space.

Introduction to Molar Pregnancy

Information from Charing Cross Hospital regarding Molar Pregnancies or Choriocarcinoma.

Pregnancy and Arthritis

The Arthritis Research Campaign provide information on pregnancy and arthritis.

Babyloss.com

The Babyloss website provides information and support online for anyone affected by the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly afterwards.