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:

• Alcohol and Pregnancy
• Amniocentesis
• Antenatal Care: routine care for the healthy pregnant woman
• Chickenpox in Pregnancy: what you need to know
• Chorionic villus sampling
• Cord blood banking
• Genital herpes in pregnancy
• HIV in pregnancy
• Induction of labour
• Monitoring your baby's heartbeat in labour
• Obstetric Cholestasis (itching liver disorder)
• Placenta praevia
• Preventing Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies
• Recreational exercise and pregnancy

 Caesarean section

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

 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.

 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.

 Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition

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.

 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.

  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

  DIPEx

DIPEx (Database of Individual Patient Experiences) is an Oxford based registered charity. It is a database of audio, video and transcript of interviews with patients experiencing a particular illness or health problem. Includes a module on pregnancy and one on antenatal screening.

 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.

 Brand New Dad

An online community, resource center and search engine for New and Expectant Fathers.

 UK Vasa Praevia Awareness Group

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

 Antenatal and postnatal mental health

A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Antenatal and postnatal mental health.

 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.

 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 .

 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 .

 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 .

 Amnioinfusion for oligohydramnios during pregnancy

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

 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.

 Postnatal care

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

  Intrapartum care

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

 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.

 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.

Further sources / more detailed information

Some non-UK sites

The following list popular non-UK health information sites with content aimed at the general public. They are mainly from the US. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included but these large sites are comprehensive.

• Non-UK disease / illness sites
• Non-UK self-help / support group sites

More detailed medical information

The following list online sources of more detailed medical information, mainly from the UK. These sites are mainly aimed at health professionals, but are of interest to all. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included, but information about most medical topics can usually be found.

• PatientPlus - hundreds of medical reference articles provided by Patient UK.
• Evidence Based Medicine - such as from Clinical Evidence, The Cochrane Library, etc.
• Database of UK Clinical Guidelines - from NICE, SIGN, Clinical Knowledge Summaries, etc.
• Medline - abstracts available from thousands of journals.
• Sites listing free online medical textbooks and journals.
• Sites listing free medical images - pictures, atlases, anatomy, skin diseases, etc.