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Growing Healthy Sunderland

If you've decided you're ready to start a family, or are already pregnant, good health before and during pregnancy is vital. Here are some tips that will support you to have a healthy pregnancy: Being active and fit during pregnancy can help you experience fewer problems throughout your pregnancy, birth and beyond. By keeping up your normal daily physical activity or exercise(sport, running, yoga, dancing, or even walking to the shops and back) for as long as you feel comfortable, you are less likely to have issues in later pregnancy. Exercise will also help you cope with labour and reduce any negative impacts pregnancy may have had on your body after the birth. There are a number of exercise classes and groups that can support your fitness throughout your pregnancy, including aquanatal, seated exercise classes and online fitness groups. Making sure you get the right vitamins and minerals by eating a healthy, varied diet will help, but it can also be difficult to get the recommended amount from food alone. When you are pregnant, you will need to take a folic acid supplement. You'll need 400 micrograms every day until the end of your first trimester (12 weeks).The Department of Health also advises you to consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement, particularly in the winter months (from October to the end of March) when we don't get vitamin D from sunlight. You can also ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist about supplements. Your doctor may be able to prescribe them for you.<ul><li>Find out more about vitamins and supplements in pregnancy on the Start4Life (vitamins and supplements) website.</li><li>If you're on income-related benefits, or you are under 18, you can get free vitamins while you're pregnant from the Healthy Start Scheme.</li></ul>Consider the following while trying to get pregnant - as they can impact fertility, your baby's health and your risk of pregnancy related complications:<ul><li>Reducing alcohol consumption</li><li>Giving up smoking</li><li>Contraception, family spacing and sexual health</li></ul><div><hr /></div>ScreeningYou'll have a number of antenatal appointments during your pregnancy, and you'll see a midwife or sometimes an obstetrician (doctor specialising in pregnancy). Some antenatal screening tests include:<ul><li>Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia</li><li>Screening for infectious diseases</li><li>Anomaly scan</li><li>Screening for Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes</li></ul>See the NHS - your antenatal appointments page for more information.<div><hr /></div>VaccinationFrom 20 weeks, you will be offered the whooping cough vaccination. The best time to have this vaccine is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. But if for any reason you miss the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour. This maximizes the protection to the baby in the early weeks after birth.See the NHS - your antenatal appointments page for more information.Pregnant women are offered the flu vaccine at any point during the pregnancy (seasonal) which will protect both mother and baby.

Preparing for pregnancy and birth

Your antenatal care is all of the help and support we give you before you baby is born.

Information around bonding with your baby bump, pregnancy wellbeing, labour and more.

Pregnancy: From finding out your due date, early pregnancy signs and symptoms, to getting ready for labour and birth – this is your complete pregnancy guide.

pregnant woman sitting on a sofa with a dog

Sunderland Sexual Health Service is delivered by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation. d offer a range of services.

Looking to quit smoking? Look no further than Sunderland’s stop smoking service! Our friendly team is here to help you start your quit story today.

Community Midwives

Staying healthyBeing healthy while pregnant means you are more likely to have a healthy baby and fewer pregnancy and birth complications. Both our health professionals and Family Hub staff can support you and your partner, to adopt positive health behaviours and reduce risk factors. Nutrition and physical exerciseDuring pregnancy it is important to:Eat a healthy diet and not eat for twoTake 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day through pregnancy and continue after the baby is born if you are breastfeeding. Continue to take folic acid up to the 12 weeks of pregnancy Stay active and healthyEating healthily while you're pregnant means that your baby eats healthily too. See the healthy eating section on the Start4Life website: Start4Life (healthy eating).Did you know that 150 minutes of walking each week has loads of benefits for pregnant mums? Gentle exercise is great for you and your baby. If you're not used to doing regular exercise, why not start doing 10 minutes every day, perhaps take a brisk walk or go for a swim? You can then build up to 150 minutes of exercise throughout the week.

Looking after yourself during pregnancy

Maternal Mental Health - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Antenatal care - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Feeding your babyBreastfeeding gives your baby the best start in life and can help you build close relationships with your baby. Any amount of breastfeeding has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits. Exclusive breastfeeding (giving your baby breast milk only) is recommended for around the first six months of your baby's life. Combi-feeding can also be a great option to give your child some breast milk, even when exclusively breastfeeding is not something you can physically or emotionally manage. After 6 months, giving your baby breast milk alongside other food will help them continue to grow and develop.In Sunderland we are working towards being a Breastfeeding Friendly City.  We have the UNICEF Baby Friendly Award, which means we help raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding with parents. Our trained staff in the Family Hubs can support you to breastfeed, provide advice on what to do if you are struggling to breastfeed and help you to understand other options for feeding your baby (expressing breast milk/infant formula). How your partner can support breastfeedingGetting support from a partner can be very helpful when you're breastfeeding. Practical ways partners can help with breastfeeding include: <ul><li>Going to antenatal or breastfeeding sessions - ask your midwife or at a local Family Hub for details </li><li>Giving emotional and practical support - praising and encouraging someone who is breastfeeding can help to build their confidence </li><li>Arranging paternity leave - talk to your employer about paternity leave early on, so you can plan leave that suits your family's needs </li><li>Making life easier - for example, bring your partner dinner if the baby wants to feed at the same time, or bring them a glass of water and a magazine while they're feeding the baby, or perhaps arrange for family or friends to keep your partner company while you're at work </li><li>Doing your bit around the home - so your partner can focus on caring for the baby and getting breastfeeding off to a good start </li><li>Providing some stress relief - if you have young children, take the stress away from your partner by keeping them entertained when the baby is feeding </li><li>Getting involved in your baby's care - spending time skin to skin with baby, bathing your baby, changing nappies and helping at bedtime are great ways to get close to your baby  </li></ul>Visit your local Family Hub social media pages for information on Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding sessions near you. Extra support - Healthy Start VouchersIf you get certain benefits, then you might be able to get Healthy Start vouchers. These are free from the government and you can use them every week to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and pulses (fresh, frozen or tinned), and formula milk. You can also get free vitamins for you and your baby.  Moving on from milkMost babies can start their first tastes of food from about six months old, this is called weaning. You should not begin weaning your baby before 6 months unless there is a medical reason. Our Family Hubs have courses and information with the latest tips on what to safely start your little ones off with, from first tastes to first dinners. We've got healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy and ideas to get even the fussiest of toddlers to eat well.Please speak with your health visitor for more information on weaning

Infant feeding

Breastfeeding feeding advice from the NHS

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

Independent breastfeeding support, with a 24 hour support hotline

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS trust are dedicated to supporting the mental health of you and your family both before and after pregnancy. If you require an emergency response or urgent mental health support please use the following:·       For emergency help please call 999.·       For urgent mental health support call the Crisis Team on 0800 652 2867 or text 07889 036 280 if you have communication difficulties. South Tyneside and Sunderland Maternity Mental Health ServicesPregnancy can be a challenging time with many emotions. We also know that difficult experiences can sometimes arise during pregnancy and birth. Please reach out to people close to you, but sometimes it is easier to talk to someone outside of your family. There are services within the hospital setting in Sunderland and South Tyneside offering information and support.There are four services available in the Sunderland and South Tyneside Maternity Mental Health Service (1) the Obstetric Mental Health Antenatal Clinic, (2) Maternal Mental Health Services (3) Birth Reflections Service, and (4) Forever Cherished Bereavement Support. All of these services offer planned appointments for mental support in an emergency please call 999 Obstetric Mental Health Antenatal ClinicThis includes a mixed team of doctors and specialist mental health midwives. The clinic supports people with pre-existing mental health difficulties or those that are newly arising in pregnancy.  A referral to this clinic can made by a community midwife following assessment. Maternal Mental Health ServiceA small team of psychologists and one midwife who specialise in supporting people with mental health difficulties. The team supports women and birthing people with difficulties related to Trauma, Loss, and/or Fear during their maternity experience. The service hopes to offer support throughout all aspects of maternity care from pregnancy planning, during pregnancy, and up to 12 months after birth.  Please see the website below or telephone – 0191 569 9698 ext. 4969 Birth ReflectionsAn opportunity to discuss your birth experience with a midwife. The midwife will review your notes prior to the session and answer any queries you may have. Forever Cherished Bereavement SupportThe Bereavement Team is responsible for offering immediate and long-term emotional support, information and practical guidance to those who:·       Experience loss in pregnancy from 14 weeks onwards or in the new born period·       Support during a subsequent pregnancy which can be an anxious time·       Onward referral to Maternal Mental Health Service if required Mini Minds and MeAre you a new Mam with a child under 1 and struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety or stress? NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies offer a psychoeducational class targeted towards improving emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period. The service is effective, confidential and free. Please find more information at on the Sunderland Talking Therapies website below.

This is a six-week course facilitated by two of our practitioners. We will help you develop new  strategies using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help you manage any current difficulties.

Mental health in the perinatal period (during pregnancy and the year after birth)

Designed to help reduce anxiety during pregnancy after loss

At Sunderland Talking Therapies we offer a number of therapies, classes and groups to help with a range of common mental health difficulties.

Supporting families through miscarriage, still birth and child loss.

Maternal mental health services, birth reflection and bereavement services

Childbirth is a unique time in a persons life, it may be that during this time your birth didn’t go as you had hoped or expected.

We have a Bereavement Lead Midwife in post, supported by a bereavement team and care is provided 24/7.

New Mam with a child under 1 and struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety or stress?

Welcome to our maternity service.  Our maternity team has lots of experience in what they do.  They will be here for you throughout your pregnancy.  Our aim is to make sure you get excellent care.

So, you’re going to be a Dad? Or are you already are one? Congratulations!You will no doubt be feeling nervous and excited, but don’t worry there is plenty of support out there!Check out the links below but also the activities' in your local family hub.

A guide for new fathers from mental health org

Ha'way the dads

DigiDAD is an online E-Learning platform full of father friendly content.

It’s the essential guide for new dads, developed with the NHS.

Tips and advice to help you navigate parenthood and bond with your baby.

DAD info is Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers.

Online guide to our maternity service.  Our maternity team has lots of experience in what they do.  They will be here for you throughout your pregnancy.

North East Young Dads and Lads Project - Dads care too!

At ANDYSMANCLUB, we want to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives.

The Foundation for Infant Loss Prevention has produced the UK's only free of charge Safety magazine for parents and child care professionals.  They have a fantastic team of writers including:<ul><li>Kicks Count</li><li>Safe Sleep Sanctuary</li><li>Izzie and Ollie Child Safety</li><li>Millie's Trust First Aid</li><li>Best Beginnings</li><li>Sepsis Trust UK</li><li>Safe Skin School</li><li>BBSA Blind Safety Association</li><li>The Royal Lifesaving Association</li></ul>Link to the magazine is below!

Foundation for infant loss prevention

Free online magazine that provides useful baby safety advice.

Mam and young girl reading together and smiling

Parenting and relationships team

We know parenting isn't always easy and family life has lots of challenges along the way. If you're finding things at home tough we are here to help through our Achieving Better Connections (ABC) sessions for parents / carers. ABC: These are weekly sessions for 2 hours for 6 weeks and will cover the following topics, Good Enough Parenting, Healthy Child Development, Emotional Resilience, Family Values and Healthy Boundaries and Safer Communities. If you would like a snap shot of the ABC sessions please access the links in the service section. Following completion of the ABC sessions we have additional sessions, called Bolt Ons, that can be accessed following a discussion with the facilitator.  Bolt on's to these sessions are: ·       ASD·       ADHD·       Violent and Aggressive Behaviour (VAB) The bolt on's have been created to support parents/carers with children who have additional needs or requiring further support.  The ADHD and ASD bolt on's focus upon understanding the diagnosis with tailored support and advice.  The VAB bolt on focuses upon understanding challenging behaviour, what increases the risk and how to de-escalate situations. ABC Snapshots: The Snapshots provide an overview of the information from the Achieving Better Connections (ABC) sessions which are available, for free, within your local Family Hub.The Snapshots contain a short presentation that can be read or listened to from the comfort of your own home.  The Snapshots provide information around building relationships, child development and emotional resilience and how we as parents can support our children in their journey to adulthood.

Parenting and Relationships

Support around your relationship and online learning

Reception

New to the UK or from all ethnic minority backgrounds and not sure what support is available? contact Winnibell Family Hub for advice and support, we support all families including those with no recourse to public funds, you are able to access our services.

Information for families from all ethnic minority backgrounds

ICOS exists to improve the quality of life of BME people in the North East and to enhance community cohesion and intercultural understanding in this area.

Helping to improve the lives of asylum seeking and refugee community of Sunderland.

SACA is a Global Majority Background (GMB) led organisation that serves African communities in Sunderland. Their services include providing support and development, promotion of African Heritage.

Providing holistic support to the African community living in the City of Sunderland

We raise community Agents of Change and transform lives through love. We aim to support everyone especially people from the GMB, transient student community and residents within the city.

BBC Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life.They’ll show you why and how you can bond with your child, before they’re born and throughout their early lives – it’s never too early to start.Ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help your child’s development.

BBC Tiny Happy People

Tips and advice on a whole range of parenting topics.

Activity inspiration for all ages, discover and try everyday activities to support your child's language.

Relatable parenting stories, fun videos and quizzes to try if you have five minutes to yourself!

Find out about your child's brain development and how they come to understand the world.

Good sexual health is an important element of health and wellbeing. Links for Life Sunderland can signpost you to lots of useful support, information and services.

Sexual health

Sunderland sexual health services, local GP or pharmacy and C Card.

Post it note on clip board saying sexual health