Useful Websites
This post contains a wealth of information from all over the web. It has links to various useful sources of information that you will find useful in pregnancy and beyond. I am not affiliated with any of these websites and share them purely for information purposes only.
Here is a list of useful apps and websites
Pregnancy Apps
Best Beginnings - this Baby Buddy app has been made by midwives to support women through pregnancy. It is endorsed by many organisations including the Royal college of midwives.
https://www.babybuddyapp.co.uk/
When looking at different apps to download, be mindful of what the app is advertising.
Eating well in pregnancy
www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-in-pregnancy
www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy
http://drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/id96.html
The Brewers diet is popular in the United States and has been shown to reduce the chance of getting Pre Eclampsia and to keep your pregnancy healthy.
We know that eating well in pregnancy is so important. Making sure you are eating lots of fruit and vegetables will help you get all the vitamins and minerals you need to grow your baby. Frozen fruit and vegetables are a good way of buying them.
For your partner.
https://birthing4blokes.com/articles/
I would also recommend that you purchase a copy of Labour of Love by Sallyann Beresford, which is an excellent resource for both of you to read.
Mindfulness
I obviously would recommend that you book onto my hypnobirthing course to learn lots of techniques that will help you towards the end of your pregnancy, in labour and beyond. However! … there are other sources of mindfulness work out there. Headspace have a section that is dedicated to pregnancy and I believe that a free trial is available.
https://www.headspace.com/blog/?s=pregnancy
www.calm.com is also very good, but does not have a pregnancy section.
Induction of Labour
Information about induction of labour can be found at www.nice.org.uk Induction of labour clinical guideline [CG70]. Nice guidelines are the government protocols that trust must follow when offering you interventions.
Sara Wickam is a midwife who writes about Birth from a woman's perspective:
In your own time is my most recommended book. It has all the latest research into induction and its impact on you and your baby.
Dr Rachel Reed is a midwife who campaigns for women’s rights.
www.midwifethinking.com/2016/07/13/induction-of-labour-balancing-risks/
These are both very interesting blogs covering lots of topics
Vitamin K
This is a link to Sara Wickham’s Vitamin K resource. She has also written a comprehensive book on the subject.
https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/information-about-vitamin-k/
Placenta Remedies
Here is a link to a local placenta encapsulation company Yorkshire https://thewellbirthcompany.co.uk/placenta-pills/
Safe Sleep
www.basisonline.org.uk Durham university does a lot of research into safe infant sleep and is the best source of information out there.
www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/ Also has a lot of good information with regards to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Infant feeding
www.firststepsnutrition.org/parents-carers
First steps has really good information about formula milk
Here is some information about concerns with baby prep machines
https://elht.nhs.uk/application/files/4915/5533/6985/Statement_on_formula_preparation_machines_Nov_2016.pdf
www.wearebesideyou.co.uk Is the Kent and Medway infant feeding support site. They run one to one peer support sessions for pregnancy and the website has lots of videos on infant feeding on it. It also links out to other really good support websites.
I am yet to find a better source of breastfeeding information so have kept this in.
Rotherham and Sheffield do have peer supporters who you can contact through your midwife or health visitor.
Sling Library
Sheffield has the nearest sling library so that you can try out different slings and find out what will work for you and your baby.
https://www.sheffieldslingsurgery.co.uk/
Cloth Nappies
There are many sources of information about cloth nappies. This seems like a good starting point for information gathering.
https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/cloth-nappies.html
www.cheekywipes.com - for all your reusable cloth nappy and wipe needs. There are other similar companies around. This code will give you some money off.
https://mention-me.com/m/ol/sv1kd-gill-marchant
Health Visitors - Rotherham
Here is a link to the local Health visiting service. The health visitor will take over your care from the Midwife when your baby is around 10 days old.
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/directory-record/52973551/health-visitors-team
Registering your baby
You have 6 weeks to register your baby after s/he is born. You must make an appointment to do this and can use the weblink below. A baby legally has its Mother’s surname until they are registered. If you are married, either you or your partner can register the baby. If you are not married then the mother must be present to register the birth. There is more information about this on the Registry Office website below.
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/community-living/register-birth
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages/register-birth
Contact me if you need any further information. I'm really happy to help you find what you need.
Gill xx
Updated July 2024
