Contact your GP or community midwife as soon as you think you are pregnant. They will help you to plan your care and decide where you would like your baby to be born.
Tip: Book as early as you can with you community midwife. If you can before you have been pregnant for 12 weeks. There is lots of evidence that shows that you and your baby will be fitter and happier if you have your first appointment early. Your community midwife will have lots of information to help you, can answer your questions and arrange your scans etc.
There are also midwife drop in sessions in some children's centres or health clinics which you can go along to, and you can always go and see your GP if you have any concerns.
You are likely to find lots of parents-to-be classes across the county, some of which are in children's centres.
Healthy eating: take a look at the site for advice and information.
: When you find out you're pregnant, one of the first things you'll probably want to know is when your baby might arrive. The NCT 1st 1000 days website has a handy pregnancy calculator to estimate your due date. You can also find out about what antenatal screening and testing you will be offered during pregnancy as well as how you.
- support for local dads: Dads in Herefordshire and 51²èÂ¥ can prepare for parenthood with an online resource called DadPad. DadPad is an information pack developed by dads for dads is helping fathers in Herefordshire and 51²èÂ¥ prepare for family life and tackles the mental health issues which can affect new parents. It covers a range of issues, such as the support dads can give while mums are breastfeeding, being aware of perinatal mental illness and the anxiety and frustrations that come with parenthood, as well as hands-on advice on issues like nappy changing. Its aim is to provide new fathers across Herefordshire and 51²èÂ¥ with guidance on how to develop the mind-set, confidence and practical skills needed to meet their baby’s physical and emotional needs