Coronavirus: Guide to re-opening support services for new and expectant parents

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the Breastfeeding Network and members of the First 1001 Days Movement, have consulted with Public Health England, to produce a guide to help organisations decide when and how to restart their face-to-face support services safely and with confidence. 

Covid-19 and the prolonged period of social restrictions have had an impact on the lives of pregnant women, their partners, and families with new babies. 

Reduced access to pre and postnatal community support; restrictions in access to maternity care for partners; limited face-to-face support with breastfeeding; fewer possibilities for practical and emotional support from friends and family and financial insecurity – combined with high levels of misinformation about the virus and vaccine programme – have left many families struggling to cope. Some groups have been disproportionately affected, widening the inequalities that already exist. 

Third sector organisations, charities and academics supporting early parenting have been providing a ‘voice’ for parental experiences, to ensure that attention on these issues remain at the forefront and that critical resources are applied in the short and longer term.  

A guide to re-starting support services for expectant and new parents during Covid-19 is available to download here.