Pregnancy, breastfeeding and early parenthood

If you are not sure if you are pregnant or not, free pregnancy testing is available through your GP or you can buy a test at your local pharmacy.

If you're under 24 years old you can also access testing through Facebook: No Worries! Wiltshire (opens new window) pharmacy.

As soon as you know you are pregnant contact your GP via your local surgery to plan your pregnancy.

It's very important that you keep healthy during pregnancy by eating well, keeping active, taking the recommended immunisations plus avoiding alcohol and smoking. Find out more by reading the NHS: Pregnancy and Baby guide (opens new window) on the NHS Choices website.

It is important for you and your child to receive certain immunisations during pregnancy and the early years to protect from certain diseases - see NHS: vaccinations and when to have them (opens new window) website. To find out why immunisations are so important, please read the information on the NHS: Why vaccination is safe and important (opens new window) website. You can also speak to your midwife or health visitor.

The Healthy Start Scheme provides a pre-paid card to some pregnant women and families. The pre-paid card can be used in retail outlets that sell milk, fruit and vegetables and vitamins for you and your baby. To find out if you can apply for Healthy Start visit the Healthy Start vouchers (opens new window) website or speak to your midwife, health visitor or local Family Hub.

Your pelvic floor muscles support your womb, bowels and bladder. These muscles can become weak during pregnancy.

It is important to exercise your pelvic floor muscles regularly to reduce problems such as urinary incontinence.

The Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Together: Perinatal Pelvic Health Team (opens new window) has been set up to provide support, advice and treatment for those with pelvic floor concerns that are booked to give birth at or received labour care from Bath Royal United Hospital, Swindon Great Western Hospital, or Salisbury Foundation Trust or any community hub or home birth affiliated with these hospital Trusts. Check out Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Together: Perinatal Pelvic Health Team (opens new window) (bswtogether.org.uk) for pelvic health information and to self-refer.

Also see the pelvic floor exercises guide on the Tommy's pregnancy hub (Tommy's: A guide to pelvic floor exercises (opens new window)) and speak to your midwife if you have any questions.

We know that it can be difficult to quit smoking. But we also know that you want to give your baby the best possible start in life.

No matter what stage you're at in your pregnancy, it's never too late to stop smoking. There is specialist stop smoking support available at your local maternity unit - speak to your midwife or local maternity unit for details.

See the local Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Together: Labour and birth (opens new window) for information and tips on preparing for labour and birth.

Also check out the wide range of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Together: Hello Baby videos (opens new window) that were filmed locally giving lots of helpful information about preparing for labour and birth.

It can be daunting making the transition to parenthood. For comprehensive information on feeding and caring for your baby go to the NHS: Pregnancy and Baby guide (opens new window).

See First Steps Nutrition Trust: Eating well: the first year (opens new window) - a useful guide that can be downloaded.

See also Breastfeeding.

For independent, confidential, non-judgemental breastfeeding support and information contact the National breastfeeding helpline (opens new window) on 0300 100 0212 (Open 9.30am to 9.30pm daily).

The National Breastfeeding Helpline also provides support via National Breastfeeding Helpline – Live Chat Support (opens new window) or via Facebook: National Breastfeeding helpline (opens new window).

Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of your baby's life, although any amount of breastfeeding has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the greater the benefits.

Local breastfeeding support available in Wiltshire from your local midwifery or health visiting (HCRG Care Group: Infant feeding (Wiltshire Children's Service) (opens new window)) team (if you are new to the area register with a local GP)'

There is a variety of breastfeeding peer support available from trained volunteers who are mums with experience of breastfeeding their own children and are trained to provide breastfeeding peer support in relaxed, welcoming environments.

Would you like to train as a Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer? If you have breastfed or breast milk fed for six months by the start of training (this doesn't need to be exclusive breastfeeding) and want to find out more about this free, on-line and flexible training opportunity then contact: Sally.tedstone@nhs.net (opens new window) or Heather.kale@nhs.net (opens new window) - they would love to hear from you!

Breastfeeding peer support in Wiltshire is available via virtual and in-person groups, phone and closed Facebook groups:

• Facebook: South Wiltshire and Surrounds Breastfeeding Support (opens new window)
• Facebook: Bath and West Wiltshire Breastfeeding Peer Support (opens new window)
• Facebook: Swindon Breastmates (opens new window) 

Electric breast pumps available for loan - contact your midwife.

Facebook links:

• Bath and West Wiltshire Breastfeeding peer support  private Facebook group (opens new window)
• Swindon Breastmates (breastfeeding support) private Facebook group (opens new window)
• Facebook: South Wiltshire and Surrounds Breastfeeding Support (opens new window)

Other links:

• virtual support from the Salisbury District Hospital Infant Feeding Team (opens new window) 
• see the Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Maternity Voices Partnership: Infant Feeding Padlet BSW MVP (opens new window) for further breastfeeding links and videos

Women under 25 who are pregnant and interested to learn more about breastfeeding or who are mums and are breastfeeding can be paired with a Buddy - another mum who can talk to them about breastfeeding.

If you would like to be linked with a Buddy or would like to become a Buddy please get in touch with Sally.tedstone@nhs.net (opens new window) or Heather.kale@nhs.net (opens new window) to find out more.

Wiltshire Council, including libraries and leisure centres, are showing their support for mothers to breastfeed comfortably when out and about by welcoming breastfeeding in their venues. 

Remember: you have the right to breastfeed anywhere.

All births, by law, must be registered within 42 days with a Registrar of Births and Deaths. You can find out more information on registering the birth of your baby in Wiltshire on our Register a birth page.

The Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) is a voice for those who use local maternity services and is made up of volunteers who have recently used maternity services. The MNVP collect feedback from women, birthing people and families on the care they received. Whether you're a parent, or mum, dad or pregnant person to be, we are looking for volunteers interested in improving local maternity services and an opportunity to meet new people:

• you decide how much time you can get involved
• you help decide what matters most in maternity care
• you can make a difference

For more information or to register your interest see Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership (opens new window).