Pregnancy & Parenting

Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
  
  Once your pregnancy is confirmed, book in with a local maternity service. Your GP surgery can tell you how. You may have a choice of where to have your antenatal appointments and where to give birth. Find a birth centre or maternity unit near you.
  
  Keeping healthy during your pregnancy is important. Free vitamins are available to all pregnant mothers. Find out how to eat well for you and your baby, healthy habits for your pregnancy and easy ways to get active.
  
  Once your baby is born, there are different types of support for you and your new family.

Feeding your baby
- Feeding your baby
  
  You can get advice and support about breastfeeding or bottle feeding from staff at the postnatal wards in University College Hospital (UCH), Whittington and the Royal Free hospitals. You can also receive support by phone, at home or at baby feeding cafes across Camden.
  
  There are also free workshops and courses that can advise on weaning and infant feeding to get your child off to a healthy start.

Free vitamins
- Free vitamins
  
  If you have a child under the age of four or if you are trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding, you can receive free healthy start vitamins (drops and tablets) from your local children’s centre or health centre.

Vaccinations
- Vaccinations
  
  Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases for you and your family. They are safe and important, keeping your child free of diseases that can cause serious illness. All vaccinations for children under five are given in your local GP surgery. Make sure that your child is up-to-date and call your local surgery if you are unsure if your child is fully vaccinated, or if you think they may have missed a vaccination during Covid-19. You can see the schedule and more information about routine childhood vaccinations on the NHS website.
  
  During the flu season, make sure you’re in the know about the childhood flu vaccine, read our fact checker guide to childhood flu vaccine.

Parenting courses
- Parenting courses
  
  Being a parent is not always easy, so you may find it helpful to come along to one of our parenting classes. Classes are held at children’s centres around the borough and cater for parents with children at all stages – from the early years to teenagers
  
  You can explore topics such as listening to children, solving problems, developing confidence as a parent and managing teenagers’ behaviour.
  
  Start4Life has information, videos and online parenting courses.

Mental health help
- Mental health help
  
  Sometimes family life is difficult and you need help to cope. There are a number of local organisations which support parents, carers and families through challenging times.
  
  If you or your partner need support, you can contact your GP, midwife, health visitor or local children’s centre. You can also get help from:
  - Pandas 0843 2898401 (helpline and email support to parents affected by postnatal depression, 9am-8pm).
  - Anna Freud Centre: 020 7443 2261, referrals@annafreud.org
  - The Winch: 020 7586 8731
  - The Brandon Centre (for parents who have lost care of their child): 020 7267 4792
  - Cocoon 07946165515, info@cocoonfamilysupport.org
  - iCOPE: 020 3317 5600 (provides free, confidential help for problems such as stress, anxiety and insomnia))