Pregnancy Pals are trained peer supporters who offer individual, informal support to you in pregnancy and the early months of being a parent.
Pregnancy Pals offer one-to-one visits by meeting you in your home or somewhere of your choice in the community.
Peer supporters can help a parent to:
- Keep well during pregnancy.
- Help to explore choices and find their own way forward.
- Attend antenatal and postnatal appointments.
- Help prepare for labour and birth.
- Feel confident as a new parent.
- Help adjust to the new arrival.
- Signpost to other support and services in the area.
- Go for a walk or out for a coffee to help a parent to get out and about.
- Meet other parents in their local area.
Some Pregnancy Pals also offer Birth Buddy support which means being by your side during labour and birth to give you physical and emotional support.
One-to-one visits
Your Pregnancy Pal can meet with you on a weekly or fortnightly basis for an hour or two. This is agreed between you and can be in your home or somewhere else of your choice in the community. Sometimes it can be going with you to an antenatal or GP appointment or to introduce you to a local group or activity.
The visits are friendly and informal and your Pregnancy Pal can share lots of useful information with you about pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent. Most of all they are there to listen and not judge - it can be good to chat through how you are feeling.
You choose what’s important and helpful to you. As long as the visits are useful to you, they can continue for 3 to 6 months after you have had your baby.