How do I request support?

If you decide to go ahead, the next step is introducing you to your Pregnancy Pal. The meetings are friendly and informal so that you feel comfortable and at ease.

Important:

• Request support as early as possible during the pregnancy
• Consent must be given prior to requesting support
• Inform us if you are aware of a potential risk to a volunteer
• We are not a crisis service - we focus on a tier 2 level of need (sometimes tier 3 depending on individual circumstances)
• If you think an expectant mother might benefit, simply suggest that she meets us first before deciding – it’s less daunting.

Expectant mothers and fathers may particularly benefit if they:

• Are first time parents
• Are feeling isolated
• Are facing language or cultural barriers
• Have low emotional wellbeing or have previously suffered postnatal depression
• Have a disability or medical condition that may impact on early family life
• Had a previous traumatic birth, still birth, neonatal death or sudden infant death
• Are facing housing or homeless issues
• Are expecting a multiple birth.

How we will respond to your request for support:

• We will try to make contact with the expectant parent within 1 week of receiving a request form to agree a convenient time to make an informal visit (usually in their home)
• When we meet with the parent, this gives us the opportunity to explain how peer support works and find out a bit more about the parent to help us to match them with the right peer supporter.
• If the expectant parent decides it is for them, and if a Pregnancy Pal is available, we will make a suitable match and organise a first meeting
• If you're a professional requesting support for a parent, we will feedback about the outcome of your request.