Family support services
If you are struggling with any aspect of pregnancy or parenting, you should contact your Midwife or Health Visitor. They will be able to direct you to the most appropriate support in your local area. Some national services are listed below. You can also visit https://www.nhs.uk/baby/support-and-services/services-and-support-for-parents/
For more information about services supporting families during pregnancy and early childhood, click on the drop down list below.
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Cry-sis
Cry-sis provides a helpline to support parents with crying and sleepless babies. This is open 7 days per week from 9am to 10pm and can be accessed via https://www.cry-sis.org.uk/ or by calling 0800 4480737
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National Breastfeeding Helpline
National Breastfeeding Helpline provide breastfeeding support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Call 03001000212, or visit The Breastfeeding Network | Independent Breastfeeding Support
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Refuge
Refuge provides a 24-hour helpline for people experiencing (or concerned about) domestic abuse.
Call 0808 2000 247, or visit https://refuge.org.uk/
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Family Action
Family Action offers call, text, email, and web-based support around many aspects of family life.
Call 0808 802 6666, text 07537 404 282, email familyline@family-action.org.uk, or visit https://family-action.org.uk/ for live online chat. They are open weekdays (excluding bank holidays) between 9am and 7pm and have a range of self-help resources available online outside of opening hours.
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Maternity Action
Maternity Action provides information and support for families worried about work or money, and for migrant families in the UK.
Visit maternityaction.org.uk.
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Dad Matters
Dad Matters support dads and co-parents to have the best possible relationship with their child. Service availability varies nationwide.
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Tommy’s
Tommy’s provides pregnancy and parenting information, including support following baby loss.
Visit https://www.tommys.org/.
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NSPCC’s Baby Steps
NSPCC’s Baby Steps programme is designed to support parents dealing with additional challenges, stresses, and disadvantages, and in some areas it is available to everyone.
Further information can be found at Baby Steps | NSPCC Learning
Healthcare providers
If you are a healthcare provider, you might also find the Perinatal Resource Hub provided by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust helpful. Visit Perinatal Resource Hub :: Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust or click the button below to open their website in a new tab.
If you would like to suggest other links to add here, please email us at paws-research@open.ac.uk or use the ‘contact us’ button below.