The Bloke’s Guide to Pregnancy by Jon Smith (Hay House, March 2004)
Sensible yet humorous look at the many stages of pregnancy. It explores the changes, physical and emotional, that any man can expect to see in his partner and in their relationship over the coming months.
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Depression After Childbirth by Dr Katharina Dalton and Wendy Holton (Oxford University Press, April 2001)
It is estimated that there are about 1,000 new cases of postnatal depression in Britain every week. In its most extreme form, it can lead to infanticide or suicide. This updated edition includes chapters on careers and motherhood, coping with stress and a look at the role the partner can play.
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Feelings After Birth: The NCT book of postnatal depression by Heather Welford (Book Production Consultants, 2002)
A practical and sympathetic text explaining exactly what postnatal depression is in all its forms, why it occurs and what to do. It contains useful case studies from mothers, friends and families.
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Twins and Multiple Births by Carol Cooper (Vermilion, March 2004)
Written by a GP and mother of twins, this guide to coping with multiple births offers advice on development and rearing twins from conception to adulthood. It also looks at how it feels to be a twin and the relationship between twins as they grow up.
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The Twins Handbook: From pre-birth to first schooldays by Elizabeth Friedrich and Cherry Rowland (Robson Books, 1998)
Advice on coping with the demands of more than one baby and anecdotes from those who have gone before.
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When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: A complete resource by Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein (HarperResources, 1999)
A definitive guide for parents expecting multiples.
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Your Amazing Newborn by Marshall H Klaus and Phyllis H Klaus (Perseus Books Group, 2000)
Illustrated with over 100 photographs, the incredible new research findings on newborns guides parents and caregivers through the fascinating first weeks of a baby's life.
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Your Premature Baby, 0-5 Years by Nikki Bradford (Frances Lincoln, 2000)
A guide for parents with premature babies that seeks to demystify complex medical information and advise on everything that can be done to help. Deals sensitively with parents' emotional problems and includes many personal testimonies and case histories. The book is supported by Tommy's the Baby Charity, an international charity funding research into prematurity, and royalties will go to Tommy's.
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Your Premature Baby and Child by Amy E Tracy, Dianne I Maroney and Jessie Groothuis (Berkley Publlishing, 1999)
Resource for parents offering medical information and practical advice on what to expect when you give birth to a premature baby and how to carry out developmental checks.
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Special Care Babies and their Developing Relationships by Anne McFadyen (Routledge, 1994)
Looks specifically at the experiences of the premature baby in hospital and how the way professionals and parents interact with it and between themselves affects its future development. Also explores institutional, cultural and family beliefs about prematurity.
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Sent Before My Time by Margaret Cohen (Karnac Books, 2003)
A psychotherapist's account of life on a neonatal intensive care unit, with thought provoking insights based on detailed observation of the babies' behaviour.
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The Earliest Relationship: Parents, infants and the drama of early attachment by T B Brazelton and B G Cramer (Karnac Books, 1991)
A paediatrician and psychoanalyst and pioneer in infant psychiatry have combined lifetimes of research and practice to write the definitive work on early parent/child relationships.
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Coping with your Premature Baby by Penny Stanway (Orion, 1999)
Easy to read and matter of fact guide to looking after yourself and your baby after a premature birth with a wealth of information on what to expect and how to cope.
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Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites.
Information and support for women at risk of or affected by pre-eclampsia, the potentially life-threatening condition formerly known as toxaemia.
www.bbc.co.uk/health/parenting
Information on all aspects of parenting, including antenatal care, with a list of things to expect from visits to clinics and tests that will be taken.
Includes a list of what to expect in the first 12 months of fatherhood, and provides a variety of articles and topics in the reading room section.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health
Interesting article that looks at the effects that eating more oily fish can have on reducing the risk of a premature birth.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health
Article about the findings that low doses of nitrate oxide can cut the risk of lung disease and death in premature babies.
www.pregnancyweekly.com/topics/premature_birth.htm
Online resource for pregnant women with articles on premature birth.
Run by the mother of a premature baby, this site provides useful information for parents, expectant parents, friends and relatives of premature babies.
www.channel4.com/health/microsites/G/goodbirth
This Channel 4 site has a timeline to guide you through the stages of pregnancy, birth and after. Also has a comprehensive list of resources.
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/30/health
Studies in Denmark show some evidence that low levels of fertility may be a factor in the risk of pre-term birth.
ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices)
73 Charlotte Street
London W1T 4PN
Helpline: 020 7631 0285 (Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm)
Admin: 020 7631 0280
E-mail: info@arc-uk.org
Website: www.arc-uk.org
Provides non-directive support and information to parents throughout the antenatal testing process.
145 Dawes Road
Fulham
London SW6 7EB
Helpline: 020 7386 0868 (Mon, Fri 10am-2pm; Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am-5pm)
E-mail: info@apni.org
Website: www.apni.org
Call for telephone advice and an information pack. Mothers with the illness can be matched with a volunteer who has recovered from postnatal depression and can give one-to-one telephone support.
68 South Lambeth Road
London SW8 1RL
Parent support helpline: 0500 618140 (freephone Mon-Fri 10am-5pm)
Tel: 0870 770 0337
Fax: 0870 770 0338
E-mail: information@bliss.org.uk
Website: www.bliss.org.uk
Strives to ensure that babies born too small, too early or too sick to cope on their own have the special attention they need – from appropriate medical and nursing care to a confident, well informed and loving family.
Aston House
West Wycombe
High Wycombe
Bucks HP14 3AG
Information and support service line: 0845 357 1000
Admin: 01494 446648
Fax: 01494 440057
E-mail general enquiries: enquiries@childbereavement.org.uk
E-mail re training: training@childbereavement.org.uk
E-mail re fundraising: giving@childbereavement.org.uk
Website: www.childbereavement.org.uk
Offers information and support to bereaved families.
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street
London WC1N 3JH
Helpline: 0800 282 986 (Mon-Fri 10am-1pm; Wed 1pm-4pm and every evening 7-10pm. The line is open during these hours every day of the year)
Admin: 020 7813 8551
Fax: 020 7813 8516
Website: www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
A freephone helpline for anyone affected by the death of a child. The line is staffed by bereaved parent volunteers.
53 North Street
Bristol BS3 1EN
Admin: 08451 203785
Helpline: 08451 232304 (10am-4pm and 6.30pm-10.30pm every day of the year)
Fax: 08451 203786
E-mail: info@tcf.org.uk
Website: www.tcf.org.uk
Organisation of bereaved parents and their families, offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children. It also offers support, advice and information to other relatives, friends and professionals who are helping the family.
Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)
(England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Artillery House
11-19 Artillery Row
London SW1P 1RT
Helpline: 0870 787 0554
Fundraising: 0870 443 6814
Fax: 0870 787 0725
E-mail: fsid@sids.org.uk
Website: www.sids.org.uk/fsid
Provides information on how to reduce the risk of cot death and offers support to bereaved families.
Hammersmith House Level 4
Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital
Du Cane Road
London W12 0HS
Tel: 020 8383 3519
Fax: 020 8383 3041
E-mail: info@multiplebirths.org.uk
Website: www.multiplebirths.org.uk
Runs educational programmes for health professionals and offers help to parents and children in multiple birth families. The website has a useful section on how to find help.
Alexandra House
Oldham Terrace
Acton
London W3 6NH
Tel: 0870 770 3236
Helpline: 0870 444 8707 (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-4pm)
Membership line: 0870 990 8040
Breastfeeding support line: 0870 444 8708
Fax: 0870 770 3237
E-mail: enquiries@national-childbirth-trust.co.uk
Website: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Information and practical support on all aspects of pregnancy, childcare and early parenthood with antenatal classes and postnatal support groups. Ring enquiry line for details of local services.
Box 226 NICU
Rosie Hospital
Cambridge CB2 2SW
Tel: 01223 245 853 (the hospital can put you in touch with Sandy Wilson, Chair of Premrose)
Premrose is a locally run neonatal support group. It offers support to anyone who has had a premature child or is anxious about the possibility. All of the members have experienced premature birth.
28 Portland Place
London W1B 1LY
Helpline: 020 7436 5881 (Mon-Fri 10am-3pm)
Fax: 020 7436 3715
E-mail: support@uk-sands.org
Website: www.uk-sands.org
Support, advice, local support groups, leaflets and books for parents whose babies have died before, during or shortly after birth.
Nicholas House
3 Laurence Pountney Hill
London EC4R 0BB
Tel: 0870 770 7070
Helpline: 0870 777 3060 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm)
Donation line: 0870 777 7676
Fax: 08707 707075
E-mail: mailbox@tommys.org
Website: www.tommys-campaign.org
Funds a national programme of research, education and information aimed at understanding and preventing premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth.