BECOMING a parent can be an incredibly exciting journey. Although rewarding, it can be tricky too.
Preparing for changes ahead or facing challenges such as anxiety and depression can be daunting for many new mums and dads as they adjust to their new role.
Quality peer support, where experienced mums and dads help other new parents, offers a unique and invaluable contribution to healthier pregnancies, positive births and the best start for babies. Evidence shows it is particularly effective when it sits alongside clinical care, especially for reducing stress, coping with labour and birth and building confidence as a new parent.
That’s why we founded Parents1st UK (www.parents1st.org.uk), a charity which promotes quality parent-to-parent support during pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This month we’ve launched an online community hub with knowledge, free guidance and resources about designing and delivering a perinatal volunteer initiative for practitioners, volunteers and parents. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for quality peer support to flourish during the life-changing transition of becoming a parent.
No-one should face the journey of parenting alone and connecting people can make a huge difference, giving babies the best start in life.
CELIA SUPPIAH,
Parents1st UK CEO.
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