Where to turn for support
This page brings together UK support routes that may help during pregnancy, labour, after birth, after neonatal care or after a difficult experience.
Hear Her First is an independent UK-based support tool. It does not replace medical care, emergency care, NHS advice, maternity triage, midwives, obstetricians, health visitors, GPs, neonatal teams, mental health professionals or emergency services.
Urgent help
999
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe.
NHS 111
Call 111 or visit NHS 111 online for urgent advice when it is not an emergency.
Maternity triage or maternity unit
Your local maternity triage or maternity unit can advise on labour, baby’s movements, bleeding, waters or any pregnancy concern.
GP, midwife or health visitor
Your GP, community midwife or health visitor can support you during pregnancy and after birth.
Emotional and mental health support
Mental health crisis
If you feel you may harm yourself or your baby, or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. You are not wasting anyone’s time.
GP
Your GP can help with low mood, anxiety, sleep, intrusive thoughts and perinatal mental health.
Health visitor
Your health visitor can listen, offer support and signpost to local services.
Samaritans
Available 24 hours a day on 116 123 or at samaritans.org if you need someone to talk to.
Maternal mental health services
Specialist maternal mental health services may be available through your GP or local NHS team. Read about NHS maternal mental health services.
Perinatal mental health support
Perinatal mental health teams support more complex needs during pregnancy and the year after birth. Read about NHS perinatal mental health.
Birth trauma and maternity support
Birth Trauma Association
Peer support and information for parents affected by birth trauma. birthtraumaassociation.org
Make Birth Better
A community changing the prevention, recognition and treatment of birth trauma. makebirthbetter.org
Tommy’s
Pregnancy and baby loss support, plus information on pregnancy health. tommys.org
Bliss
Support for families of babies born premature or sick, including time in neonatal care. bliss.org.uk
Sands
Bereavement support for anyone affected by the death of a baby. sands.org.uk
PANDAS
Support for families experiencing perinatal mental illness. pandasfoundation.org.uk
Hospital feedback and records
PALS
PALS can help with questions, concerns and information about NHS care. They can also explain the NHS complaints process and local routes for support.
Hospital complaints team
Each trust has a formal complaints process if you would like a written response.
Birth reflections service
Many maternity units offer a birth reflections appointment to go through your notes with a senior midwife or obstetrician.
Requesting maternity notes
You can request a copy of your maternity notes from the hospital’s medical records team.