# Pregnancy & Early Parenthood Resources (UK) ## Knowledge - [NHS Pregnancy hub](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/) The spine of everything. UK-specific, free, and the same source the midwives work from. Use for: anything factual about care, symptoms, safety. - [NHS: Your antenatal appointments](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/) The exact appointment schedule — 10 appointments and 2 scans for a first baby. Use for: the calendar, knowing what each appointment is for. - [NHS: Refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/refer-yourself-for-nhs-pregnancy-care/) The actual self-referral entry point. Use for: step one, right now. - [NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/pregnancy-vitamins-and-supplements/) Folic acid, vitamin D doses, what to avoid (vitamin A / cod liver oil). Use for: supplement questions. - [NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/) Definitive UK list with reasons. Use for: settling "can she eat this?" arguments. - [NHS Best Start in Life: week-by-week guide](https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/pregnancy/week-by-week-guide-to-pregnancy/) What's happening in there each week. Use for: keeping pace with the pregnancy. - [Tommy's](https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information) UK pregnancy charity, research-backed, notably good on miscarriage, loss, and the bits the NHS pages handle briskly. Use for: risk numbers, emotional territory, dads-and-partners content. - [Tommy's: Dads and partners](https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/dads-and-partners) Written for your exact role. Use for: what to actually do. - [RCOG patient information leaflets](https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/) Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. Clinical-grade but readable. Use for: when a specific decision or complication needs depth. - [GOV.UK: Paternity pay and leave](https://www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave) Statutory entitlements and notice deadlines. Note: from 6 Apr 2026 paternity leave is a day-one right. Use for: employer conversations. - [Maternity Action: rights at work for fathers and partners](https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-at-work-for-fathers-and-partners/) Charity that specialises in this; clearer than GOV.UK on edge cases. Use for: when your employer says no. - Book: _Expecting Better_ — Emily Oster. Economist reading the actual studies behind pregnancy rules. Use for: understanding *why* a restriction exists and how strong the evidence is. Caveat: US-framed; NHS advice still governs. - [Maternity Action — Pregnant at work](https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/pregnant-at-work/) Specialist charity, clearer than GOV.UK on edge cases. Use for: fixed-term contracts, redundancy, discrimination — i.e. Hannah's exact situation. - [Acas — Redundancy protection for pregnancy and new parents](https://www.acas.org.uk/redundancy-protection-for-pregnancy-and-new-parents) The April 2024 enhanced protections. Use for: the 18-month protected period and priority for alternative vacancies. - [GOV.UK — SPP and employment types (directors)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-paternity-pay-employment-types-that-affect-payment) How statutory pay works for a company director paying themselves. Use for: Greg's TWP Agency position. - [NHS: Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/) The 999-vs-ring-today decision tree in the NHS's own words. Use for: any bleeding, at any stage. - [NHS: Ectopic pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/) Symptoms, timing (weeks 4–12) and the emergency signs. Use for: the highest-stakes thing that can happen in the first trimester. - [NHS: Severe vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum)](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/complications/severe-vomiting/) Where ordinary sickness ends and a treatable medical problem begins. Use for: judging whether to ring. - [Pregnancy Sickness Support](https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/) UK charity: helpline, peer support, and a partners' section. Use for: if HG happens — it is isolating and this is the specialist help. - [Tommy's: Miscarriage statistics](https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/miscarriage-information-and-support/miscarriage-statistics) Actual figures, including how risk falls once a heartbeat is seen. Use for: the numbers, honestly, rather than the folk version. - Book: _The Birth Partner_ — Penny Simkin. The standard text for the person supporting the labour. Use for: birth preparation, month 7 onwards. - [NHS: Screening tests in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-tests/) Every screening test offered, what it does and doesn't tell you. Use for: the booking and dating-scan decisions. - [NHS: Screening for Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-for-downs-edwards-pataus-syndrome/) Combined test, NIPT, amniocentesis/CVS, and what a "higher chance" result actually means. Use for: the one screening decision with weight to it — read with her before booking. - [NHS: Free prescriptions and dental care when pregnant](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/free-prescriptions-when-pregnant-or-with-a-new-baby/) The FW8 / maternity exemption certificate. Use for: free money nobody offers you at booking. - [NHS: Water, drinks and hydration](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/) The 6–8 glasses baseline everything else is built on. Use for: hydration, caffeine, what counts as fluid. - [North Cheshire and Mersey NHS FT — Maternity services](https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity-services/) Your actual trust (was Warrington & Halton / WHH — old links redirect). Use for: birth options (home, Birth Suite, The Nest), contacts, local guidance. - [Your trust — Maternity Triage Assessment Unit](https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity-triage-assessment-unit/) The 18-week split: EPAU 01925 662320 under 18 weeks, Triage 01925 275200 over. Use for: who to ring, in their words. - [NCT antenatal courses — North Cheshire](https://www.nct.org.uk/courses-workshops/locations/north-cheshire-antenatal-classes) Paid alternative/supplement to the trust's free classes, from ~£239. Use for: the local cohort of parents due the same month. Book ~20–24 weeks. ## Wisdom (Communities) - [r/PregnancyUK](https://reddit.com/r/PregnancyUK) — UK-specific, NHS-literate. Use for: "is this normal", trust-level questions. - [r/predaddit](https://reddit.com/r/predaddit) — expectant fathers/partners. Use for: the role, the fear, the practicalities nobody tells you. - NCT antenatal courses (paid, ~£200–400) and free NHS antenatal classes via your trust. Use for: the single highest-value wisdom source — a cohort of local parents due the same month. Book around 20–24 weeks; they fill up. - Local: whichever NHS trust runs your maternity care — most run free "preparing for birth and beyond" sessions. ## Gaps - No source yet chosen for newborn care / feeding / sleep (needed ~month 6). Candidates to vet: NHS Start for Life, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly, Lullaby Trust (safer sleep). - Nothing yet on childcare costs/funded hours, or on running a one-person company through a parental absence. Both needed before ~Feb 2027.