For most women being pregnant and becoming a new mum during the first 1000 days is a happy experience, both for mum, dad and baby. Pregnancy, birth and the first 24 months can be tough for every mother and father, and some parents may find it hard to provide the care and attention their baby needs.

But it can also be a chance to affect great change, as pregnancy and the birth of a baby is a critical ‘window of opportunity’ which can make a huge difference to how your child grows into adulthood.

It can also be an emotional time, and it’s perfectly usual to feel the natural anxieties linked with pregnancy, delivery and new motherhood.

However, for some it can be a time of increased stress, worry and depression. Many mums are reluctant to get help and struggle on, often due to social pressures of ‘being expected to be happy’ or to be seen as a ‘supermum.’ For some, there may even be the worry that social service professionals will see they are not coping so well and want to get involved. If you feel like this you are not alone, in fact, about 1 in 4 mums are diagnosed with either/both an anxiety disorder or clinical depression either during pregnancy, or in the post-natal period. And dads can suffer too.

This 100 day period – from conception to age 2 – is especially important and has been recognised as such by the UK Government – see the all party parliamentary group manifesto.

Struggling?

If you are an expectant or new mum and struggling, help is available here. Getting the help you need at this stage is important,  because new research shows that this can reduce the impact of this environment on your child both now and in their future.

Now of course you can talk with your midwife or doctor, but at Pregnancy Twinning we want to ‘twin across the world’ and that also includes helping UK mums too with their own journeys and challenges. We want to help ensure that the first 1000 days are the best they can be here in the UK too, and that your dreams for your child have the best chance of becoming a reality.

We can help

Pregnancy Twinning has a professional team of Counsellors with extensive experience of addressing issues in pregnancy, and the first 1000 days. We offer some free services for stress, anxiety and depression, and, professional counselling. This can either be face to face or online – there are many benefits of online counselling if you’re an expectant or new mum  – including that  you can get expert, confidential support whilst staying in your own home.

We realise that sometimes, especially in different phases of pregnancy, or as a new mum, it can be difficult to find the time to see someone by yourself face to face – so online counselling can really help. You just need access to a computer, tablet or smartphone. You can try an initial trial consultation at half price!

Counselling Services
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During the first 1000 days it has been calculated that brain connections happen at a million per second!

"A pregnant mother suffering from stress can sometimes pass on the message to the unborn baby that the world will be dangerous, so that as a child he or she will struggle with many social and emotional problems. The child’s response to experiences of fear or tension have been set to danger and high alert".

UK Cross Party Manifesto