Pregnancy support
Who to contact
As soon as you find out you are pregnant, contact your GP or local midwife service and your local Children’s Centre & Family Hub.
You are encouraged to do this as early as possible to get the care you need. This should be in the first 8 weeks of your pregnancy, but it’s never too late to make contact.
A GP or midwife will give you advice about staying healthy and answer any questions you may have.
Register with Camden's Children Centres and Family Hubs
Complete the form so that we can let you know about support and information available to you during and after your or your partner's pregnancy. We will call you within 3 to 5 working days after we receive your form submission.
Register for antenatal services
Start for Life
Start for Life provides trusted NHS advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
It covers a range of topics around:
- Healthy eating in pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Introducing solid foods
- Looking after your mental health and well being during pregnancy
- Early language and development.
Watch the Start for Life promotional video here.
Start for Life email programme
As well as providing information through free orderable and downloadable resources, Start for Life also offers its email programme.
The personalised emails have been created to support mums, parents and carers throughout pregnancy and parenthood. Features of the Start for Life email programme include:
- Different email programmes for mums, dads, partners and carers with tailored information for each.
- Emails can be translated into a range of different languages.
- Pregnancy emails contain information on baby’s development, changes in a woman's body, plus tips and advice on labour and birth, finding antenatal classes, what foods to eat (and avoid) during pregnancy, exercising safely and bonding with baby.
- Post birth emails include advice on baby's development, breast and bottle feeding, coping with tiredness, introducing solid foods and looking after mental wellbeing and more.
Find out more about the programme at Start for Life.
Join the understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby class
This free, in-person group class is for expectant parents and families preparing for birth and life with a new baby.
The 6-week course covers all the key things you’d expect from an antenatal course - from preparing for labour to looking after and bonding with your baby.
Find out more about the course at understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby.
Telling your GP
At your GP appointment, the doctor will have an initial discussion with you and refer you to a local maternity unit.
If you live in Camden but aren’t registered with a doctor, find a GP near you.
Refer yourself to a midwife
Alternatively, you can book an appointment directly with one of the three maternity units in Camden:
University College London Hospital
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing, 25 Grafton Way, WC1E 6DB
Phone: 020 3447 9400
Website: University College London Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street, NW3 2QG
Phone: 020 7794 0500, use extension 3616
Website: Royal Free Hospital
Whittington Health NHS Trust
Whittington Hospital Labour Ward, Gordon Close, N19 5NF
Phone: 020 7288 3482
Website: Whittington Hospital
You do not have to book with a hospital in Camden if you would prefer to be seen elsewhere. Find other maternity services.
Supporting you and your baby
Your midwife and the hospital maternity team are here to support you during your pregnancy. They will provide antenatal care and give you information about:
- Keeping yourself and your baby healthy
- Pregnancy vitamins
- Screening tests to check on your baby’s development
- Managing long-term health conditions
The maternity team will ask about other things which could affect you and your baby, including relationships, housing, or financial concerns. Your appointments are confidential and will help connect you to any support you need.
Staying healthy
Your midwife will give you advice about how to keep you and your baby healthy. You can get free vitamin D and Healthy Start supplements from your nearest Children's Centre & Family Hub.
A healthy diet is especially important during pregnancy. Visit the NHS Start for Life website for advice on healthy eating during pregnancy. If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for free milk, fruit, and vegetables from NHS Healthy Start.
Listen to this audio message in both Bengali and Somali from a Family Lives volunteer talk about the NHS Healthy Start scheme.
NHS Healthy Start scheme - Bengali audio (youtube.com)
NHS Healthy Start scheme - Somali audio (youtube.com)
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Finding out that you’re expecting a baby can be a time of mixed emotions, whether your pregnancy was planned or unexpected. There’s no correct way to feel about being pregnant and it is very common to be worried or anxious. Your partner may also be experiencing a range of emotions and feelings.
Talk to your GP if you are feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope.
For general services and support available in Camden, including what to do in a crisis, visit mental health and wellbeing.
For advice and tips on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy, see:
Support with giving up smoking, alcohol or other substances
If you or your partner smoke or vape, quitting during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to give your baby a healthy start in life. Giving up smoking can be difficult, but support is available from the Camden Stop Smoking Service.
It is recommended that you should not drink alcohol or take any illegal drugs during your pregnancy as there is a risk of long-term harm to the baby. For more information about the effects of drinking alcohol and taking drugs during pregnancy, visit the NHS website. Find out about local drug and alcohol support services at Change Grow Live Camden.
If you’re unhappy or unsure about being pregnant
You may have mixed feelings or be unhappy about being pregnant. If so, contact your GP or MSI Reproductive Choices UK for free, non-judgemental and confidential advice by phone or online live chat.