Transcript Pregnancy Pals and Birth Buddies

Putting Parents First in Local Communities
www.parents1st.org.uk
Pregnancy Pals and Birth Buddies
Promoting a healthy pregnancy,
positive birth and confident
parenting
Celia Suppiah:
Director of Parents 1st
Lorna Stonestreet: Specialist Community Public Health Nurse
Claire Downes:
Service Manager, Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddies
Summary of Presentation
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Who we are and what we do
The role of a Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy
How the scheme was commissioned
The journey of set-up and implementation
Evidence-base, values and principles
What do we mean by ‘peer support’?
Insights into training and supervision processes
What works best and how
In
Communities
and by
Communities
Strengths in
Communities CIC:
A Social Enterprise for
community benefit
2009 Strengths in Communities CIC
Strengths in Communities
In communities and by communities… local
programmes delivered by local parents that impact on
health, wellbeing, skills, reciprocity and trust
Supporting
organisations to
implement effective and
autonomous peer
support programmes
The Model:
In the community
By the community
Primary &
Secondary
Prevention
Early Intervention
Promoting:
Early parenting skills
Healthy lifestyles
Access to services
‘Community Development’
‘Early Prevention’
‘Capacity Building’
•Holistic approach: parenting, health and wellbeing
•Cooperation for mutual benefit: respect and self-help
•Working together
•Building on strengths in communities
•Moving away from dependency and fire fighting
•Transfer of skills to local people: enhancing confidence,
resilience, new knowledge, positive relationships and
self esteem
Peer Support Model
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Peer outreach: similar life / social / cultural experiences
Informal and non-stigmatizing
Concept of ‘give’ and ‘take’
Social networking
Building trust
Bridging the gap
Advocacy for parents who are ‘wary’ of professionals
Enabling easier access to services
Peer Support complements
professionals – doesn’t replace
Commissioner Spec...
NHS South West Essex:
“The service will provide additional early intervention and preventative
initiatives from early pregnancy to 6 weeks post-partum.”
“The service will employ innovative, collaborative and integrated approaches
with third sector providers to promote positive early parenting experiences,
cohesive, empowered and active communities.”
“Peer advocacy programmes will address health inequalities using community
development approaches to engage with marginalised parents.
For example:
Doula programmes
Fathers support programmes
Relationship support programmes
Peer Advocacy workers”
Also funded by Thurrock Unitary Authority and Essex Local Authority
Why is Focusing on Pregnancy, Birth and
Post-birth so Important?
(DH Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond Team)
A child’s early experience has a long lasting
impact on the architecture of their brain
and their behaviour and development
Pregnancy and birth are a key time for
change – parents have an instinctive drive
to protect their young and want their child
to be healthy and happy and do well in life
There is scientific consensus that the
origins of many adult diseases are often
found in pregnancy and infancy
There is evidence that effective preventive interventions in early life can
produce significant cost savings and benefits in health, social care,
educational achievement, economic productivity and responsible citizenship
Literature and user research about current
provision of antenatal support
(DH PBB Team)
Mothers and fathers said they want:
• Timely information
• They like groups
• Want space to think about what it all means for their lives
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Parents go to friends and family first
Reliance on professionals and the public sector
Parents who can afford it – pay
Neuroscience should be well understood, with programmes that focus
on emotional change and the needs of the baby.
Evidence and Experience Underpinning
Implementation of PPs and BBs
National Research
Project of 10 UK
Volunteer
Community Parent
Programmes
Goodwin
Development Trust
Volunteer Doula
Programme
&
DH Third Sector Investment Fund: Excellence Strand
The Journey of Implementing
Pregnancy Pals and Birth Buddies
Programme in South West Essex...
Aims of the Birth Buddy and
Pregnancy Pal Programme
To help parents-to-be to:
• Have a positive experience throughout pregnancy
and childbirth
• Care well for themselves and their growing baby
• Be ready for birth
• Prepare for and feel confident as a parent so as to
give their child the best start in life
• Reduce inequalities
Role Outline
What does a Pregnancy Pal or Birth
Buddy do?
From early pregnancy to 6 weeks after the birth,
the main role is to offer..
• Informal support
• Useful information
• Emotional and physical support during labour
and birth (Birth Buddies only)
• Assist parents to access other services
For example...
Meet them at a children’s centre or homeless hostel –
help them to understand information and look after
their own health
Home visits
Birth partner (Birth Buddies only)
Go with the mother to antenatal appointments
Assist with antenatal classes or fitness sessions
Work alongside other agencies
Encourage, listen, respect, build trust
A Pregnancy Pal / Birth Buddy does not give any
medical or clinical advice.
During labour and birth, a Birth Buddy gives
continuous emotional and physical support, and
facilitates communication between the woman,
her partner and professionals
Recruiting Volunteers...
Why Become a Pregnancy Pal / Birth Buddy
Volunteer? Give and Take Approach...
• Personally rewarding: be part of something
vital for the future of a family
• Enjoyable group learning experience
• Building own confidence
• Be involved in their community
• Gaining a national qualification
• Gaining valuable work experience
• Being a voice for their community
Volunteer Expenses
Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed:
• Travel
• Childcare
• Refreshments
Training
• Initial 6 session taster course (Nov + Jan)
• 12 introductory sessions, tutorials and
hospital visit before they start supporting
• Then ongoing monthly and additional training
sessions throughout their volunteering role
Training: Overview of Topic Areas
• Values and principles
Embedded Throughout Training &
Supervision...
The process of effective support
Using an empowerment model
[Flip chart activity]
Active Birth Training
Accreditation
City & Guilds Work with Parents Award (3599) – 3 units:
• Building and maintaining trusting relationships
• Effective communication skills
• Valuing and respecting parents
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Breastfeeding Support Skills
(Open College Network Levels 2/3)
Referrals
• Pregnancy Pals offer early, preventative support
• Birth Buddies are targeted,for example:
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Socially isolated
Domestic violence
Language and cultural barriers
Misuse alcohol, drugs or substances
Homeless
Mental health issues
Previous traumatic birth
Want a vaginal birth after a caesarean section
Previous stillbirth, neonatal death or a sudden infant death
Previously suffered from postnatal depression
Will be giving birth to an infant with additional needs
Disability or medical condition that may impact on pregnancy, birth or
early family life
Supervision and Support
Ongoing supervision and support for volunteers
is critical e.g. health and safety whilst working
as a volunteer, debriefing their experiences,
child safeguarding, access to further advice