Advice and support for expectant and new families

Get advice if you are pregnant, expecting a child or are a new family, including midwifery, health visitors, healthy eating and mental health support.

Finding out you're pregnant
Find out how to make a midwife appointment and find support services to help you in your pregnancy.
Start for Life offer
Brighton & Hove's Start for Life offer provides advice and guidance to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Support to be healthy during pregnancy
Find support services to help you stay healthy during pregnancy.
Where to give birth
Go to the University Hospital Sussex website to find out how to choose where you will give birth.
Register a birth
Find out how to register a birth in Brighton & Hove and book a birth registration appointment.
Re-register a birth
Find out about situations when you need to re-register a birth, and how to book an appointment to do so.

Mental health and parent-infant relationships

Perinatal Services
An NHS Sussex partnership service supporting mothers who are experiencing, or who have previously experienced, severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or up to a year after birth.
Mental health and pregnancy
Advice for looking after your mental health whilst you're pregnant on the NHS Start for Life website.
Mental health after you've given birth
Advice and support for looking after your mental health after you've given birth on the NHS Start for Life website.
Bonding with your baby
Find out how to build a relationship with your baby and understand their needs on the NHS Start for Life website.
Helping your toddler with their emotions
Find out how you can support your toddler as they get older and help them manage their emotions on the NHS Start for Life website.
Playtime activities and bonding with your toddler
Ideas for activities you can do with your toddler during playtime and to help you to bond on the NHS Start for Life website.

Maternity and paternity rights

Maternity pay and leave
Go to the GOV.UK website to find out what time off and pay you might be eligible for when you take time off to have a baby.
Paternity pay and leave
Go to the GOV.UK website to find out what paternity pay and leave you might be eligible for when you take time off because your partner’s having a baby, you're adopting a child or having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement.