Humberside Fire and Rescue and dental health experts are among the latest to share their words of wisdom with new and expectant families.
Representatives will join the growing team of experts sharing their knowledge with new parents and parents to be next week at the HEY Baby Carousel event, within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, which takes place from 6-8pm on Wednesday 31 January.
The drop-in events are held monthly to help people prepare for their new arrivals, and cover all sorts of topics from home birth to breastfeeding, and car seats to antenatal classes.
Melanie Lee, Birth Education Midwife at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:
“Since they launched in the summer, the HEY Baby Carousel events have been growing in popularity, and we regularly see scores of women and their partners or other family members at each session now.
“There’s so much to think about and so much you need to know when you’re expecting a baby, either as mum or dad, so the idea is to give people the chance to come and have a chat and find out what to expect in a really relaxed and sociable way.
“On top of that, we also cover the less obvious things, and in particular that’s why we’re welcoming representatives of the Fire Service and an oral health practitioner along for the first time this month.
“Pregnant women are entitled to free NHS dental care, so there will be information available about eligibility and how to receive this care, as well as how to care for baby’s gums in the early months.
“And knowing that new parents will be keen to do all they can to keep their precious little one safe, Humberside Fire and Rescue will be encouraging families to think about escape routes in the home, and how they might get themselves and their little out in case of a fire.”
Visitors can find out more about a host of other topics including family fitness, children’s centres and the Fatima Allam Midwife-led Birth Centre, and take part in practical baby bath and nappy change demonstrations. As pregnant women are eligible for the flu jab, there will be a team on hand to offer vaccinations, and midwives will also be available to talk through women’s birth plans with them and fill in any blanks.
Melanie will also be hosting her regular ‘Ask the Midwife’ slot again, where literally anything and everything is up for discussion, no matter how trivial or embarrassing it might seem.
Melanie continues:
“Literally thousands of babies are born in this city every year, and we want to give those babies and their parents the best possible start.
“The event we’ll be hosting next week is designed to bring a lot of different experts in their field together so pregnant women or new parents can come along and have all those niggly little questions answered, like ‘what do I need to bring into hospital’ or ‘how do I lose my baby weight?’
“Sometimes women don’t always like to bother their midwife, or questions crop up later in conversation with friends or family, so this event gives people the opportunity to pop in and ask whatever they like; the main thing is we want families to feel ready, confident and supported, and aware of all the options open to them.”
The HEY Baby Carousel Event will take place on Wednesday 31 January from 6 to 8pm at the Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. Representatives from/advice on the following will be available:
- Fatima Allam Birth Centre (midwife led unit) and Labour Ward
- SureStart Children’s Centres
- UsMums fitness sessions
- Baby bath and nappy change demonstrations
- Car seat safety
- Home birth group
- Hypnobirth
- Healthy lifestyles
- ‘Let’s talk’ talking therapies
- Health Visitors
- Breast buddies – breastfeeding support
- Infant feeding
- Fire safety in the home
- Dental health for mum and baby
- … and much more!
Copies of the Baby Footprint postcards, as featured on the 2017 City of Culture artwork within the entrance to the Women and Children’s Hospital, will also be on sale.
There is no need to book, but for more information, call the HEY Baby team on 07769 671449.