Useful Links
ASH
For those needing support whilst giving up smoking.
www.ash.org.uk
Association for improvements in maternity services (AIMS)
A voluntary pressure group which aims for improvements in maternity services. It offers support and advice about parents’ rights, complaints procedures and choices within maternity care, including home birth.
www.aims.org.uk
Down’s Syndrome Association
Langdon Down Centre
2A Langdon Park
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 9PS
Tel 0845 230 0372
Fax 0845 230 0373
E-mail www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
EchoUK (the tiny tickers charity)
Congenital heart disease affects 4,500 babies every year. Our aim is to give these babies the best start in life, by improving screening for heart disease before birth.
www.echocharity.org.uk www.tinytickers.org
Independent Midwives Association
Independent Midwives are fully qualified midwives who, in order to practice the midwife’s role to its fullest extent, have chosen to work outside the NHS in a self employed capacity, although we support its aims and ideals. The midwife’s role encompasses the care of women during pregnancy, birth and afterwards.
http://www.independentmidwives.org.uk/
International Vasa Previa Foundation
The International Vasa Previa Foundation believes that infant death due to vasa previa is an avoidable tragedy and works to raise awareness about this condition. The IVPF supports families affected by vasa previa, sponsors hospital educational events on vasa previa, participates in research, and attends obstetrical and ultrasound conferences.
www.IVPF.org
La Lèche League
The La Lèche League International mission is: To help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/
MaMa Academy
A non-profit organisation raising awareness of baby loss
www.mamaacademy.com
National Childbirth Trust
A charity for pregnancy, birth and parenting in the UK . Every year we support thousands of people through this incredible life-changing experience, offering relevant information, reassurance and mutual support.
http://www.nct.org.uk/
Nursing and Midwifery Council
www.nmc-uk.org/
Parentline
A National helpline for anyone parenting a child who may need support, information or guidance.
www.parentlineplus.org.uk
Royal College of Midwives
www.rcm.org.uk
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
www.rcog.org.uk/
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust C/O The Hillingdon Hospital Maternity Unit Pield Heath Road Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 3NN
Helpline 01895 238025
Striving to:
- Provide support and information to who have suffered an ectopic pregnancy and those whose lives are affected by it
- Support research into the underlying causes, treatment and prevention
- Improve the diagnosis and treatment of ectopics through the establishment of Best Practice Guidelines
The Genetic Interest Group
http://www.gig.org.uk
The Meningitis Trust
is working towards a world that is free from meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning) and where those affected receive quality care and support for life. It offers a range of services to health professionals, the general public and to those affected by meningitis. It’s helping to rebuild lives with its vital support services including a 24-hour nurse-led helpline, professional counselling, home visiting and financial grants. It’s also trying to save lives by raising awareness of the disease through education and training and new research programmes.
http://www.meningitis-trust.org
UK Vasa Praevia Awareness Group
At UKVP raising awareness – we are dedicated to raising awareness of vasa praevia – a dreadful yet fully diagnosable condition which will affect at least 380 pregnancies per year in the UK alone. If diagnosed prenatally the infant survival rate is 100% (absent any other congenital defect), conversely if it not diagnosed the infant invariably perishes. It is that stark.
In the UK, at present, there is no protocol for diagnosis and management of this condition but we are working in conjunction with several of the World’s leading obstetric professionals to remedy this.
http://vasapraevia.co.uk