Resources

Books you might find helpful

Below are a selection of self-help books that I’ve personally read and return to often in my work with parents. Many are available in audio format…
I appreciate that sleep-deprived days rarely leave time for reading!

Book cover titled "The Compassionate Mind approach to Postnatal Depression" with a background of sand and footprints near the shoreline.
Cover of a book titled 'The New Motherhood Workbook' by Michelle Cree, decorated with green fern illustrations and a soft beige background.
Book cover titled 'Matrescence' by Lucy Jones, featuring abstract overlapping shapes in blue, green, and red on an orange background, with a quote from Jude Rogers.
Cover of a book titled 'The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did)' by Philippa Perry, with additional quotes and the publisher's logo.
Book cover titled 'How to Be the Grown-Up: Why good parenting starts with you' by Dr Martha Deiros Collado, featuring a quote about parenting and a colorful handwritten word 'Grown-Up'.
Book cover of "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel Van Der Kolk. The cover features blue abstract artwork of a human figure and a quote about the importance of understanding trauma and mental health.
Book cover of 'Why Love Matters' by Sue Gerhardt, second edition, featuring a smiling baby's face with colorful text and a quote about the importance of love for children.
Book cover titled 'Finding Your Way with Your Baby: The Emotional Life of Parents and Babies' by Dilys Daws and Alexandra de Rementeria, featuring a woman with dark, curly hair holding a newborn baby.
Book cover titled "Helping Your Child With Fears and Worries" with pink and white design, authors Cathy Creswell and Lucy Willetts.
Book cover titled 'The Incredible Years, Third Edition' by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, Ph.D., featuring photos of children playing together, children riding bikes, children doing a group activity, and a woman with a child smiling.

Signposting to
Trusted Organisations

Learning about your baby

Association for Infant
Mental Health (AIMH)
“Getting to Know Your Baby” videos have been created to help parents
in learning how to support their baby’s emotional wellbeing.


Brazelton Centre
Information for parents looking to discover more about their baby’s communication.


Dad Matters
Dad Matters offers support for dads in the perinatal period, helping them build strong bonds with their baby, understand their role, and access mental health and parenting resources.


NHS Start for Life
Trusted NHS advice and guidance to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.


Logo for AiMH UK with black text Inside a blue circle.
Line drawing of a mother holding her child, surrounded by a partial teal circle.
A stylized graphic with the phrase 'DAD MATTERS' in black and orange, featuring illustrations of a man's hairstyle, beard, and a smartwatch.
Colorful graphic with four squares in orange, pink, blue, and purple, and the text 'Best Start in Life' in bold purple letters.

Mental Health

Action on Postpartum
Psychosis (APP)
Information and support for anyone affected by postpartum psychosis.



Association for Post Natal Illness
Information and support for
perinatal mental health difficulties.
Free and confidential helpline:
0207 386 0868

Birth Trauma Association
Supporting parents who have experienced birth trauma.


PANDAS
Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support.
Free and confidential helpline: 0808 1961 776

Logo featuring two abstract figures, one larger and one smaller, representing a person and a child, in dark blue against a white background.
Logo with a parent and child in blue and white, encircled by the words "The Association for Post Natal Illness."
A circular logo with a dark background and white abstract lines forming a cursive letter 'e' or 'g' within the circle.
A colorful cartoon umbrella with orange, teal, and peach segments above the word "Pandas" in teal letters.

Practical Support and Advice

Cry-sis
Support for parents with crying and sleepless babies.
Free and confidential helpline: 0800 448 0737


Gingerbread
Information, advice and community support for solo parents.


Homestart
A local community network of trained volunteers helping families with under 5s through challenging times.

Maternity Action
Maternity rights charity dedicated to protecting the employment, health and social rights of all pregnant women and new mothers.

A teal-colored water droplet-shaped logo with a stylized swirl inside.
Orange asterisk symbol on dark green background
Colorful graphic with the words "Home & Start" in white and orange, with a stylized figure integrated into the text, against a purple background.
Logo of Maternity Action featuring stylized lowercase 'ma' in purple with the text 'Maternity Action' underneath.

Baby Loss & Illness

Bliss
Emotional and practical support for parents and families of
premature or sick babies



Sands
Information and support for
families bereaved by baby loss.
Free and confidential helpline:
0808 164 3332

Tommy’s
Provides expert support for parents through pregnancy and baby loss.

Bliss logo for babies born premature or sick
Orange heart-shaped logo with a stylized human figure hugging inside.
Pink background with white text that says "Tommy's".

Local professional network

Midwives and health visitors are often the first port of call for new parents. They offer guidance on feeding, sleep, emotional wellbeing, and child development.
Midwives are involved during pregnancy and shortly after birth, while health visitors continue supporting families until your child’s fifth birthday.
Both provide a vital link to local services.

IMPORTANT - Need help in a crisis?

Please ask for an urgent GP appointment, or phone 111.

If you don’t feel you can keep yourself or your baby safe, call 999 or visit your local A&E to see a specialist mental health professional.

24/7 you can also
Contact the Samaritans 116 123
or text SHOUT 85258.