Until now midwives haven't had a reliable online source to guide and refer expectant parents. Research shows that people are most likely to trust and use an NHS internet site to research important health information.
So the NHS has launched www.nhs.uk/pregnancy
NHS Choices has made this new resource available because it is known that, especially for first time parents, and not just mums, the first three months in particular can be very confusing; excitement combined with uncertainty.
Most expectant parents have little or no contact with the NHS until their first ante-natal appointment which may be up to ten weeks into pregnancy. Increased knowledge and information about health makes people more confident, so that they know what to ask for when seeing the midwife.
Propective parents can also look up the service, facilities on offer and quality of local maternity units on the NHS Choices planner. Type in your postcode, and choose which units to compare, and you can make up your mind, based on the best and most up to date information and data.
Some of the key features in the Pregnancy Planner:
Photograph © Tracey Smith, Titich Photography