Pregnancy and Parenting
Practical info and advice on what to do if you think you are pregnant. Get details of the support on offer when you are pregnant and once you are a parent.
Think you might be pregnant?
Take a test – the sooner you know for sure, the sooner you can decide what to do. Connexions Centres and other young people's advice centres do free pregnancy testing - or buy a test from a shop.
Negative? If you didn’t want to be pregnant, think about whether there’s anything you can do to stop the same thing happening again! Go to a young people’s clinic or your local Connexions Centre for advice.
Positive? You need to decide what to do - keep the baby, have an abortion or have the baby adopted. This is a really difficult decision to make – talk to an adviser about all the options and what they mean. Friends and family can also help - but only you can make the final decision.
Breaking the News
It can be hard enough to come to terms with being pregnant yourself – but how do you break the news to your family?
Generally the sooner you do it the better - although its useful to have thought through your options first – that way you can explain your thoughts more clearly and show you are taking a mature approach to the whole thing.
If you can’t face breaking the news alone ask someone to be with you for moral support. Your Connexions personal adviser may be able to help.
Abortion
Go to a young peoples' sexual health centre or your doctor (GP) as soon as possible, if you think you may want to end the pregnancy. They will talk about the options with you.
Becoming a parent
If you decide to keep the baby, you may have to make some changes in your life – but you can get help during the pregnancy and after the birth.
Antenatal Care
As soon as you decide to go ahead with your pregnancy it’s important to get antenatal care – regular checks to make sure you and your baby stay healthy.
Go to your GP surgery who will put you in touch with a Community Midwife
Or you could contact Miranda Hayer the Consultant Midwife for teenage pregnancy. She runs the StartUp antenatal clinics at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital. You can contact Miranda on 0116 204 7813 or 07966 558270.
Parentcraft Sessions
Parentcraft sessions help you to learn about giving birth and how to care for your baby. There are special sessions for pregnant women under 18 on Fridays between 1pm and 3pm at the Watershed Youth House on Upperton Road in Leicester. There is also a post-natal group for after your baby is born on Wednesdays from 10-1. For more info ring Cheryl Perry the specialist midwife who runs the Teenage Pregnancy Project on 07973 860 213.
Young Parents' Groups
Getting together with other young parents can be a great way to get support from others in the same situation.
There are drop-ins for young parents or parents to be at Leicester Connexions Centre on Wednesdays and Fridays between 12pm and 3pm. There is also a support group on Wednesdays from 1-3pm.
Ask your Connexions personal adviser about other local support groups for young parents.
Group for teenage mums and mums-to-be in Wigston
Meet with other young mums in the area for information, advice, a chat, and company.
Children and babies welcome.
Where: Wigston Young People's Centre
Holmden Avenue Wigston (Behind South Leicestershire College)
When: Mondays 12-2pm
For more info contact: lshepherd@leics.gov.uk or call: 07773895028
Are you a lone parent?
Would you like support with moving into work and training now or in the future?
If you live in Leicester city the Lone Parent Project can give you advice about employment, and training. We can support you to overcome barriers such as lack of skills, confidence, and childcare.
Contact the Lone Parent Team on: 0116 262 7254
Email: loneparentproject@connexions-leics.org
Download more information on the Lone Parent Project (PDF)
Free childcare tasters
If you're thinking about getting a job or going into training the lone parent project can help find affordable childcare to meet your needs.
Download more infomation on the free childcare taster sessions
Becoming a Dad
In most situations it is better for a child to grow up knowing and
seeing its father and members of the father’s family. If you
are a new dad, or soon will be, it’s a lot of responsibility
to come to terms with – but the rewards could be great.
If you don’t live with the baby’s mother – there is still a lot you can do by keeping in touch during the pregnancy and trying to see your child as much as possible.
You can get support from other fathers and come along to the Parentcraft sessions too.
Young Parent Personal Adviser Support at Connexions – PIPS
The PIPS team provides support and advice for young parents and parents to be. You can get one to one tailor made packages of support through appointments and drop-in services. The team can offer you lots of different types of support. The type of support you get will depend on your individual needs and requirements. You can also get information and advice on a range of issues, including:
- Education, employment and training opportunities
- Housing
- Benefits and money advice
- Relationships
- Pregnancy and parenting support
- Childcare and Care to Learn
- Sexual Health and contraceptive services
The PIPS team is based at the Connexions centre on Charles Street. The team consists of a Senior Young Parent adviser and two Young Parent Peer advisers. If you would like to make an appointment please contact the PIPS team on: 0116 262 7254.
Or come along to one of the drop in sessions.
Times
Leicester Connexions Centre, Charles Street
Young parents drop-in
Tuesdays 12-3pm
Young parents' group
Wednesday 1-3pm
Young parents drop-in and appointments
Thursdays 12-3pm
Fridays 12-3pm
Leicester Royal Infirmary Ante-Natal clinic
Drop-in every 1st and 3rd Monday, 1-4pm
The Watershed Youth Centre, Bede Island, Leicester
Drop-in every 1st and 3rd Friday, 12-3pm
Young Mums and Dads To Be programme
The Young Mums and Dads To Be Programme is for young parents to be who want to learn more about their bodies during pregnancy and how to deal with their future child's early months and needs. This is a free course that will help you develop skills and understanding to ensure you and your baby stay healthy.
Download more info on the Young Mums and Dads To Be Programme here
Sure Start
Sure Start programmes give support for families and parents with
children 0-4 years.
Sure Start Programmes in Leicester
Beaumont Leys - 0116 295 4550
Braunstone - 0116 255 0525
St Matthews - 0116 242 6370
Highfields - 0116 248 8100
Saffron - 0116 283 2335
New Parks - 0116 231 4418
Sure Start Programmes Leicestershire
Cobden Street, Loughborough - 01509 237 2267
Greenhill and Woodthorpe - 0116 265 8049
Loughborough East - 01509 568 633
Shelthorpe Children's Centre, Loughborough - 01509 264 876
To find out what's on at your local Sure Start programme:
Go
to the Sure Start Leicester website
or if you live in the county
Go
to the Sure Start Leicestershire website
Young Mum’s Guide
Continuing with Your Education and Career
If you are under 16
Until your school leaving day – the last Friday in
June after your 16th birthday - you can get help and support to
carry on with your education whilst you are pregnant and after your
child is born.
If you live in the City of Leicester contact:
Teenage Pregnancy Re-integration Officer Sonia Bakari - 0116 221 1275
If you live in the County of Leicestershire contact:
PYMs (Pregnant
and Young Mothers Support)
0116 239 3249 or 07748 933 105
Ask for Karen Ojari or Sarah Kirkby
After Year 11
After Year 11 you can choose from a number of options
to carry on with your education or start training for a job. Your
Connexions personal adviser will be able to help you to think
through your options.
If you go to college or sixth form you can get help with the cost of childcare from Care to Learn.
If you are working more than 16 hours a week you can get Working Tax Credit to help with the costs of childcare.
There are special information services to help you to find childcare:
If you live in the City of Leicester contact:
Childcare Information Service - 0116 225 4890
If you live in the County of Leicestershire contact:
Children's Information Service - 0115 26545
Care to Learn
If you want to go back to school or college or do an apprenticeship
after your baby is born you can get help from Care to Learn. Care
to Learn can pay for your childcare. They will also help you to
find the right childcare. You must be under 20 when you start your
course. Your Connexions personal adviser can help you fill in your
Care to Learn application form and find out about childcare.
Find out more about Care to Learn at: www.direct.gov.uk or call the Care to Learn Helpline 0845 600 2809. You can also pick up a booklet about Care to Learn at your local Connexions Centre.
Real Life Stories- Getting back into learning
Gillian and Matt both wanted to continue their education after becoming parents. Click on the links below to watch Gillian and Matt talk about their different experiences of getting back into learning after becoming a parent.
Gillian,
19 "I
had Jack when I was 16 and didn't know how to continue my education"
Click here to see Gillian talking about her experience
Matt,
18
"I thought being a dad would stop me going to Uni"
Click here to see Matt talking about his experience.
Money for Young Parents
There are benefits
including Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Sure Start Maternity
Grant – that you might be able to get when you are pregnant
and after your child is born. After your child is born you will
get a £250 Child Trust Fund
voucher to put into a special account for when your child is 18.
Housing
See our Housing information
pages for info on the housing options open to you and where to go
for help. Your local council housing department have a duty to find
you emergency accommodation if you are pregnant or caring for a
child and homeless.
There are supported housing projects that may help with somewhere to live if you have to leave home when you have had your baby. There are support workers at the housing projects so that you don’t feel alone. You can get details of these from your local Connexions Centre or specialist midwife.
Telephone Helplines
Parentline Plus: advice and info on bringing up children for mums, dads and grandparents - 0808 800 2222
Cry-sis support for parents of babies who cry a lot - 08451 228 669
Lone Parent Helpline - 0800 018 5026
Care to Learn Helpline - 0845 600 2809
Last Updated: 07-May-2008