Pregnancy Handbook 

As a team of Black women working to improve the experiences of Black and Mixed Black women and birthers, we have created a pregnancy handbook especially for you. Because we know firsthand how hard it can be to move through the world Black and pregnant.

This page has all the helpful links referenced in our pregnancy handbook. If you haven’t ordered a handbook yet, you can do that for FREE below. 

You got this, we got you.

p.10 Extra info on conditions that may affect your pregnancy. 

Though race is a social construct, not a biological fact, there are still certain conditions that disproportionately affect Black women who, research has shown, are more likely to experience pregnancy and birth complications. 

The following organisations are good additional sources of information. 

p. 13 Help with medical jargon

Health professionals sometimes use medical terminology, abbreviations or jargon. You can always ask professionals to elaborate but this is a good glossary of terminology that you may find helpful. Glossary of Obstetric Terminology - Saint Mary's Hospital

p. 17 Getting a different opinion/ changing your practitioner  

Feeling confident in and understood by your medical team is so important. Know you can get a second opinion at any time, and/ or ask for a different professional if you feel the relationship isn’t working. This page from birthrights has information on your right to choose your own midwife and doctor. 

Birthrights has other factsheets and FAQs that provide information about your rights in pregnancy and childbirth.

p.27 How to spot maternal sepsis

It’s really important to know about maternal sepsis - when tears or incisions become infected after childbirth - so you know how to spot the signs. It’s something that affects Black women more than others, so it’s crucial to be prepared. This page from NCT has more information. 

p. 31 Sources of mental health support 

If you’re struggling with your mental health, we’d strongly encourage you to reach out to a professional - your midwife, GP or - if you don’t want mental health concerns to be recorded on your notes - a private therapist or charitable organisation.

There are so many sources of support out there to help you with your mental health. Please know you never have to suffer in silence. It takes courage and strength to seek out help, it’s not a sign of weakness.

p. 37 Reflecting on your experience, offering feedback and making complaints

A birth debrief can help you process your birth, but it can take time to feel ready to relive what happened, especially if you experienced trauma. Many NHS providers offer this opportunity - you can request a debrief through your midwife or GP - though we know stepping back into an NHS setting can be really problematic. You may not feel able to bring your whole self. There are private services available, too, if you don’t want to engage with the NHS. The Birth Trauma Association can be a good place to start.

You can also share your feedback - positive or negative - with your NHS care providers. This can be done via National Maternity Voices. Visit their website for more information.

If you want to escalate an issue or make a complaint you absolutely can, but it has to be done within 12 months. Birthrights have a great factsheet on how to make a complaint.

p. 38 Baby loss support

The loss of a baby is extremely painful and can be incredibly isolating and lonely - only you can say what you need to get through. Some people may want to talk about it, others may not at all. Whatever the case may be, if this happens to you, know you’re definitely not alone. People absolutely survive this experience, and learn how to carry it with time.

  • Baby Loss Certificate - you can get a certificate in memory of your baby if your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks.

  • Pandas - offer support for anyone affected by perinatal mental health challenges.

  • Petals - baby loss counselling charity, providing specialist counselling after baby loss.

  • Sands - offer support for anyone affected by baby loss - parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. They have tailored support for those from Black and South Asian backgrounds.

  • Tommy’s - have a specialist midwife helpline that supports Black and Black Mixed-Heritage women and birthing people in the UK with any aspect of your pregnancy journey including loss.