Maternity Health

06/03/2026

🌟Ketamine misuse in pregnancy🌟

Ketamine is predominantly a dissociative anaesthetic drug used both in human and animal medical practice.

Ketamine is a particularly dangerous drug to consume without medical guidance. There are many uncertainties surrounding the way it behaves and the effects it has on people who take it illicitly / recreationally.
It is very a challenging drug to measure out a precise dose and there is a small margin between experiencing its positive effects and slipping into an overdose. Recreational users are therefore more likely to make errors or miscalculations which could be fatal. As with all illicit drugs it is almost impossible to be sure of the chemical composition and what it is mixed with.
Ketamine passes through the blood-placental barrier extremely easily (usually in less than 2 minutes after being injected) which places unborn children at high risk of being exposed to its toxic effects.

Research studies investigating the effects of ketamine on pregnancy strongly indicate that unborn children being exposed to ketamine could suffer significant chemical changes in their brains. This can then lead to a wide range of cognitive and behavioural problems that may not be apparent until later in childhood / early adulthood (including anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, increased aggression and learning difficulties).

Chronic recreational ketamine use can cause severe, often permanent, bladder damage known as ketamine-induced cystitis or ketamine urinary tract syndrome. This condition poses significant risks during pregnancy due to the potential for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney damage, and complications with labour and delivery.

Please be open and honest with your healthcare provider (GP, Midwife) if you are using Ketamine to appropriate support can be put in place to help you stop using this drug safely.

Further reading about drug misuse in pregnancy:

🔶https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/illegal-or-recreational-drugs-and-pregnancy
🔷https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/
🔶https://www.talktofrank.com/
🔷https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a541318/illegal-drugs-in-pregnancy

05/03/2026

If you are experiencing domestic abuse please remember you are NOT alone - there is help out there for you.
It’s a very frightening step to take - asking for help - but it’s the MOST important decision you will ever make
X###

Support should always be visible.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, it can be isolating and difficult to find support or think about your options. That’s why UK SAYS NO MORE created Safe Spaces.

UK SAYS NO MORE is working with pharmacies & banks across the UK to provide Safe Spaces in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse.
You can use a safe space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, or to contact specialist support services. Safe Spaces are open and ready for you to use.

Find a space near you: https://uksaysnomore.org/safespaces

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

👨‍👩‍👧 A Guide for Dads & Partners

Becoming a parent brings big changes — emotionally, physically, and practically. This guide is here to support dads and partners through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

It covers:

Mental health and wellbeing

Family life and relationships

Practical tips for everyday parenting

Resources to help you feel confident and supported

💛 You’re not alone — we’re here to help you navigate this life-changing journey.

📎 Explore more resources for dads and partners on Other Half Hub:

https://parents1st.org.uk/the-other-half-hub

05/03/2026

🌟Your body after birth…🌟

Social media often portrays an unrealistic picture of what you will look like or feel like immediately after your baby is born.

We’ve all seen the posts out there of stars / VIPs / WAG’s etc looking absolutely glam, flawless makeup, perfect hair, beautiful skin, well rested, back in size 0 clothes 5 minutes after delivery (not a leaky b**b in sight, you never see baby sick down their shoulder, and certainly no bulky sanitary towel spoiling their perfect shaped rear… ) 🙄

Sadly this totally false representation of new motherhood can make many new mum’s feel like they are failing (...you are NOT failing... please banish those thoughts 💜).

Please check out this very honest article at Tommy’s

This page talks about common problems you may have during the first few months after giving birth. Talk to your GP or health visitor if you have any concerns.

04/03/2026

Even small babies can suddenly start to roll. And they don’t have to fall far to suffer a serious head injury.

Their heads are much heavier than their bodies, which makes them top-heavy. And when they land, their head takes much of the impact.

That’s why it’s so important to learn the risks and the simple things we can do to keep them safe from serious falls.

Download our free from falls fact sheet for top tips: https://capt.org.uk/resources/free-from-falls-fact-sheet/

04/03/2026

🌟Talking therapies🌟

Talking therapy involves talking to a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Describing what’s going on in your head and how that makes you feel can help you notice any patterns you may want to change. It can help you work out where your negative feelings and ideas come from and why they are there.
Understanding all this can help you make positive changes, take greater control of your life and improve your confidence.

You may have tried therapy in the past and it didn’t work or feel right for you – This does NOT mean that you should avoid it again! This time it MAY help.

The below link takes you to a really good article at The Mental Health Foundation website (it’s a long read but well worth taking some time to have a read.

Locally there are lots of services available to you if you do want to try talking therapy but for now have a read:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/talking-therapies

03/03/2026

🥰A Little Message...🥰

03/03/2026

🌟Types of anxiety🌟

There are many types of anxiety which can cause people to worry about different things, and it’s normal to experience symptoms of more than one.

When anxiety lasts for a long time it can disrupt everyday life, such as the ability to sleep, concentrate, and socialise. It can also lead you to believe that you’re unable to cope with daily tasks, holding you back from enjoying life and creating a cycle where anxiety becomes worse and affects your mental health.

If you are at that stage please reach out for help – talk to your GP, or any healthcare professional for support. Reach out to your loved ones – trusted friends, family or your partner – don’t hide how you are feeling.💜

Some of the most common types of anxiety include:.

🔹Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is when you worry about lots of different things and these fears feel disproportionate and out of control. As GAD can increase the risk of sleeping difficulties, mood problems, concentration issues, and physical symptoms, it can affect daily life.

🔹Health anxiety
Health anxiety is when someone worries a lot about being or becoming ill. It can take over daily life as it includes symptoms such as frequently scanning the body for signs of sickness, seeking constant reassurance from medical professionals, and physical feelings of actually being ill.

🔹Social anxiety
Social anxiety is an intense fear of social situations. It includes symptoms like avoiding socialising, fear of public speaking, worrying a lot before social events, feeling like you’re being criticised by others, and physical symptoms such as trembling and sweating.

Read the full article here at The Mental Health Foundation for more advice and information:

This guide provides you with a wide range of tips on how to manage feelings of fear and anxiety.

03/03/2026

🌟 Anxiety - ways to cope 🌟

We created this leaflet / poster with some ideas and tips to help deal with anxiety.
Using information from trusted websites, experience and feedback from mums the ideas have been put together to give you lots of things to try and help cope if you are struggling with anxiety levels in pregnancy.

Try and pick a new task / idea each day from the list and build them up over a period of time to help you manage your anxiety.

02/03/2026

🌟Emetophobia🌟

Emetophobia is the fear of vomiting, watching someone else vomit, seeing vomit, and feeling nauseas.

People who suffer from Emetophobia don’t just find the idea of vomiting disgusting and unbearable, but they live in fear of it, which can have a significant impact on their lives.

This phobia can be a huge issue for pregnant women as unfortunately sickness is often a ‘normal’ part of pregnancy.

The other problem is that babies and children are often sick.
So for someone with this phobia, trying to care for a baby that is sick after a feed or a child who may be unwell, just coping generally becomes very stressful and for some this becomes impossible.

This phobia is very different to the feelings most women struggle with around pregnancy sickness and can have a very negative impact on mental well-being and the wider family.
It’s important to reach out for some help in coping.
Please see attached leaflet for more information including coping strategies

02/03/2026

🌟Just pregnancy sickness?🌟

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a condition at the extreme end of the pregnancy sickness spectrum. This condition is not ‘just a bit of morning sickness’ - HG can be very traumatic, it can create severe physical and mental stress on a woman and those around her.

When women are struggling with continuous, unrelenting nausea and vomiting; which can be violent, painful and unpredictable, it will affect how she copes and feels about the pregnancy.
Without doubt HG can take away ANY enjoyment that pregnancy should bring, leaving sufferers feeling guilty and bereft.

Never underestimate, or be embarrassed about the awful impact that HG can have on mental well-being. Don’t feel guilty about needing help, you are very ill and you should not be expected to carry on regardless.
If you are struggling with this level of sickness please contact your GP as a matter of urgency. You need anti-sickness medication (possibly more than one type) and potentially you need to be seen in hospital for more intense treatment.

Please check out the Pregnancy Sickness Support Website / FB Page / Instagram Page for more information:

https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/PregnancySicknessSupport
https://www.instagram.com/pregnancysicknesssupport/

Empathy, Expertise & Support Because pregnancy sickness can be a challenging journey. Call us on 0800 055 4361. GET HELPDONATE find out more How Can I Get help? The Pregnancy Sickness Support team is here to help. You can get support via our helpline, email or WhatsApp service. Our opening hours are...