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Popular Pregnancy and Parent Guides Updated

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 29 October 2009

New advice on storing breast milk and the best medicines to take during pregnancy are some of the updates the Department of Health has made to its popular Pregnancy and Birth to Five books being relaunched today.

The books have been a vital source of information for mums-to-be and new parents for over ten years, offering the latest information on issues that matter to them. The books will be given free to all expectant women and new parents by their midwives and health visitors.

The Pregnancy and Birth to Five books have now been updated to reflect latest advice and evidence and include extra information parents have told us they need. Some of the changes include:

Increasing the amount of time it is recommended breast milk can be stored in a fridge from 24 hours to 5 daysReflecting latest Food Standards Agency advice that:it is safe for mothers to eat peanuts during pregnancy, but babies shouldn’t be given them for the first six months of life pregnant women should not drink more than 200mg of caffeine a day – that’s two mugs of instant coffeeIntroducing a step-by-step breast feeding guide and information on medicines for common ailments while pregnant or breast feeding

All of this information has been updated in online resources on NHS Choices as it has changed, but these books bring it all together in one handy reference tool for parents.

Commenting on the new books, Health Minister Ann Keen said:

“Parents have told us how useful they find these books and the advice they give, and we’ve listened to their feedback on what extra information they need. That’s why we’ve updated the Pregnancy and Birth to Five books to include more advice on the topics parents find most difficult including post natal depression and breast feeding. I would encourage all parents to use these books and their midwife and health visitor to ensure they have all the information and support they need through pregnancy and early years.”

Commenting on the new books, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives Cathy Warwick said:

"The RCM is pleased to have helped update these publications and feels that they will be a vital new resource for pregnant women and their families. We believe that they will help empower and educate pregnant women to make informed choices and decisions about their unborn baby and their newborn child’s health."

As well as offering advice and guidance, the books let parents know what support and contact they can expect from the NHS at every stage of pregnancy and early years.

First time mum-to-be Hannah Plumridge said:

"The new Pregnancy book is really easy to dip in and out of. It’s good to read something that is written from the NHS point of view so you don't just learn about what is happening physically, but what you can expect at each midwife appointment and what the NHS can offer at each stage of the pregnancy. I thought the section on the labour was the most informative I have read – I now know more about the process once labour begins and what happens afterwards, rather than just physically giving birth."

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221 Changes to advice on peanut and caffeine consumption have previously been publicised by the Food Standards AgencyThe Department of Health worked with a number of stakeholders to update the books including:

· Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association

· Department for Children, Schools and Families

· Department for Work and Pensions

· Food Standards Agency

· National Childbirth Trust

· National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

· Royal College of Anaesthetists

· Royal College of General Practitioners

· Royal College of Midwives

· Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

· Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

· UK Medicines Information

· Resuscitation Council (UK)

· Royal College of Nursing

PDF versions of both guides can be found at:

Pregnancy:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107302

Birth to Five:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107303

Contacts:

Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk