Health In Pregnancy Service (HiPS)

The Health in pregnancy Service offers antenatal Public Health activities throughout the borough of Walsall.

Its main function is to provide support to midwifery by raising awareness among pregnant women and their families of those all important public health messages around safe sleep, foetal movement, smoking cessation, infant feeding, healthy eating and emotional wellbeing.

The team engages with women women after their 12 week scan, usually by telephone,  completes a health needs assessment and provides practical advice and support, as necessary. Women can have access to practical help up to six months post-delivery. There is also a Transition to Fatherhood worker, who supports the fathers in their role as they prepare for parenthood.

The service offers a number of antenatal sessions at various locations weekly throughout the borough, by appointment. Another Service offer is a postnatal peer support group  called “ Little Storks “which is held on Wednesdays at North Family Hub in Blakenall. This allows mums and their infants to meet and  engage in a number of stimulating activities to foster infant growth and development, as well as improve mum’s emotional wellbeing. These sessions have been evaluated as being useful and effective.

There are also antenatal plus sessions for first-time mums and teenagers or other mums who feel less confident and need that additional support around their parenting skills. These are interactive, practical sessions and may be in  group or individual sessions, by arrangement. The service works collaboratively with the Teenage Pregnancy Team.

Contact details: Telephone no. 01922 423252

Email address: health.pregnancyservice@nhs.net