Finding out that you are going to become a parent can be a whole mix of emotions. You may feel excited, nervous or a mixture of both.

We will support you so that your baby has the best possible start in life. This applies to both mums and dads.

Your Personal Adviser will visit you more often if they know you are about to become a parent. They can help you to keep in touch with your midwife, health visitor and doctor.  

We will work with professionals supporting you to help develop a birth plan, if you would like us to. We can also offer you the opportunity to attend parenting classes, if you would like.

Throughout Dorset, there are family hubs. These are welcoming spaces and have lots of information about support for families. Depending on where you live in Dorset, our locality teams are also a great source of help and information.

There is a free app called EasyPeasy which is available to all parents and carers in Dorset with a child who is under 5 years old. The app has lots of parenting advice and activity ideas for children from birth to five years.  Find out more about EasyPeasy and how to download the app.

If you or your child might need extra support, we will contact the right agencies that can provide this help.

If your child has a social worker, we will help you to work with them and attend any meetings that you would like us to.

If you are already a parent we will take an interest in your child/ren and support you to do the best for them.

As they grow older, we will help you to access nursery and with school applications.

The Family Information Service is a great place to find out information for you and your family.

Financial support for parents

We will work with you to make sure you have enough money to manage when you are looking after your baby. We will work with you to ensure that you have a safe place to live in.

If you are working, you will get maternity pay from your employer when you take time off work to have your baby.

If you're not working, you may be able to claim Universal Credit. You can do this if you are a single person and once you are more than 29 weeks pregnant.

We will help you to apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 to help with the costs of having a baby. This is available to new parents who are claiming universal credit.

If you are pregnant or have children under the age of 4 you may be able to apply for Healthy Start vouchers. This means you could get free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to spend on:

  • cow's milk
  • fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit
  • fresh, frozen, or tinned vegetables
  • infant formula milk
  • fresh, dried and tinned pulses

You could also get free Healthy Start vitamins.

While you're pregnant and during the first year of your baby's life you do not have to pay for:

  • dental check-ups
  • prescriptions

We will make sure you have comfortable clothes during your pregnancy. Your Personal Adviser can give you a £100 grant to spend on maternity clothing.

When your baby is born, we would love to visit and bring you a new baby gift hamper.