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Home > Healthy Workplaces > Healthy Workplace Toolkit > Additional Topics > Supporting healthy pregnancies in the workplace

Supporting healthy pregnancies in the workplace

How to achieve this:

 

Further Information:

Create a caring and open environment that supports emotional wellbeing throughout pregnancy and beyond:

  • Actively promote Tommy's Wellbeing Plan, it can help identify the support needed during pregnancy and when the baby is born

  • Ensure Workplace Health Champions are familiar with the available and appropriate resources and tools

  • If pregnant person is unsure of how they’re feeling and if it’s normal signpost them to seek support from a professional healthcare provider such as their GP or Midwife

  • Ensure management are aware of the changes during pregnancy including to hormones and emotions, and are open and supportive to those feeling them

  • Build a peer support network if appropriate that allow for open discussions and sharing

  • Are there private spaces available for those needing quiet time or time away from others

Helpful Resources:

pregnant belly, text reads "Tommy's - pregnancy and post birth wellbeing plan" pregnant woman holding her phone, text reads "Baby Buddy App - pregnancy self care tools" two healthy cornwall staff members walking with a pregnant woman, text reads "Healthy Cornwall - healthy pregnancy information, tools and support"

 

Actively promote healthy eating and nutrition in pregnancy:

  • Allow time for pregnant people to attend health-based sessions – for example Healthy Cornwall’s Ready Steady Grow sessions.

  • Ensure Workplace Health Champions have up to date knowledge that is relevant and appropriate for pregnancy

  • Build health information and support into pregnancy/maternity practices, policies and procedures

  • Ensure your workplace is breastfeeding welcome space

  • Make provisions, designate private areas and allow time for parents needing to express during working times

  • Encourage those eligible to sign up to the Healthy Start scheme - the scheme helps pregnant people and those with children under 4 to buy healthy foods and milk and get free vitamins

  • If pregnant person is unsure of anything during pregnancy signpost them to seek support from a professional healthcare provider such as their GP or Midwife

Helpful Resources:

a pregnant woman sat with her baby son, text reads "NHS better health - start for life" pregnant woman and son chopping and eating vegetables, text reads "Healthy start scheme - help to buy food, milk and vitamins" woman breastfeeding her baby, text reads "Cornwall Council - Infant feeding and Breastfeeding" woman sat with her baby about to breastfeed, text reads "Cornwall and isles of scilly essential guide to feeding and caring for your baby"

healthy cornwall staff member delivering training, text reads "healthy cornwall - ready steady grow: antenatal and postnatal health and wellbeing"

 

Enable pregnant people to take part in appropriate physical activity:

  • Movement such as jogging, stationary bike or aerobic activity are very popular during pregnancy

  • Swimming is also an excellent form of movement that can ease aching joints and take the weight off a growing bump

  • The Active Pregnancy Foundation has a large body of information for a lot of activities - pregnant people and managers can use this to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of appropriate exercise

  • If pregnant person is unsure of anything during pregnancy signpost them to seek support from a professional healthcare provider such as their GP or Midwife

Helpful Resources:

group of parents and pregnant people walking together, text reads ""Healthy Cornwall - Current programmes and sessions" pregnant person sat in a swimming pool, text reads "Active pregnancy foundation - find your active"