About Safer Beginnings Safer Beginnings content to enable, educate and support people on maternity journeys Safer Beginnings is a joint programme of work by Best Beginnings and the White Ribbon Alliance UK, supported by 18 delivery partners. We have co-created new resources for parents and healthcare professionals, to increase their knowledge and access to support to help reduce incidents of violence and harm during maternity care. There is a great need for maternity care to be trauma-informed – assessing every person as potentially carrying trauma and ensuring that their needs are understood. Trauma-informed care can help ensure people’s physical and emotional safety during pregnancy and birth. The Safer Beginnings programme aims to enable healthcare workers to deliver trauma-informed care and to educate and support pregnant people to have self-agency in their maternity journeys. Programme resources New Baby Buddy content, by Best Beginnings Specialist co-produced Safer Beginnings content will be embedded into the free, award-winning Baby Buddy app, endorsed by the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The new films and articles for parents will be published in Baby Buddy inside a ‘Safer Beginnings’ section in our Discover library. It will include 15 new short films on the themes of ‘safer care’ and ‘safer relationships’, each around 1 - 5 minutes in length, with additional films from partners, plus written articles and signposting. The new films and articles offer support, guidance and practical tools for parents and parents-to-be, particularly those who have experienced trauma or harm. Topics include self-advocacy in maternal care, emotional safety, stress responses, FGM/FGC, sexual abuse and domestic abuse. All content has been created in collaboration with parents, community groups, healthcare professionals and charities, each sharing their expertise and lived experience of trauma, self-advocacy and rights in maternity care. All Safer Beginnings content can be accessed in the Discover section of the Baby Buddy app. Please download Baby Buddy here. Emotional Safety Plan, by The For Baby’s Sake Trust The For Baby’s Sake Trust has created a new tool called an Emotional Safety Plan. The Emotional Safety Plan is a tool that will support the whole family including mums, dads, co-parents, or non-birthing partners to record what they may need to feel emotionally safe before, during and after birth. There are three designs to suit different preferences and learning styles. Please download the Emotional Safety Plan below. Safer Beginnings E-learning Practitioner Guide, by All4Maternity All4Maternity has created a new e-learning module for midwives and healthcare professionals which will help inform and guide those who want to give the best care possible and work in a way that is free from harm. The E-Learning Practitioner Guide for midwives and healthcare professionals will be available in early 2023 and we will be announcing this on our channels, so please stay tuned. Safer Beginnings Evaluation reports If you’re interested in learning more about the Safer Beginnings programme, please read our evaluation reports. Executive summary of research report on Self-Agency in Creating Safer Maternity CareSummary of the evaluation of the Safer Beginnings programme Safer Beginnings podcasts These podcasts are powered by Safer Beginnings, a project led by Best Beginnings. Before diving into these episodes, we would like to clarify that any views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Best Beginnings as an organisation. Whilst we strive to bring you diverse perspectives and evidence-based information, the individual speakers hold their own beliefs and experiences. Additionally, please be advised that the content of these episodes may be sensitive to some audiences. Listener discretion is advised, and we encourage you to prioritise your wellbeing and seek support if needed. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Episode 1: FACTORS INFLUENCING SELF-AGENCY IN ETHNIC MINORITY WOMENA conversation between Dr. Shaima Hassan and Jaskiran Gill Please listen here Episode 2: BIRTHING BEYOND BOUNDARIES: SELF-AGENCY IN THE CONTEXT OF OUT OF GUIDELINES BIRTHS A conversation between Dr. Claire Feeley and Arya Pimprikar Please listen here Episode 3: EMPOWERING MATERNAL VOICES: AMPLIFYING THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK AND MIXED HERITAGE WOMENA conversation between Amanda Smith and Yasmin Morgan Please listen here Episode 4: THE COMPLEX LANDSCAPE OF SELF-AGENCY WITHIN THE REALM OF MATERNITY CAREA conversation with Rishita Nandagiri Please read the conversation here. Join the Best Beginnings Parent Panel Parent voices are key to all our work at Best Beginnings. If you would like to get involved with developing Baby Buddy content, and shaping our work, please get involved here. Safer Beginnings is led by Best Beginnings and White Ribbon Alliance and co-created with: Manage Cookie Preferences