On Wednesday 21st September 2016, we held a Baby Buddy local launch in Aylesbury in partnership with Aylesbury Vale CCG.

This is following a structured embedding programme commissioned by Aylesbury Vale CCG, which involves the creation and delivery of a bespoke embedding plan to promote Baby Buddy app, with input from parents and multi-disciplinary professionals and mothers-to-be and to integrate it into midwifery, health visiting and local authority children’s services.

40 training places were available to healthcare professionals in Aylesbury, with the local launch marking the end of training the beginnings of putting the plan in action!

Dr Juliet Sutton, local GP and Aylesbury Vale & Chiltern CCG Children’s Clinical lead opened the event and said:

“The Baby Buddy app has been created with mums, midwives and doctors so you can be sure the information – both local and national – is reliable, accurate, and is available 24 hours a day. The app sets out to be your personal baby expert who will help guide you through your pregnancy and the first six months of your baby’s life. It has been designed to help you give your baby the best start in life and support your health and wellbeing.”

Dr. Sutton went on to explain that commissioning the embedding programme has ticked many boxes of their overall plan and has promoted great collaborative working across the local services involved.

“The number of babies born in Buckinghamshire is predicted to top 6,000 a year to beyond the end of the decade. That’s why a new mobile phone app offering 24/7 support to new mothers and mothers-to-be is being launched for the county. It is designed to support all parents, but in particular younger parents, in making positive lifestyle and behavioural changes during pregnancy and post-birth to improve their physical health, mental health and wellbeing and lead to the best possible health outcomes for their child,” said Dr Sutton.

There was some great feedback from those present at the launch, with one healthcare professional saying “I wish I had the app when I had my children! In the middle of the night, when you need reassurance, it would have been great to have this.”

Of course, while we’re launching the Baby Buddy app in Central Aylesbury, any mother-to-be or new parent can download it free from the Apple Store or Google Play. For those who don’t have access to a smartphone there is also a  web version of the app.

If you are interested to know more about our embedding programme, contact [email protected]