A LOTTERY-FUNDED project helping inner-city families give their babies a better start in life is encouraging mums and dads-to-be to share their worries more.

To promote Infant Mental Health Awareness Week which started on June 12, Better Start Bradford is spreading the word about a new campaign running to help families cope with stress during pregnancy.

The campaign, called Happy Mum, Happy Bump – Begin before Birth, is all about letting people know what help is available to support them and for them not to be afraid of asking for that help, said Rachel Wild, who is a specialist midwife at Better Start Bradford.

“A little stress in life is healthy, but increased or constant stress can have a lasting effect on both mum and the developing baby in the womb," she said.

“The campaign highlights that help is out there to support families and that they should not be afraid to ask for it to help share their worries and concerns.”

This week, workers at Better Start Bradford are handing out Happy Mum, Happy Bump leaflets with a small gift bag containing a massage ball with tips on how to use it to relax.

They are visiting antenatal clinics in the project’s areas of Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton.

Ms Wild added: “Everyone has stress in their lives, and a little stress is fine. But, when we have ongoing stress for a long time, or a sudden traumatic experience, it can mean our level of stress becomes too much for us to bear on our own.

“When you are expecting a baby, this type of stress can affect the baby too, so it’s really important to support mums-to-be to help protect babies.

“It is not always possible to reduce the amount of stress in your life, but it is usually possible to get help and support.”

Mums and dads can speak to their family, friends, community projects, voluntary organisations, midwives, GPs or health visitors.

Better Start Bradford has a number of other projects to support families during pregnancy and after pregnancy, including its Perinatal Support Service, Bradford Doula’s and Midwifery Support pilot programme.

The Perinatal Support Service gives emotional support to families where a parent is struggling with their emotional health or wellbeing during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

Sian Kilcommons, Bradford Perinatal Support Service manager, said: “Family Action Perinatal Support Service is a Better Start Bradford initiative and works in partnership with local parents, many of whom have had their own challenges, in order to help isolated mums and dads struggling with their emotional wellbeing.

“We also help parents who are finding it difficult to bond with their baby to speak about their feelings in confidence.”

The project helps parents to build supportive networks and access the right support to help them and their baby develop a positive and strong attachment and reduce parental distress, she added.

To find out more about this and other Better Start Bradford , call 01274 723146 or visit betterstartbradford.org.uk