There is clear and compelling evidence that the first 1,001 days (including pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life) are a significant and influential phase in development. What happens during this period sets the groundwork for children’s developing emotional wellbeing, resilience and adaptability; the competencies they need to thrive. The benefits of laying a foundation of health and wellbeing early on last a lifetime and carry into the next generation. It is an age of opportunity.

So, of course pre- and post-natal support is of critical priority in our society today – isn’t it?

Well…

Since October 2015, the number of health visitors in England has been cut by 40%, from 10,309 to 5,842. Research shows one in ten are juggling caseloads of more than 1,000 children – four times the recommended ratio – and nearly a third have more than 750 children on their books. As trained nurses, health visitors are meant to conduct five mandatory checks before a child reaches the age of two-and-a-half. But the shortages mean many checks are delegated to non-qualified staff – or not done at all.

Britain is also falling behind European countries for mortality among mothers, and suicide is the leading cause of postpartum death. The rising rate has been attributed to poor health among pregnant women, and the World Health Organisation has expressed concern that the cost of living crisis could exacerbate Britain’s already woeful rates of women dying during and after pregnancy.

Experts, including Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat (a WHO director and medical doctor specialising in maternal health) have observed a link between the underlying risk factors that a woman has before becoming pregnant and her wider socioeconomic and ethnic background – both of which impact outcomes. She added that the UK must invest more in antenatal and perinatal mental health support during a “very delicate and fragile period in a woman’s life” to bring down the “very, very alarming” suicide rate for new mothers.

Alongside statistics showing that women living in the most deprived areas have the highest maternal mortality rates, new research suggests that child deaths (from trauma and sudden death) are rising in England, including a 13% rise in sudden unexpected death in infancy or childhood (SUDIC) last year compared with pre-pandemic rates. Again, experts have highlighted a strong link between poverty and the increase in mortality.

Prof Monica Lakhanpaul, who has studied the effects of homelessness on child health, said, “The poorer the children, the higher the risk of mortality, but nothing’s been done. We’re in a high-income country and this is on our doorstep.”

Reading news like this is difficult and it can be difficult to know what to do with it. As parents, women, citizens, human beings – the statistics are disturbing and deeply saddening. There are women and children, families, behind the statistics. We might feel the unfairness of what seems like preventable tragedy and rage (loudly or quietly) at policy makers for not wrapping their arms around small babies and young families with early intervention, support and a general care for the wellbeing of future generations. It’s hard to know what to do with these feelings and to be honest, we don’t have an answer but we do know this…

It was an awareness of the need that led to Kids Matter developing a pre- and post-natal parenting programme. After running our community programme for mums, dads and carers facing disadvantages (with children aged 0-10) for a couple of years, we quickly realised that coming alongside parents from the earliest moment in pregnancy could equip parents sooner, with the tools to build strong relationships with their children. And so we developed Babies Matter.

Babies Matter aims to help parents and carers lay a strong foundation for their family by building a strong attachment with their child. In each of the six sessions, the programme focuses on three areas: firstly, helping parents grow their understanding of their baby and how to tune into their needs. Secondly, how to look after their own mental wellbeing. And thirdly, looking after the ‘parenting team’; relationships directly impact the wellbeing of a baby and the individual’s parenting capacity but are easily neglected when a newborn comes along. The programme has practical advice and input on all three areas and helps parents and carers to build confidence, competence, and community as they welcome their new baby to the world.

They say it takes a village to raise a child…not just one or two parents. If the entire community takes part in raising children (through support, friendship and empathy), parents will feel less isolated, less stressed, and happier, enabling mums and dads to invest in relationships with their children, in spite of their circumstances. Talking to the Guardian, Prof Lakhanpaul says, “We talk about parental neglect a lot…but I see this as societal neglect.” This is a massive challenge to us, as members of society – to take ownership of our communities.

If you’re a church with a vision to impact families or you’re an individual working/volunteering in your local community and would like to start a conversation about running Babies Matter, please contact partnership@kidsmatter.org.uk, or visit Kidsmatter.org.uk/partner-with-us/.