NEW resource – Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)

You are not alone

We know that this is a worrying time and it will definitely not be how you had planned your parenting journey. You may have concerns in relation to your pregnancy or your children. You may be wanting to access helpful parenting information.

The iHV is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of all families and we are putting together links and resources from trusted organisations and websites to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be developing and adding new resources to support families over the coming months, during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.

Go to links and resources on Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please share this link (https://ihv.org.uk/ParentingCOVID19) through your networks

We will be regularly updating this page, so please keep checking back for the latest!

iHV office statement in response to COVID-19

The iHV is taking the following actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak:

From Thursday 19 March, the iHV administration office will be temporarily closed, with our iHV office staff working remotely. We are moving our operations online/ video conferencing, so we’re continuing our work, and you can still get in touch with us via [email protected]
iHV face-to-face training activity is being suspended due to COVID-19 national guidance. You can contact [email protected] for more information. We also have some exciting new e-learning packages on Domestic Violence and Abuse and Perinatal Mental Health that we will be launching in the next couple of months – keep an eye on our website and social media for details.
On Tuesday 17 March, we decided to postpone our Evidence-based Practice Conference “Creating Healthy Children, 2020 and beyond”, which was scheduled to take place on 12-13 May 2020 in Manchester, in light of public health concerns caused by COVID-19 – read more http://bit.ly/33uApFJ

We will continue with our work and thank you for your continued support – and hope that you all stay healthy and safe.

Infant feeding guidance and pregnancy guidance during COVID-19 outbreak

Many parents are very concerned about how to feed their babies during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, we share the latest statement on best practice from Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative – who also suggest that all practitioners follow latest updates from the UK governments and the World Health Organization (WHO) as these could change as more information becomes available.

The Unicef statement (on the link below) includes:

Public Health England (PHE) guidance – If you are breastfeeding while infected
Accessing infant formula – information from First Steps Nutrition Trust

Go to Unicef website - Infant feeding during the COVID-19 outbreak

Download pdf version of Unicef UK - Infant feeding during the COVID-19 outbreak

In addition, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has updated their guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and pregnancy (published today 18 March) to reflect the announcement on Monday evening (16 March) that pregnant women have been placed in a ‘vulnerable group’. Check the summary of updates on pages 3-5 to see all the changes.

Go to RCOG updated guidance

As a result RCOG Information for pregnant women is updated:

Go to RCOG Information for pregnant women and their families

COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance

The iHV is closely following the advice and reports of the UK Government – and share some of the latest Government guidance here:

Guidance for healthcare professionals

PHE Guidance Collection - Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for health professionals and other organisations

PHE Guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public

PHE Guidance - COVID-19: interim guidance for primary care

PHE Guidance - COVID-19 guidance for non-clinical settings

PHE Guidance - COVID-19: guidance for health professionals – collection of materials

Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and pregnancy

Guidance for healthcare professionals on Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in pregnancy, published by the RCOG, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland.

Scotland: Health Protection Scotland - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wales: Public Health Wales - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Northern Ireland: Public Health Agency - Coronavirus (COVID-19)