Birth Companions

Birth Companions offers support to women experiencing inequality and disadvantage during pregnancy and early motherhood, including those who are serving a prison sentence, have been released from prison recently, or are involved with the criminal justice system in the community.

We work in the community in London and the South East, and run services in two prisons:

• HMP Bronzefield
• HMP Foston Hall

In these prisons, we offer a range of practical, emotional, advocacy and signposting support. We run pregnancy and wellbeing groups, and offer 1-to-1 perinatal support with our coordinators and/or trained peer supporters. We an support women throughout their pregnancies, and up to two years postnatally, including to women who have been separated from babies in the community.. We can also offer support to women a who have had abortions or have experienced baby loss.

In the community, we offer groups, classes, 1-to-1 support and birth support to pregnant women and new mothers in London who are experiencing inequality and disadvantage. This includes pregnant women and new mothers who have been involved with the criminal justice system in any way.

Our community services include:

• Community Antenatal Classes
• Community Birth Support
• Community Postnatal Mother & Baby Group
• Community Criminal Justice – Perinatal Support Service (run in partnership with Advance)