Your Journey

The journey to parenthood can take so many twists and turns and we all have a slightly different story to tell about the start of our journey.

Most journeys we take in life throw us an unexpected obstacle or challenge along the way. The parenthood journey is no different, in fact many describe the early years as a rollercoaster of emotions, with highs and lows aplenty!

Parent Pathways journey map for parents

Affirmation

To acknowledge that 'its, ok to not be okay' is the first steps on the journey.

Acheivement

To acknowledge that 'its, ok to not be okay' is the first steps on the journey.

Getting Support

To have your voice heard

To be guided to support organisations or resources

To access support with Parent Pathways help.

Continuing your journey

Whatever pathway you choose to take, continue taking once step at a time on the pathway that is parenthood - You’ve got this!

Reaching out

To reach out to a person, place or organisation which makes you feel safe and supported for help.

We’re here if you need us.

Grant applications

How we select organisations to receive grants.

Grants will be made to selected organisations including but not limited to other registered charities, community groups, or other groups that work with a focus on promoting and protecting healthy mental health and providing support to pregnant and expectant parents, parents/guardians and carers and families.

Organisations which have grants awarded must report to us regarding the benefit the grant has made and any additional areas which may require funding. Regular meetings will be held to discuss the allocation of funds and which projects we wish to be part of. Funds will be allocated to organisations, for the use within approved projects that will further the charitable purpose.

Apply

Your Journey together

Once the postnatal period comes to a close, which is thought to be any time between 8 weeks and 6 months after birth, many elements of care and support come to an end but your journey together continues. This part of the journey sees many changes and phases along the way; your sleep is hopefully a little less interrupted, your body is hopefully well on its way to recovery and your mind is making sense of everything that has happened in the last few months. But there are of course some things that can make this period of time challenging in its own way.

During the time we like to call: ’Your Journey Together’ phase the pathway becomes varied, exciting and honestly a bit of a rollercoaster. Once the newborn phase is over, as parents, we are then navigating a pathway of phases for our little ones. Just some of the phases that impact many families are: feeding journey, vaccination appointments, safe sleeping, development stages, weaning, crawling, walking, talking - the list goes on. All of these things are like open tabs in our minds that we are paying attention to and thinking about the questions related - is this normal? Is my little one doing ok? Have I done this right? Etc All this thinking on its own can be tiring, without factoring in actually being with your little one. At Parent Pathways, we really believe in the power of talking, so being able to talk to other families about the highs and lows of these different phases is something we will be encouraging and facilitating.

Your journey together includes both you as parents and your little one. That means that not only are there the phases with the little ones to navigate, find ways forward through and process but also the phases for parents. There are often significant changes to lifestyle, work and even relationships once a new baby joins a family and it can take time for these things to be figured out or to settle. There may also be birth trauma or similar challenges surrounding the birth of your little one that you may want or need support with to process as time goes on. Please do take a look at our signposting page for services who may be able to help with any of this.

As well as all the mental health contributions in this period of time, there is also the physical health aspect to consider. Most people after giving birth have a 6-8week check with the GP who runs some checks through with you. However, this check is not very comprehensive and does not asses your pelvic health - this could be why so many people after having a baby take it as the norm that they have accidents when laughing or jumping or suffer with sciatica and other aches and pains. At Parent Pathways, we feel that everyone deserves to have a Mummy MOT to check their pelvic health after giving birth. To ensure that a parent can be the best they can is not only to look after the little ones but also to look after yourself.

At Parent Pathways we are hoping to support you through ‘Your journey together’ in a variety of ways including; workshops, classes, meet ups, support groups, resources and events for both you and your little one.