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Children and maternity
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Maternity, Healthy Child Programme and Early Years
Department of Health advice and recommendations on maternal and infant nutrition plus information about Maternity Matters, the Government commitment to developing a high quality, safe and accessible maternity service.
Healthy Child Programme: from pregnancy to 19 years old
Published: 27 October 2009
The Healthy Child Programme is a high quality early intervention, clinical and prevention public health programme, which begins in pregnancy and extends through childhood into the end of the teenage years.
The Healthy Child Programme now contains three core documents:
Birth and beyond
Published: 8 December 2009
The first document is a synthesis of the published evidence concerning the cost and effectiveness of antenatal education, this sits alongside the second document, which presents evidence about stakeholders' perspectives. Both documents were prepared by the University of Warwick to inform Preparing for Pregnancy Birth and Beyond,a joint DH and DCSF project to review antenatal education.
Maternal and infant nutrition
Guidance on maternal and infant nutrition, best practice for breastfeeding and advice on the safe use of infant formula.
Maternity Matters
Developing a high quality, safe and accessible maternity service through the national choice guarantee for women.
Additional links
Children's health and social services
The Pregnancy Book
All you need to help you decide what you will do, how you will cope, and how to get the most from both pregnancy and your new baby.
Pregnancy planner
Whether you're planning to have a baby, are already pregnant, or your new baby has just arrived, this interactive pregnancy planner is for you.
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