Every Baby Matters

The first 1001 days

The first 1001 days of life, including pregnancy, are important to the health of children. There is clear evidence that this period can affect health and wellbeing for the rest our lives.

Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking influence the health of mother and baby throughout pregnancy. Good mental health of the parents, secure social and economic conditions, and supportive home and community environments are other factors for good health during pregnancy and after birth.

By focusing on the preconception stage and first 1001 days of life, we aim to promote health benefits to carry into the next generation.

What is Every Baby Matters?

Every Baby Matters is a coordinated programme of work led by Bradford Council public health team to support women and their families and help babies have the best start in life.

Every Baby Matters is part of Bradford District’s Healthy children and families programme focussing on every child having the best start in life.

Every Baby Matters also takes recommendations from the district’s Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) to reduce the risk of poor pregnancy and child health outcomes. Two-thirds of children who die in the Bradford District do so before the first birthday.

What does Every Baby Matters do?

The Every Baby Matters programme takes a lead on prevention efforts and health inequalities from preconception to two years old. It leads a coordinated response across various public health issues through different work programmes in the following areas:

• Education and access: supporting families to understand the importance of being fit for pregnancy and the services available to them.
• Smoking cessation: improving long-term smoking cessation rates, reducing smoking at the time of delivery rates and improving equitable access to support.
• Drug and alcohol use: reducing the number of pregnant women using alcohol and other substances.
• Enhancing genetic literacy: increasing genetic literacy at community, professional and patient level and promoting equitable access to genetic services.
• Breastfeeding and nutritional health: increasing breastfeeding rates after hospital discharge and ensuring consistency of nutritional messages and support.
• Perinatal and Infant mental health: increasing provision of early intervention and acute services like the Specialist Mother and Baby Mental Health service (SMABS) and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT); increasing bonding and attachment between babies and caregivers
• ACES: increasing in awareness of the importance of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (and the Bradford ACES strategy).

Every Baby Matters does all this by:

• working in partnership with statutory, VCS and community sectors organisations to reduce risks.
• raising awareness and increasing resources of perinatal and infant mental health services.
• implementing attachment monitoring questions for antenatal and postnatal periods.
• working with infant feeding specialists to increase breastfeeding rates.
• reviewing how antenatal education classes are offered.
• implementing the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Maternity System recommendations.

You can find more information and support for both families and health professionals on the FYI website.