Tommy's Pregnancy Mental Health Support

Tommy's is one of the UK's leading pregnancy charities, funding research into pregnancy loss and premature birth while providing free, evidence-based information and support. Their work on mental health in pregnancy is widely recommended by midwives and obstetricians because it is practical, non-judgemental, and grounded in research.

What Tommy's Offers

Tommy's focuses on the whole picture of pregnancy wellbeing, including mental health:

• Information hub — clear articles on antenatal anxiety, depression, pregnancy after loss, and coping with complications.
• Tommy's Midwife helpline — 0800 014 7800, Monday to Friday, free to call.
• Wellbeing plan — a structured template you can fill in and share with your midwife (covered in its own page on this site).
• Specialist clinics — Tommy's funds research centres that also run clinics for high-risk pregnancies.
• Pregnancy information line — a general enquiry line for non-urgent questions.

Why Mental Health Matters in Pregnancy

Tommy's emphasises that mental health is just as important as physical health during pregnancy. Around one in five pregnant people experience antenatal mental health problems, and untreated conditions can affect bonding, birth outcomes, and postnatal wellbeing. Tommy's approach is early intervention: spotting the signs early and connecting people to the right support before things escalate.

Their Five Wellbeing Areas

Tommy's organises pregnancy mental health around five themes:

1. Mood — recognising antenatal depression and anxiety.
2. Relationships — navigating changing dynamics with partners, family, and friends.
3. Practical worries — money, housing, work, and logistics.
4. Physical health links — how symptoms and mental health influence each other.
5. Birth and beyond — preparing emotionally for labour and the postnatal period.

How to Use Tommy's Resources

A good starting point is their website, where you can download the wellbeing plan and read articles tailored to your stage of pregnancy. If you are unsure whether what you are feeling warrants help, the midwife helpline is a low-pressure way to check. You do not need a referral, a diagnosis, or a crisis to call.

Working With Your NHS Team

Tommy's resources are designed to complement, not replace, NHS care. Filling in the wellbeing plan and taking it to your booking appointment or next midwife visit helps your care team understand your mental health history and current worries. It also gives you language for conversations that can otherwise feel hard to start.

Who Tommy's Is For

Tommy's is for anyone pregnant or planning pregnancy in the UK, including:

• People experiencing anxiety or low mood in pregnancy.
• Those with a history of mental health conditions.
• People pregnant after loss or infertility.
• Partners wanting to understand how to support someone pregnant.
• Anyone who simply wants to look after their wellbeing proactively.

A Note on Emergencies

Tommy's is an information and support service, not an emergency line. If you feel you cannot keep yourself safe, contact 111 or 999, or call Samaritans free on 116 123. For urgent pregnancy concerns — heavy bleeding, severe pain, reduced movements — contact your maternity unit or 111 straight away.

Tommy's strength is making the evidence accessible. If you are not sure where to start with looking after your mental health in pregnancy, their resources are a calm, trustworthy first port of call.