Start4Life

‘Start4Life’ (Start for Life) is our service for parents during pregnancy and during your baby's early years.   

To access these free services, contact your local Family Hub.

What we offer throughout pregnancy

Your midwife will see throughout your pregnancy to check you and your baby are healthy.

• 8 to 12 weeks: booking appointment
• 12 weeks: dating scan
• 16 weeks
• 20 weeks: scan
• 25 weeks (first baby)
• 28 weeks
• 31 weeks (first baby)
• 34 weeks
• 36 weeks
• 38 weeks
• 40 weeks (first baby)

Antenatal classes

From 18 weeks of pregnancy you can sign up to our Bump and beyond antenatal classes.

This course will show you how to feel more confident about building a relationship with your baby. It helps you feel more prepared for parenthood, giving you and baby the best start. It’s also a great way to meet other mums, dads and non-birthing parents.

Start4Life also offers:

• transition to parenthood videos
• a breastfeeding workshop
• a 'Parents In Mind' group for mothers and fathers
• a health visiting, antenatal contact service

What we offer from 0-1 years

• a childhood obesity prevention programme called Health Exercise Nutrition in the Really Young (HENRY).
• Solihull Postnatal groups 
• buggy walks 
• volunteer-led baby groups 
• breastfeeding Peer support volunteers 
• postnatal feeding support phone calls. (After your baby is born you’ll have a call to support with feeding.)

A Health Visiting service for:  

• Day 10-14 
• 6-8 weeks 
• 10 months  
• health visiting duty service

Family learning courses:

• cookery
• first aid
• parent and child signing
• Story Sacks. This is a  bag containing a book and related items. Story sacks provide an interactive experience. They promote early literacy skills.
• Healthy Active Little Ones (HALO) workshops for parents moving to early years education settings.

What we offer 1-2 years

• health exercise nutrition in the really young (HENRY)
• buggy walks 
• volunteer led baby groups 
• breastfeeding Peer support volunteers 

A Health Visiting service:  

• 27-month contact
• health visiting duty service

Family learning courses:

• cookery
• first aid
• parent and child signing
• Story Sacks. This is a  bag containing a book and related items. They provide an interactive experience. They promote early literacy skills.
• managing challenging behaviour
• Healthy Active Little Ones (HALO) workshops, for parents moving to early years education settings.