Maternity/baby buddies

[Jennysmith1962]

Hi, does anyone know of any hospital which has a maternity or a baby buddy system (like they have in America) Where volunteers can support Mothers in labour who have no birthing partners. Or for babies who have withdrawal symptoms from women with addiction or are in intensive care and need to be cuddled. I would love to volunteer if there was something like that near me. thanks

Theres a few schemes like this for refugee women.

As due to cultural reasons their husbands wont join them in the birthing room.

Alot of then speak little or no english.

Must be so scary.

Ill try remember the name of the scheme.

The scheme that runs in my area is called Maternity Mates. The guidelines on volunteering are here: whfs.org.uk/index.php/what-we-do/maternity-mates/become-a-maternity-mate

The training process to be accepted as a volunteer is obviously quite rigorous for good reasons, these schemes support some very vulnerable women and babies over several months.