Content

1. Pregnancy Care 

 - What support are you entitled to? 

2. Support and Advise during your pregnancy  

- Who’s who of pregnancy professionals? 

3. Maternity and paternity pay 

4. Registering and caring for your baby 

5. Child benefit in the UK and other financial support 

6. Citizenship and visas for the baby 

7. Baby’s health and diet 

8. Parenting support 

1. Pregnancy care

- What support are you entitled to? 

Most foreign nationals living and working in the United Kingdom have access to free UK healthcare through the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). The system provides maternity care — including antenatal, birth, and post-natal care — free of charge to women who fall within the following categories: 

  • Ordinarily resident in the UK: requires a person to live within the UK lawfully, voluntarily, and with the purpose of settling. The NHS decides on a case-by-case basis whether the expectant parent meets the criteria; 
  • EEA nationals insured by another European state; 
  • Those exempt from charges: including refugees, asylum seekers, legal residents for at least 12 months, workers employed by a UK organization, and self-employed persons. 

When you find out that you are pregnant, Your GP can refer you to a hospital or a midwife-led team for antenatal care and delivery.  

2. Support and advise for during and after your pregnancy:

In this NHS guide you can find useful information about trying for a baby, pregnancy, labour and birth. 

- Professionals who support you through and after pregnancy (Antenatal support) 

NHS Royal Devon | Antenatal services  

During your pregnancy you may see or be taken care of by a lot of different health professionals, such as Midwife, Obstetrician, Anaesthetist, Neonatal nurse etc.  They are there to help with any concerns, perform regular blood and urine tests to assess for any problems, arrange ultrasound scans to monitor the pregnancy and discuss a birthing plan with you.  

You can learn more about each of these and their roles on this webpage to ensure you know who you can access for support or if you have any questions. 

 - Additional pregnancy related services 

- Travelling to hospital and health appointments 

For information on how you can travel to and from the hospitals in Devon, as well as advice on how to choose the best transport option for you, visit: Travelling to hospital and health appointments - Travel Devon 

If you are travelling to your appointments from outside of Devon, you might find our Transport page useful  

- Preparing for the birth 

Find out how to get ready for the birth including making a birth plan. 

- What happens in labour and birth Find out what happens during labour and birth. 

 - After the birth All you need to know about what happens after the birth. 

- Feeling depressed after childbirth 

“The baby blues” 

Women can experience a low mood and feel mildly depressed at a time when they expect they should feel happy after having a baby.   

During the first week after childbirth, many women get what's often called the "baby blues". 

Learn more about it and support you can get 

3. Maternity and paternity leave in the UK

If you give birth in the UK, you entitled to take a total of 52 weeks of UK maternity leave if you are considered an employee and meet the conditions (see below).  

Only 39 weeks are covered by maternity pay, however. You are not obliged to take the full year off; however, it is compulsory to take a two-week leave after your baby is born; this is extended to four weeks if you work in a factory.  

You can calculate how much maternity or paternity pay you will receive. 

The first 26 weeks are considered normal maternity leave; mothers are then entitled to extend their maternity leave for an additional 26 weeks. They must, however, inform their employer first to get the additional time.  

Your employment rights are protected during your leave. You can’t get fired, but your employer might require you to give a return date. However, certain employment types have different rules of entitlement, such as agency workers, directors, and educational workers. 

You can begin your maternity leave starting from 11 weeks prior to the expected childbirth week. Leave is otherwise automatically activated the day after delivery; or a month before your due date if you have to leave work due to a pregnancy-related illness. 

- Maternity pay 

New mothers qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if they: 

  • Have been in employment with the same company for the previous half a year (26 weeks); 
  • Earn at least an average of GBP 112 weekly; 
  • Have given your employer a written notice at least 28 days in advance, and proof of pregnancy. 

Although SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks, it differs during the entire period.  

It covers 90% of your average gross weekly earnings for the first six weeks; and GBP 139.58 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings for the remainder; whichever is lower.  

More maternity leave and pay may be granted, however, under a company maternity scheme. 

Women who don’t qualify for the SMP can check whether they fulfil the criteria to receive Maternity Allowance, a weekly payment made through Jobcentre Plus. 

- Paternity leave 

UK paternity leave is capped at one or two weeks for fathers; this must be taken within 56 days of the birth. For the period you take from work, you will receive GBP 139.58 a day or 90% of your average weekly earnings; whichever option is lower. 

Parents with newborns may also be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP). These two new initiatives, launched by the British government, give parents flexibility in sharing the care of their child during the first year of their birth. Check here to determine your eligibility. 

Usually there would be various breast feeding and baby and toddler groups in your area – look for FB groups and local magazines, also ask in your community centre/village hall and Children centres – these are the places you would most likely find those groups. We have compiled a list of local baby and toddler groups for you here baby-and-toddler-groups.pdf (eastdevon.gov.uk) 

4. Registering and caring for your baby

This NHS guide includes everything you need to know about caring for a baby. 

- Registering your baby’s birth in the UK  

Parents have up to 42 days to register the birth of their child in the UK; except in Scotland where the limit is 21 days.  

You may be able to register the birth at the hospital before the mother leaves; the hospital will advise if this is available. This is more commonly done, however, at the local register office for the area where your baby was born in the UK. 

If you are unable to register at the designated office, you can go to any register counter and the registrar will send your details to the appropriate district office. Here is a guide to who can register a baby’s birth in the UK. 

For the full government guidance on how and where to register your baby – please visit this page : Register a birth: Overview - GOV.UK 

- After registering the birth 

After registration, you will receive the short birth certificate that contains only the baby’s details for free.  

Copies of the short birth certificate, as well as longer versions carrying parental information, can be bought any time from the register office. If you registered at an office in the area where the birth took place, you will immediately be given the short birth certificate. Otherwise, you will receive it in a few days. 

As having a child usually affects your taxes, benefits, and local council privileges, most districts in the UK offer a Tell Us Once service.  This allows you to report the birth to several government bodies in one go. The registrar will inform you whether this is available in your area.  

If not, you will need to take further steps to claim Child Tax Credit and contact Job Centre Plus regarding your benefits. 

5. Child benefit in the UK

As soon as you register a birth in the UK, you will be permitted to claim child benefit in most cases.  

In general terms, people who have the legal right to reside in the UK and call it their main home are granted child benefit in the UK – but there are certain exceptions. 

For the first child, you will receive £20.70 per week and for any further children £13.70 per week (as of 2016) in child benefits; all of which is paid into your bank account by direct debit every four weeks. If one of the parents earns more than £50,000 a year, the amount of child benefit received may be affected or you may incur a tax charge. You can also choose not to get the payments but are advised to fill in the claim form. 

6. Is my child eligible for British citizenship?

Babies born in the UK to at least one parent who is a British citizen or has UK permanent residency (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) at the time of birth are automatically granted British citizenship.  

If neither parent is a British citizen nor has indefinite leave to remain in the UK when the child is born, the child is not born a British citizen. 

However, your child is eligible for British Citizenship if born in the UK and you have Ukraine Scheme visa through any of the following: 

  • Sponsorship (Homes for Ukraine) 
  • Family route 
  • Ukraine Extension Scheme 

To read more on the how to apply for British Citizenship for your baby please visit Apply for citizenship for your children - GOV.UK 

To apply for a visa for your baby or get a biometric residence permit: 

If you have any other type of visa, a different visa process for the baby might apply. For help and advice, you can contact the Law Centre: 

If you have any specific queries, you should also visit Ukraine assistance centres 

Ukrainian passports 

You may also wish to apply for a Ukrainian passport for your child. Contact Ukranian embassy: Посольство України у Сполученому Королівстві Великої Британії та Північної Ірландії  

7. Baby’s health and diet  

Your health visitor can give you advice on baby’s diet and vitamin drops and tell you where to get them. 

You're entitled to free vitamin drops if you qualify for Healthy Start. 

More about baby’s feeding and diet: Vitamins for children - NHS 

- Early learning and development 

90% of your child's brain growth happens before the age of 5. Right from the start, all those little moments you spend together with your child are building their brain. 

Every smile, cuddle, chat and game make a huge difference, helping them learn to communicate, develop confidence and make friends. 

Find lots of ideas, easy tips and activities you can do together with your child on this page. 

8. Parental support

Action for Children offers online parenting support for families with children aged 0-19. From where to go for help, to coping with challenging behaviours, to how to keep your children entertained at home. In East Devon, we have Children’s centres in East Devon with Parenting support in Axe Valley, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Sidmouth.  

Homes That Smile - Organisation that provides parenting courses and parent support 

If you need some clothes for your baby and can’t afford/don’t want to buy new – there are few charities that can provide you with those. You can ever find some baby furniture and other supplies there. There’s also a “baby bank” organisations you can approach to request the items you need for your baby, two of those are listed below. 

Baby Bank Network Exeter 

Baby Bank Network Exeter| Facebook; Baby Bank Network Exeter 

Ottery community Larder 

The Ottery Larder - Facebook; Community Larder Ottery St Mary