Pregnancy, Baby and Family Support Directory for Exeter and East Devon

Please be aware things often change with community groups / services. Please always contact providers for most up-to-date times / days / venues.

Disclaimer: Redlands Primary Care are not responsible for the support offered from the companies or services listed below.

Local Antenatal Classes and Groups:

Local Antenatal Classes and Groups:

  • For NHS antenatal classes ask your midwife what is available in your area. Some online course’s available and there are some feeding sessions face to face- ask your community midwife for details.
  • Free online courses. The Solihull Approach. www.inourplace.co.uk Access Code: TAMAR
  • Begin Well Antenatal Classes run out of church spaces in Exeter: https://www.beginwell.org.uk/

Private Antenatal Courses:

Other Antenatal Groups (this is not exclusive)

  • East Devon Pregnancy and Birth Hub (search on Facebook joint with Axminster Baby Café). This is a monthly meet up in Axminster with all the local antenatal private provision and local mums. Offering monthly sessions plus mother to mother support through Axminster Baby Café
  • Exeter Home Birth Support group (find on Facebook). Monthly meet ups and birth pool hire. Offering support and information through their Facebook site. Other professionals share links through this page including breastfeeding counsellors, doula’s and pregnancy yoga. Monthly meetings.
  • The Baby Room (Exeter Babies)- pudding club (antenatal classes with a cost) Wide offer of courses and services including real nappies and slings. Visit website or Facebook for up-to-date offer. https://thebabyroomexeter.co.uk/
  • The Nest Southwest Community Interest Company- weekly sessions, walking groups and peer support groups.  https://thenestsw.org/pregnancy-birth/
  • Also look under bumps to babies’ groups below.

Safe Sleep

Crying

Feeding Support

  • Honiton Maternity Unit- this is open for drop in feeding support until your baby is discharged from midwifery care. Call 01404 540540 before you go along.
  • Tiverton Maternity Unit- this is open for 24 hour care (including overnight stays).  01884 235400. Again, available until baby is discharged from maternity care.
  • Healthy Babies UK- Tiverton. This is a private house which runs 1 to1 and peer supporter groups (there is a cost attached to 1 to 1 session’s). Healthy babies also run lots of other pregnancy and baby sessions, bra fitting and also has a donor bank for those wanting to donate breast milk for the surrounding neonatal units. http://www.healthy-babies-uk.org/  01884 798069 or 07542284065. Weekly meet breastfeeding group, plus lots of other courses on offer (antenatal, yoga, baby massage, etc).
  • The Baby Room Exeter- 23 Paris St, Exeter. Open daily with many, many sessions and drop in breastfeeding support.
  • Exeter Babies- this website lists all the breastfeeding groups in and around Exeter (there is one nearly every day of the week!) http://www.exeterbabies.co.uk/breastfeeding/where-to-get-help/  Maps for each location are included, plus times and prices (usually a small donation).
  • Axminster Baby Café- every Friday 10-11.30 at the Pippins Community Centre (term time). Run by breastfeeding peer supporters. Very welcoming group where older siblings are always welcome. Find them on Facebook.
  • Bosom Buddies Exmouth exmouthbosombuddies@gmail.com Now part of Nurture East Devon- also running 3 groups- Tiny Explorers, Little Explorers & New Baby Group- find on Facebook
  • Breastfeeding Hub- App. Lists all the local support groups and breastfeeding friending public places.
  • www.nhs.uk/start4life
  • www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning
  • www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-friend-google-home
  • www.kellymom.com/ (US Website)
  • www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/common-concerns/breastfeeding-concerns-problems-and-solutions  
    Help Line: 0300 330 0700 Includes Breastfeeding Counsellors Facebook site. Free service for all (do not need to have attended NCT classes or be a NCT member)
  • www.laleche.org.uk/telephone-helpline/  
    0345 120 2918

Bumps and Babies Groups

To list every group in Exeter and East Devon would be overwhelming. However, for Exeter parents- look at www.exeterbabies.co.uk/playgroups/ where all the Exeter based groups are listed for each day of the week.

Alternatively, you can contact your local children centre for up-to-date lists of community groups and children centre groups which are in your area. Email: exetercc@actionforchildren.org.uk or tel: 01392 277205.

For East Devon parents- contact the East Devon Children’s Centre hub email: eastdevoncc@actionforchildren.org.uk or tel: 01395 226789. They will be able to provide you with details of all community groups in your area. The centre updates these lists termly.

Action for Children are also offering 1 to 1 telephone support for vulnerable families. Plus, a new online service called TALK www.parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Home-start. Volunteers available to help 1 to 1 in the home, plus groups available. www.homestarteemd.org.uk/

NB- there are changes with Children Centre’s coming in 2024. They will be changing to Family Hubs and there will be a different offer to families. Please call the above numbers for further information.

General Parenting Information and Support Sites / Organisations

Useful Apps and Links for Partners

Benefits, Energy and Money Advice

Legal Advice

Housing Advice

  • Exeter City Council Housing Support
    Tel: 01392 265726
    Civic Centre, Dix’s Field, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1RQ
    Website: www.exeter.gov.uk/housing/
  • Shelter National Helpline
    0808 800 4444
  • Young People’s Housing Advice
    Website: www.yhdevon.co.uk

Return to Work, Training and Jobs

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Specific Support

Foodbanks

  • Crediton
    Telephone: 07740 202 721
    Email: help@creditonfoodbank.org.uk
    Text: 07740 202 721
    Website: https://creditonfoodbank.org.uk
  • Exeter
    Telephone: 07818 226 524
    Email: info@exeterfoodbank.org.uk
    Website: https://exeterfoodbank.co.uk/
  • East Devon
    Foodbanks available in Axminster, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Sidmouth and Sid Valley. Search online for individual service.
  • Food Waste Reduction Services
    Many communities now operate a food reduction service. These do not require a referral and are often drop in services. For example: https://www.otterylarder.co.uk/ in Ottery St Mary or https://honitonhealthmatters.org.uk/directory/honiton-foodsave in Honiton. All these services have a strong online presence, so check on Facebook or Instagram (some only have Facebook) for details of local services in your community. These services offer food for free that would have previously gone to waste (great from fresh produce rather than tins and packets). No questions asked and available to all. It’s a good idea to join their social media account for updates. Some also offer school uniform swaps and children’s clothes for free (encouraging sustainability within communities).

Baby Banks

Many communities now run their own Baby Bank with clothes, equipment, toiletries and all other essential baby items available for those who need. Search online for further details.

www.babybankexeter.com/ – this is the link to the Exeter Baby Bank. Referral agencies list on their site.

Other

Useful self-help apps and webpages
NB: These change often and new ones are created, therefore very hard to keep up to date.

  • NHS – Improve Mental Wellbeing
    www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
  • Mood Gym
    https://moodgym.com.au/
  • Insight Timer – Meditation Time App
    Website: https://insighttimer.com/
  • Breathr Mindful Moments App
    Try out a variety of mindfulness practices, while also teaching interesting facts about the brain science behind those practices
  • Breathe App
    The Breathe app guides you through a series of deep breaths, and it reminds you to take time to breathe every day
  • Happy Not Perfect App
    Your go-to place for everything you need to look after your mind in a fun new way
  • Happify App
    Happify’s science-based activities and games can help reduce stress, overcome negative thoughts, and build greater resilience by providing effective tools and programs to improve emotional well-being.
  • Moment Health App
    Maternal Mental Health app for new, expectant Mums and their families
  • Headspace App
    Mindfulness meditation
  • Mindfit App
    Helps you reduce negative thoughts and change thought pattern
  • Smiling Mind App
    Mindfulness meditation
  • Feeling good: Positive mind-set App
    Relaxation, CBT and resilience           
  • Stress and anxiety companion App
    Help manage your stress and anxiety at home or on the go with breathing exercises, relaxing music and games.
  • I prescribe exercise App
    Creates 12 week personalised exercise plan
  • Distract App
    Gives you easy, quick and discreet access to information and   advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts
  • Calm Harm App
    Designed to help people resist or manage the urge to self-harm. It’s private and password protected.
  • Gratitude – Happiness Journal
    Reminds us to be grateful during the day and become more mindful
  • Clementine
    Range of hypnotherapy sessions on sleep, confidence and stress for women

Baby Apps

  • Baby Buddy App: www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/baby-buddy
  • The Wonder Weeks: www.thewonderweeks.com/wonder-weeks-apps/
  • Basis: Infant Sleep Info App
  • HANDiPaediatric: Expert support for most common childhood illnesses
  • Kicks Count: Keep track of your baby’s movements in the womb and look out for any changes
  • Freya App: contraction (surge) timer and virtual birth partner app
  • Peanut App: connection with other parents
  • The Dad Pad: information and connecting with other Dads.

!! Social Media Platforms !!

The moment social media platforms, such as Ticktok, work out you are having a baby you will be overrun with information on all things birth, parenting and baby product related. Some offer great tips, but as with all social media, these posts are not evidence based and are often selling something. So be very careful with who you follow and which information you choose to not scroll past.