I’m having a baby

The first thing you should do if you are pregnant and want to have the baby is see a doctor. They will confirm that you are pregnant and tell you when the baby is due. They will also arrange for you to see a midwife and to have a scan at the hospital. It is important for you and your baby that you go to any appointments arranged for you.

Taking care of yourself

How you treat your body during your pregnancy will have an effect on your baby. This includes what you eat and if you smoke or drink. If you need any support with this you can talk to your midwife or doctor. It is also best to check with the doctor or midwife before taking any medication.

You have to keep going to school until the normal leaving age, both during your pregnancy and after you give birth.

Tell a senior teacher you are pregnant as soon as possible. This will remain private. They can help you with any problems and find ways to make your time at school easier.

It may be possible to change or reduce your timetable as you get further into your pregnancy. You will probably get some home tuition or e-learning for the few weeks just before and just after the baby is born.

You will be allowed to take time off for any medical appointments. If you miss more than a few days because you are ill due to your pregnancy, you need to get a note from the doctor or midwife.

Health in pregnancy grant

To help you stay well and healthy, you can claim a one-off grant of £190 once you are 25 weeks pregnant.. Ask you doctor or midwife for more details or find out more at Directgov -Health in pregnancy grant.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

If you stay in education you may be able to claim up to £30 a week cash to help you carry on learning if you’re aged 16 to18 years old. Find out more at DirectGov - Education Maintenance Allowance

Benefits

You can claim different kinds of financial help, including child benefit, when your child is born.

For more information, contact your local JobCentre Plus office.

Or you can visit the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) website:

CAB – advice for parents aged under 16.

CAB - for parents aged over 16

Help with childcare

To help you continue your education at school or college, you can claim a Care to Learn grant of up to £160 per week to help with childcare. Find out more by contacting the the Pregnancy Reintegration Officer or a Connexions personal adviser below.

You also apply directly for a grant - DirectGov - Care to Learn.

Pregnancy Reintegration Officer

If you are still at school you can get in touch with your local Pregnancy Reintegration Officer. They can visit you to explain how they can help you continue your education. They can also explain about the benefits you or your family may be able to claim and can give you information about childcare when you return to school.

Teenage Pregnancy Reintegration Officer
Education Welfare Service
St Mark's House
14 Upperton Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex BN21 1EP

Phone: 01323 463366
Email: lyn.silvester@eastsussex.gov.uk

Connexions personal advisers

If you are a young parent aged 16 to 19, or up to 25 if you have a statement of educational need, you can get free, confidential advice and support from a Connexions personal adviser. They can tell you about parenting courses, how to get back into work or college. Just fill in this Connexions leaflet and hand it to your midwife or health visitor, or post it yourself.

Download the Connexions young parents’ leaflet (Adobe PDF, 1.3MB)