The team from the South Eastern Trust’s Sure Start Speech and Language Team has devised a unique way to promote a connection between families and their ‘bumps‘ with the launch of an adorable antenatal book ‘I Wonder..Baby Bump’s First Book’.
The book is the result of a joint initiative between the SureStart Speech and Language Team and service users. Launched in April of this year, the book gives simple, kind, loving words for parents-to-be to talk to their baby bump. This aims to increase the number of parents who talk and communicate with their baby bump, as well as provide a resource to support with bonding, attachment and parental and infant mental health. The book can even be personalised by families, with a space to add a scan picture and to write down their own thoughts and feelings about their baby’s arrival.
Research has shown how a baby can recognise voices from 16 weeks in the womb and so communicating with your unborn baby is now known to be really important.
Parents Matthew Rooney and Susanne Steele explained how they were delighted to have been part of the book’s creation and how much their own “little creation”, five month old Zach, has enjoyed the book as well.
South Eastern Trust’s Lead SureStart Speech and Language Therapist, Natalie Williams said, “All 38 SureStart projects across Northern Ireland have now been provided with copies of the antenatal book to share with antenatal parents across Northern Ireland.
“A QR code on the back of the book reads the book aloud to families supporting them to access the book and complementing any hypnobirthing, relaxation or mindfulness techniques during their pregnancy.”
Natalie continued: “We want to say a big thanks to Gemma McNally in our team who wrote the beautiful poetry within the book.
“We are delighted with the release and launch of the book and have had excellent feedback from our parents-to-be as they enjoy using the book at a very special and precious time.”
For further information on the book, please contact Natalie Williams at Natalie.williams@setrust.hscni.net