Publication
Pregnancy, New Parents and Carers
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The HSE has a range of information and guidance on pregnancy available at HSE/mychild.ie.
Antenatal classes help you to prepare for labour, birth and becoming a parent. For useful information and online resources visit HSE/antenatalclasses. For information and advice on pregnancy and COVID-19 visit HSE/COVID-19 and pregnancy.
It is just as important to be aware of and have treatment for mental health problems as it is for physical health problems in pregnancy. You can find information on mental health in pregnancy and the National Programme for Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services at HSE.ie.
Click here to view this leaflet which outlines the supports available to women during pregnancy and after birth.
Details of information and supports offered by the HSE for those who are pregnant and their partners on all options available, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services can be accessed here.
Information on benefits and entitlements relating to Maternity/Paternity leave, unpaid maternity leave, parental leave, antenatal classes/medical appointments, breastfeeding time, adoptive leave and entitlements in the event of a stillbirth or a miscarriage are available here.
The Teen Parent Support Programme (TPSP) acts as a support service for parents under 20 years of age and their family members. Support is available throughout pregnancy up until a child is 2 years of age across the areas of health, relationships, parenting, social welfare entitlements, and education/training. Further information is available here.
For information on how to register a birth go to gov.ie/registerabirth.
All children under 6 years of age living in Ireland can get a GP visit card. For more information, visit HSE.ie/under 6 GP Card.
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age, or 18 if in fulltime education. On registering the birth of a child, the DEASP will begin a benefit claim for you and send you a form to complete the process. Learn more at Gov.ie.
Parents Benefit is a scheme which is available to parent’s who take parent’s leave from work. Information on the rate of payment and how to qualify for Parents Benefit can be found on the Department of Social Protection website .
Listed below are some resources to help you in the early days of your new baby's life.
For comprehensive advice and support for parents of young children visit mychild.ie
Click here to download the PDF of The Area Based Childhood (ABC) programme Framework for Early Childhood Mental Health, Supporting Young Children’s Development from Pregnancy to 5 Years.
A wide range of advice and support on starting breastfeeding, hygiene tips and common breastfeeding questions are answered by the HSE and can be accessed by clicking here .
Click this link to access information on local breastfeeding support groups and volunteers in every county.
Public Health Nurses (PHNs) and Community Registered General Nurses (CRGN) deliver care across the lifespan to, individuals, families and communities.
The PHN/CRGN works as part of a multidisciplinary team based in local HSE Health Centres/Primary Care Centres and delivers services in the home and clinic.
For questions about health services, your entitlements or how to access HSE health or social services in your area you can phone HSELive on: 1800 700700 .
A document explaining the range of services provided by your Public Health Nurse is available in a number of languages by clicking here .
Guidance on areas including access to the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, Medical/GP Visit cards, health and development checks, and postnatal depression support can be found on Citizens Information by clicking here.
My Options is a HSE Freephone line (1800 828 010) that provides free and confidential information and counselling to people experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. For more information see HSE.ie/MyOptions.
If you are considering becoming a foster carer, Tusla have all the information you need to get you started on your journey.
Tusla provide a suite of supports to foster carers to enable them in their role. . More information is available at Tusla.ie/FosteringSupports.
The Irish Foster Care Association is the national organisation that supports foster families and the wider fostering community. Information on support provided is available at ifca.ie.
Foster carers can access out-of-hours phone support for Tusla foster carers on 1890 800 511 , more information available here. .
Kinship care is the full-time parenting of children by grandparents, older siblings, aunts and uncles, other relatives, or close friends of the family when their parents are no longer able to look after them.
Kinship Care Ireland (KCI) works with and on behalf of families to create a better understanding of kinship care and ensure that the specific needs of carers, children and young people are acknowledged and addressed. Further information on the supports provided by Kinship Care are available on the Kinship Care website .
Treoir provide a free, confidential, specialist information service for parents not married to each other, living together or apart, their extended families and those working with them. Information is available on legal, social welfare and parenting issues and can be accessed by clicking here .
In Ireland, a Guardian of a child has the duty to maintain and properly care for the child and they have the right to make decisions relating to matters involving the child such as their religious and secular education, health requirements and general welfare. Citizens Information provide further details on guardianship including, guidance for unmarried fathers, automatic guardianship, guardianship through the courts and how to apply for guardianship here .
Information on the various forms of guardianship, applying for guardianship and mediation/legal/family supports can be found on the courts services website .
The court services website outlines the process of applying for guardianship, attending court and receiving a court order. This information is available here .
One Family Parenting aim to support parents with everyday parenting challenges and the complexity of parenting post separation through the provision of courses/workshops, counselling, unplanned pregnancy supports, guardianship guidance and assistance via the One Family Helpline. Click here for further information
Tusla have compiled a short guide specifically for parents who are newly arrived in Ireland. The guide provides information to help families navigate cultural differences, laws and ways of parenting which may differ to ones country of origin. Information on pre-school childcare, the Irish schooling system, child supervision and family support services is included within the guide which can be accessed by clicking here.
The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN) works to ensure that children and young people along with the adults in their lives can easily access high quality local and national information, guidance and support to enable them to manage the impact of death on their lives. Further information on grief management is available on the ICBN Website.