Soon-to-be Parents Gain Advice via Chat from Pregnancy Charities
Finding out your expecting a baby is a life-changing experience. For many it is a joyous occasion, however for others it can mean the beginning of a long and challenging journey. In this article we take a look at the charities helping parents with Hyperemesis Gravidarum and through antenatal screening.
Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)
Approximately 5% of pregnant women a year will be told there is a risk their baby has a serious fetal anomaly. This will of course cause a level of anxiety and uncertainty. After an antenatal screening many of these parents will be reassured that the pregnancy is progressing as expected, however other parents will receive the devastating news that their child has a serious and sometimes lethal condition, or that the outcome is uncertain.
Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) is the only national charity that helps parents and healthcare professionals through the screenings and the consequences. The organisation offers non-directive information and support to parents, which includes:
- Before, during, and after antenatal screenings
- When they are informed their baby has an anomaly
- When they are making difficult decisions regarding continuing with or terminating a pregnancy
- When they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement.
The charity offers a forum which is a safe place for parents which supports them and reduces the feeling of isolation by connecting them with other people who have lost their baby following a prenatal diagnosis. This is available alongside a helpline operated by trained staff who offer advice via phone and live chat.
ARC’s community fundraising and administration officer, Rebecca Hawkes commented that the live chat “Software is easy to use and a great addition to the website.”
Pregnancy Sickness Support
Whilst potentially dealing with antenatal screenings, 70 – 80% of pregnant women will also experience Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP), with 85% of pregnant women having two episodes of nausea per day. They can also suffer from the more severe form of the condition; Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).
Early access to treatments is likely to be more effective and may prevent symptoms developing into HG; therefore Pregnancy Sickness Support is a registered UK charity that has been working to improve care, treatment and support for women suffering from NVP and HG.
The charity has several was to support pregnant woman suffering from NVP and HG. They have a 1-2-1 volunteer peer support network, which matches those currently living with the conditions to individuals who had previously endured them.
An online forum run and administrated by registered and trained PSS volunteers provides online help and support. Another way the charity has been providing help and advice online is by implementing live chat, allowing pregnant woman to contact the organisation privately, and instantly.
Karen Lodge Support Coordinator for Pregnancy Sickness Support commented “The web chat function has allowed us to add another means of communication for our helpline. This means that very sick women can contact us without having to speak on the phone enabling them to get up to date information and support. The system is easy and simple to use.”
Your Charity
Click4Assistance has been providing live chat to charities and foundations for 15 years, helping them to successfully support their visitors online by providing a secure instant communication channel that enables individuals to gain advice via text based messages.
For more information regarding how live chat can enhance your charity’s support network, why not book onto your free personalised demonstration. Alternatively, contact our team on 01268 524628 or email theteam@click4assistance.co.uk to find out more.
