Preconception health – improve outcomes for families and babies

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As part of our work to improve maternal and neonatal health in our community south east London (SEL) Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) has bee looking at pre-conception care. Through collaboration with healthcare providers, public health professionals, and local voices, we are committed to ensuring every family has access to quality preconception care, helping parents and babies start their journey on the best possible footing.

Background

SEL LMNS is a partnership of people working to improve maternity and neonatal services.

With this project, we aimed to address health inequalities and improve outcomes by focusing pre-conception health. The aim is to support people to be physically, emotionally and mentally prepared for pregnancy. This project spans the entire SEL and it includes collaboration with public health professionals, community organisations and local communities.

We recognise that pre-conception health is an important contributor to maternal and neonatal health but also we know it is an area that is under developed and more could be done to educate and support people to plan for a healthier pregnancy, birth and beyond.

At the beginning of this journey to help us move forward we have set some priorities. These are:

  • Learn more about the needs of SEL communities through work with the Women's and Girls health hub programme
  • Learn more about the needs of healthcare providers when considering pre-conception health care
  • Raise awareness of pre-conception through the delivery of an information campaign

Insight from the engagement we carried out in south east London in 2024 / 2025 (see below) showed that many people had never heard of preconception care, and even those who had been pregnant before, lacked knowledge when planning another baby. Many lifestyle changes, such as taking supplements, only began after becoming pregnant, and many did not receive healthcare advice beforehand.

Insight informing public health campaigns

As a result, the South East London Local Maternity and Neonatal System (SEL LMNS), in partnership with Tommy’s the pregnancy and baby charity, launched a public health campaign for six months in 2025 - see further detail below. Our goal was to raise awareness about pre-conception topics and encourage residents to plan their pregnancies using Tommy’s Pregnancy Planning Tool. This tool provides personalised insights on pre-conception health topics, including the use of folic acid and Vitamin D.

We recognised that women and birthing people from Black and Black Mixed Heritage backgrounds, as well as those living in areas of significant deprivation, often experience poorer outcomes compared to their white counterparts from national data. Therefore, a key objective of the campaign was to increase the usage of the pregnancy planning tool among these groups through a mix of digital advertising, influencer content, outreach and community events. The campaign boosted awareness and generated over 3,000 tool completions and a rise in tool usage among Black and Black Mixed Heritage users, as well as increased uptake from people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Everyone who completed the tool was invited to take part in a survey. Feedback was positive with most users finding the tool helpful, supported confidence-building and overall wellbeing. However, it also highlighted further targeted support is needed in certain areas, including the need to promote folic acid and vitamin D in younger age groups.

Therefore, the SEL LMNS and NHS South East London have launched, in early 2026, a follow-up campaign to provide information about local services for those who wish to access pre-conception services. Plan For Baby contains comprehensive information on general pre-conception topics and details on accessing local services.

Listening to people with lived experience

During 2024- 2025 we engaged with people with lived experience including 78 service users and 52 Southwark College students through 12 in-person sessions at children’s centres, family hubs, and community groups. These conversations revealed that many people-especially young adults and men-are unfamiliar with the term “preconception” and unaware of the steps they can take to prepare for a healthy pregnancy

  • Ellen Brown Children and Family Centre, Babies and Us Group
  • Bellingham Family Hub, Explorers Baby group
  • West St CC, Bouncing Babies
  • Motivational Mums Club
  • Community Vision Children and Family Centre
  • Waterways Children's Centre
  • Southwark College
  • Blenheim Children and Family Centre
  • Cotmandene Children’s Centre
  • Young Mums Club
  • Future Dads - Future Men

Key insights - What we learned?

  • 71% of Southwark College students had never heard of preconception care.
  • 45% of participants were planning another pregnancy but still lacked knowledge about preconception health.
  • 52% had searched online for information, but 47% had not- highlighting the need for offline resources.
  • 39% of participants had not taken any vitamins before pregnancy.
  • 44% did not speak to anyone before deciding to have a baby
  • Participants shared that they often rely on family, social media, or online forums like Netmums for information. Many had not spoken to a healthcare professional before becoming pregnant, and most lifestyle changes (e.g. taking folic acid or adjusting diet) were made only after pregnancy began

“It is easier to get information in person, but everything is online.”- Project participant

  • The project also uncovered emotional and cultural complexities. For some, pregnancy planning involved confronting past trauma, such as baby loss or infertility. Others described the influence of elders, religious beliefs, and cultural expectations on their decisions
  • The project highlighted the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and inclusive resources both online but also face to face information. Participants expressed a strong preference for information in everyday settings-like gyms, supermarkets, public transport, and community centres and in formats that reflect their language and cultural needs
  • Men felt excluded from the conversation. Sessions with the Future Dads group at Lewisham Hospital revealed a strong appetite for information on fertility, healthy sperm, mental health, and parental rights. Many suggested replacing the term “preconception” with “fertility” to make the concept more relatable

“It is important to respect elders and the advice they give you. Information needs to be shared with men in the places they regularly go – like gyms and work.”- Project participant

  • Participants also expressed a desire for more realistic information about the financial realities of parenthood, mental health, and the impact on relationships. Many felt antenatal classes were inaccessible due to language barriers or inconvenient scheduling

You can see and read the report here.

How the insights informed our work?

The insights gathered have directly shaped the SEL LMNS preconception campaign in 2025, delivered in partnership with Tommy’s. See results of our campaign below:

  • Translated posters and flyers distributed across children’s centres and community venues including hairdressers and barber shops
  • Targeted digital ads and social media outreach.
  • A second phase featuring healthcare-led videos on folic acid, vitamin D, mental health, and healthy lifestyles

In addition, SEL LMNS has hosted a series of webinars to raise awareness and build capacity among community ambassadors, and voluntary sector partners. These sessions have included:

  • A virtual webinar on 23 May 2025 featuring presentations from SEL LMNS, Local Government East, and Tommy’s.
  • Training for community ambassadors in boroughs like Southwark, Lambeth and Greenwich
  • Presentations at Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership meetings, including a session on 27 February 2025 with service users and maternity staff.
  • Ongoing collaboration with the Women and Girls’ Health Hub to embed preconception messaging into broader public health strategies.

Results of our Public Health Campaign (2025):

  • 3,604 tool completions for Tommy’s Planning for Pregnancy tool, with over 550,000 people reached through digital and influencer activity.
    • Hyper‑local outreach in 75+ trusted community locations, plus translated materials to widen access.
    • 130+ residents engaged at community events (including young adults, migrants, and fathers‑to‑be).
    • Equity impact: increased engagement among Black and Black Mixed‑Heritage users and people in the most deprived areas.
    • User feedback: most users found the tool helpful, confidence‑building and supportive of wellbeing; behaviours around folic acid and vitamin D were encouraging, with younger age groups identified for further targeted support.

How can you get involved?

If you or your organisation would like to help raise awareness of preconception health, translated posters and flyers are available in multiple languages. These can be displayed in community spaces, clinics, schools, gyms, or anywhere people gather.

To request materials, please email: LocalMaternityandNeonatalSystem@selondonics.nhs.uk

Thinking about getting pregnant?

Get practical, local information about pre-conception services in South East London at Plan for Baby.

As part of our work to improve maternal and neonatal health in our community south east London (SEL) Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) has bee looking at pre-conception care. Through collaboration with healthcare providers, public health professionals, and local voices, we are committed to ensuring every family has access to quality preconception care, helping parents and babies start their journey on the best possible footing.

Background

SEL LMNS is a partnership of people working to improve maternity and neonatal services.

With this project, we aimed to address health inequalities and improve outcomes by focusing pre-conception health. The aim is to support people to be physically, emotionally and mentally prepared for pregnancy. This project spans the entire SEL and it includes collaboration with public health professionals, community organisations and local communities.

We recognise that pre-conception health is an important contributor to maternal and neonatal health but also we know it is an area that is under developed and more could be done to educate and support people to plan for a healthier pregnancy, birth and beyond.

At the beginning of this journey to help us move forward we have set some priorities. These are:

  • Learn more about the needs of SEL communities through work with the Women's and Girls health hub programme
  • Learn more about the needs of healthcare providers when considering pre-conception health care
  • Raise awareness of pre-conception through the delivery of an information campaign

Insight from the engagement we carried out in south east London in 2024 / 2025 (see below) showed that many people had never heard of preconception care, and even those who had been pregnant before, lacked knowledge when planning another baby. Many lifestyle changes, such as taking supplements, only began after becoming pregnant, and many did not receive healthcare advice beforehand.

Insight informing public health campaigns

As a result, the South East London Local Maternity and Neonatal System (SEL LMNS), in partnership with Tommy’s the pregnancy and baby charity, launched a public health campaign for six months in 2025 - see further detail below. Our goal was to raise awareness about pre-conception topics and encourage residents to plan their pregnancies using Tommy’s Pregnancy Planning Tool. This tool provides personalised insights on pre-conception health topics, including the use of folic acid and Vitamin D.

We recognised that women and birthing people from Black and Black Mixed Heritage backgrounds, as well as those living in areas of significant deprivation, often experience poorer outcomes compared to their white counterparts from national data. Therefore, a key objective of the campaign was to increase the usage of the pregnancy planning tool among these groups through a mix of digital advertising, influencer content, outreach and community events. The campaign boosted awareness and generated over 3,000 tool completions and a rise in tool usage among Black and Black Mixed Heritage users, as well as increased uptake from people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Everyone who completed the tool was invited to take part in a survey. Feedback was positive with most users finding the tool helpful, supported confidence-building and overall wellbeing. However, it also highlighted further targeted support is needed in certain areas, including the need to promote folic acid and vitamin D in younger age groups.

Therefore, the SEL LMNS and NHS South East London have launched, in early 2026, a follow-up campaign to provide information about local services for those who wish to access pre-conception services. Plan For Baby contains comprehensive information on general pre-conception topics and details on accessing local services.

Listening to people with lived experience

During 2024- 2025 we engaged with people with lived experience including 78 service users and 52 Southwark College students through 12 in-person sessions at children’s centres, family hubs, and community groups. These conversations revealed that many people-especially young adults and men-are unfamiliar with the term “preconception” and unaware of the steps they can take to prepare for a healthy pregnancy

  • Ellen Brown Children and Family Centre, Babies and Us Group
  • Bellingham Family Hub, Explorers Baby group
  • West St CC, Bouncing Babies
  • Motivational Mums Club
  • Community Vision Children and Family Centre
  • Waterways Children's Centre
  • Southwark College
  • Blenheim Children and Family Centre
  • Cotmandene Children’s Centre
  • Young Mums Club
  • Future Dads - Future Men

Key insights - What we learned?

  • 71% of Southwark College students had never heard of preconception care.
  • 45% of participants were planning another pregnancy but still lacked knowledge about preconception health.
  • 52% had searched online for information, but 47% had not- highlighting the need for offline resources.
  • 39% of participants had not taken any vitamins before pregnancy.
  • 44% did not speak to anyone before deciding to have a baby
  • Participants shared that they often rely on family, social media, or online forums like Netmums for information. Many had not spoken to a healthcare professional before becoming pregnant, and most lifestyle changes (e.g. taking folic acid or adjusting diet) were made only after pregnancy began

“It is easier to get information in person, but everything is online.”- Project participant

  • The project also uncovered emotional and cultural complexities. For some, pregnancy planning involved confronting past trauma, such as baby loss or infertility. Others described the influence of elders, religious beliefs, and cultural expectations on their decisions
  • The project highlighted the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and inclusive resources both online but also face to face information. Participants expressed a strong preference for information in everyday settings-like gyms, supermarkets, public transport, and community centres and in formats that reflect their language and cultural needs
  • Men felt excluded from the conversation. Sessions with the Future Dads group at Lewisham Hospital revealed a strong appetite for information on fertility, healthy sperm, mental health, and parental rights. Many suggested replacing the term “preconception” with “fertility” to make the concept more relatable

“It is important to respect elders and the advice they give you. Information needs to be shared with men in the places they regularly go – like gyms and work.”- Project participant

  • Participants also expressed a desire for more realistic information about the financial realities of parenthood, mental health, and the impact on relationships. Many felt antenatal classes were inaccessible due to language barriers or inconvenient scheduling

You can see and read the report here.

How the insights informed our work?

The insights gathered have directly shaped the SEL LMNS preconception campaign in 2025, delivered in partnership with Tommy’s. See results of our campaign below:

  • Translated posters and flyers distributed across children’s centres and community venues including hairdressers and barber shops
  • Targeted digital ads and social media outreach.
  • A second phase featuring healthcare-led videos on folic acid, vitamin D, mental health, and healthy lifestyles

In addition, SEL LMNS has hosted a series of webinars to raise awareness and build capacity among community ambassadors, and voluntary sector partners. These sessions have included:

  • A virtual webinar on 23 May 2025 featuring presentations from SEL LMNS, Local Government East, and Tommy’s.
  • Training for community ambassadors in boroughs like Southwark, Lambeth and Greenwich
  • Presentations at Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership meetings, including a session on 27 February 2025 with service users and maternity staff.
  • Ongoing collaboration with the Women and Girls’ Health Hub to embed preconception messaging into broader public health strategies.

Results of our Public Health Campaign (2025):

  • 3,604 tool completions for Tommy’s Planning for Pregnancy tool, with over 550,000 people reached through digital and influencer activity.
    • Hyper‑local outreach in 75+ trusted community locations, plus translated materials to widen access.
    • 130+ residents engaged at community events (including young adults, migrants, and fathers‑to‑be).
    • Equity impact: increased engagement among Black and Black Mixed‑Heritage users and people in the most deprived areas.
    • User feedback: most users found the tool helpful, confidence‑building and supportive of wellbeing; behaviours around folic acid and vitamin D were encouraging, with younger age groups identified for further targeted support.

How can you get involved?

If you or your organisation would like to help raise awareness of preconception health, translated posters and flyers are available in multiple languages. These can be displayed in community spaces, clinics, schools, gyms, or anywhere people gather.

To request materials, please email: LocalMaternityandNeonatalSystem@selondonics.nhs.uk

Thinking about getting pregnant?

Get practical, local information about pre-conception services in South East London at Plan for Baby.

Page last updated: 11 Feb 2026, 11:13 AM