In order to address this issue it is important to know what your rights are as a human being so that you can assert yourself in ways that enable you to be heard & give you a clearer focus for dealing with life in assertive ways.

My Rights

I have the right to…

• be treated with respect, regardless of my age, race, disability, gender, class, culture or financial status
• be treated as an independent person regardless of any roles I may assume in my life (parent, employee, manager, official representative etc)
• state my own needs & set my own priorities
• say “yes”, “no”, “I don’t know”, “I don’t understand”, or to say nothing at all
• express my feelings & say how I feel
• be treated as an intelligent, capable & equal human being
• make decisions that may not meet the approval of others
• make mistakes & change my mind about a decision
• be different from other people in my behaviour, feelings, ideas, values, needs, tastes & opinions
• decline responsibility for other people’s problems
• be involved in decisions made by others (family, work, health etc) when those decisions affect me
• question & confront any person, system or custom that oppresses others
• enjoy my life without being dependent on others for approval

Remember: –

Someone whose rights are consistently violated is passive

Someone who consistently violates the rights of others is aggressive

Someone who is able to maintain the rights of both parties is assertive

WE CAN HELP …

Choosing abortion is one of the options available to women who face  an unplanned pregnancy. Afterwards many women experience a sense of relief and life appears to return to normal. However later, sometimes many years after the abortion procedure was carried out, feelings may emerge for some women that can be puzzling or frightening.

If you are experiencing any of the following:

• depression
• dreams about the abortion or sleep disturbance
• feelings of guilt or remorse
• obsessive/compulsive thoughts & behaviours
• avoiding contact with pregnant women/babies & children
• a feeling of emptiness
• low self worth/esteem
• anger
• panic attacks or anxiety
• tearful for no apparent reason
• a sense of loss

then you may benefit from post abortion counselling.

Our counsellors are trained and experienced in all aspects of pregnancy related counselling including post abortion counselling and  will give you time and space to work through your abortion experience by offering:

• Non judgemental 1-2-1 counselling
• Comfortable and confidential surroundings
• Daytime appointments 10am – 3pm Mon – Thurs
• Counselling appointments at our centre in Deedmore Road (other venues can be arranged on request)
• Affordable counselling – depending on your financial circumstances between £5 – £30 per session

How to find us…

Coventry City Mission, Deedmore Road, Coventry, CV2 2AA.

For more information, or to book a counselling appointment, go to our contact us page or phone 024 7660 3444.

Skylight Counselling Centre is a project that seeks to work in partnership with the community but is financially independent from the NHS, local GP’s & clinics.

WE CAN HELP -

Losing a baby can be a traumatic and painful experience. Often the reasons why a baby dies are not known and you may find it difficult to talk about how you are feeling. Your grief and loss are a real part of your life experience. Others may not understand why you are still upset months and even years later. You may even be thinking “Is it normal for me to feel this way?” The loss of a child takes time, and working through your grief with someone who can help you come to terms with your loss is what Skylight counsellors provide.

Our counsellors are trained and experienced in all aspects of pregnancy related counselling including grief and loss and  will give you time and space to work through your  experiences by offering:

• Non judgemental 1-2-1 counselling
• Comfortable and confidential surroundings
• Daytime appointments 10am – 3pm Mon – Thurs
• Counselling appointments at our centre in Deedmore Road (other venues can be arranged on request)
• Affordable counselling – depending on your financial circumstances between £5 – £30 per session

How to find us…

Coventry City Mission, Deedmore Road, Coventry, CV2 2AA.

For more information, or to book a counselling appointment, go to our contact us page or phone 024 7660 3444.

Skylight Counselling Centre is a project that seeks to work in partnership with the community but is financially independent from the NHS, local GP’s & clinics.

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The link below is a section of a song written and sung by a lady who lost a child through miscarriage. If you would like to purchase this song some of the proceeds will be donated to the work of Skylight.

http://www.reverbnation.com/songformiscarriage

Our  Baby Equipment rental project is moving addres:

From Thursday 12th January 2012 Skylight Baby Basics will be based at

Thursdays only from 12.30pm – 2.30pm

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07528339973

What is Skylight Baby Basics?

Skylight Baby Basics is a project that provides quality baby equipment and toys on a loan and return basis to families in Coventry. Our equipment and toys are suitable for children aged from birth to 3 years and we also have a supply of baby clothes and essential baby toiletries available too.

Who is the service for?

The service is suitable for families with children aged from birth – 3 years who live in the City of Coventry and require good quality baby equipment on a rental basis. Accessing the service is open to everyone whether they are in receipt of state benefit or paid employment.

If you don’t have a permanent address in Coventry we may still be able to help you as we have links with other agencies in the City.

How do I access the project?

Skylight Baby Basics is open on a Thursday afternoon from 12.30 – 2.30 pm (Closed during half term holidays)

DROP-IN and visit us AT:

What do I need to do to join the project?

• Pay a £1 membership fee to join.
• Provide 2 forms of identification either photo ID, passport or driving licence, AND a gas/electricity bill, housing benefit letter, or child benefit letter.
• Pay a refundable deposit of between £5 – £30 depending on item(s) you want to borrow.
• Sign a loan form to say you agree with the rental terms and conditions.
• Contact the project every 3 months to renew the rental agreement or to tell us about any changes to your details.

What happens when I no longer need the equipment?

• Return the item(s) to us.
• Depending on the item(s) you have borrowed make sure you return it with all its parts e.g. nuts/bolts/screws, raincover, cosy-toes.
• Make sure the item(s) is not damaged and is in good working order.
• We will refund your deposit in full.
• We reserve the right to withhold all or part of a deposit for item(s) that are not in good condition when returned.

How much deposit will I have to pay if I want to borrow more than one item?

• Each item is priced separately and a deposit will be required per item.
• No single item will cost more than £30.
• Prices range from £5 – £30 eg. A double pushchair & cot would require a total deposit of £60.

If I just want to borrow toys do I still have to pay a deposit?

• No, a deposit is not required for toy rental however the £1 membership fee is still payable.
• Rental of toys is on a 3 weekly basis.
• You can access the toy rental service as often as you like

Do you provide other services for families in need?

Yes, we are able to offer other services, Skylight and Skylight Baby Basics are part of Coventry City Mission an organisation that provides support to families in a variety of ways such as:

• 1-2-1 Counselling
• Listening, Prayer and Helpline support service.
• A texting helpline service
• Food parcels (by agency referral)
• A lunch club for the elderly
• A  cafe open five days per week – 8.30am – 2.30pm
• A shop selling good quality clothing and bric-a-brac

For more information about these and other services we provide please call 024 7661 5931 or visit www.covcitymission.org.uk

I have equipment I no longer need would I be able to donate it to your project?

• Yes, we have a stock of second hand items that we pass on to needy families.
• Any equipment items donated to us must be in good working order and not more than 10 years old.
• We reserve the right to refuse items that are not suitable.
• We also accept donations of newborn baby clothes, Mum & baby toiletries, nappies and other essential baby items.
• Any item(s) not suitable for our project can be passed to other agencies in the City who may be able to use them.

How many people use the project?

• The project started in 2005 and has been widely used over the years.
• We currently have over 200 members.
• More than 500 children have benefited from the service since it began.
• A variety of health professionals and agencies across the City refer parents to us.

I would really like to help, in what ways can I get involved?

Skylight Baby Basics is run by a team of volunteers who would benefit from extra help on a Thursday to support them in the smooth running of this project. There are a number of ways you could help:

• Be a welcomer and chat to people who come to borrow equipment.
• Support the team by fetching stock/toys from the store room.
• Clean and repair items as necessary ready to go out on loan again.
• Pray for the team, project and service users.
• Promote the project and raise awareness of it to families, agencies, friends and church members in your local area.

If you would like to consider becoming a volunteer of Skylight Baby Basics or any of the Coventry City Mission projects please contact 024 7661 5931 and ask for a volunteer pack.

OR

Drop-In, see the project in action on a Thursday afternoon between 12.30 – 2.30pm, have a chat with us (if we are not too busy) and pick up a volunteer pack.

Coventry City Mission is an organisation that provides support to families in a variety of ways such as:

• 1-2-1 Counselling for issues related to pregnancy 024 7660 3444 (Skylight Counselling Centre)
• Listening, Prayer and Helpline Service. 0845 33 77 789 (Crossline)
• Food parcels (by agency referral).
• A weekly lunch club & home visiting service for the elderly.
• Good quality baby equipment supplied on a rental & return basis  07528 339973 (Skylight Baby Basics)
• A shop open twice a week (Tues & Thurs) at our Centre in Deedmore Road
• The Eating Place – selling good quality hot meals,  snacks & drinks from 8.30 – 2.30 Monday – Friday at our Centre in Deedmore Road

For more information about any of these services please call 024 7661 5931 or visit www.covcitymission.org.uk

WE CAN HELP -

We are led to believe that having a baby is one of the most natural experiences a woman goes through, where sleep deprivation, a demanding baby, constant demands on your time and attention, little or no support and a feeling of being out of control all seem to come as part of the “parenting package”.

However what about those births that are not so easy?

• A difficult or prolonged labour,
• A cesarean or instrumental delivery,
• A complicated or emergency medical procedure during labour & birth
• A prolonged sense of being out of control & unable to cope
• A complicated or emergency medical procedure following the birth of your baby

If you are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms

• anger
• depression
• fear & anxiety
• guilt
• isolation & loneliness
• overwhelming exhaustion
• resentment
• stress
• panic attacks

you may benefit from birth trauma or post-natal depression counselling.

Our counsellors are trained and experienced in all aspects of pregnancy related counselling and  will give you time and space to work through your  experiences by offering:

• Non judgemental 1-2-1 counselling
• Comfortable and confidential surroundings
• Daytime appointments 10am – 3pm Mon – Thurs
• Counselling appointments at our centre in Deedmore Road (other venues can be arranged on request)
• Affordable counselling – depending on your financial circumstances between £5 – £30 per session

How to find us…

Coventry City Mission, Deedmore Road, Coventry, CV2 2AA.

For more information, or to book a counselling appointment, go to our contact us page or phone 024 7660 3444.

Skylight Counselling Centre is a project that seeks to work in partnership with the community but is financially independent from the NHS, local GP’s & clinics.

1st (2nd & 3rd) Trimester – The term trimester means “three months” and it is this term that health professionals use to separate the pregnancy into a “beginning” “middle” and “end”. Each trimester has identifiable changes which distinguish the stages from each other. The 1st trimester is from conception to week 12, the 2nd is week 13 to week 28 and the 3rd trimester is from week 29 to labour and birth (40 weeks).Cervix - This is the name given to the lower part of the uterus (womb) which separates the uterus from the vagina. Throughout the pregnancy the cervix is closed in order to help keep the fetus in place and protect it from infection etc. During labour and birth it is the cervix that opens allowing the baby to pass through the vagina.

Conception – This is the name given to the fertilisation of the female’s egg with the male’s sperm.

Embryo – This is the name given to the development of the fertilised egg. It is known as an embryo for the first 10 weeks of the pregnancy (8 weeks from fertilisation).

Expected Due Date (EDD) – This is the term used for the approximate date when the baby is due to be born. This date is calculated based on the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period. The average length of time from conception to birth for most pregnancies is between 37 & 42 weeks.

Foetus (foetus) – This is the name given for the continuing development of the foetus in the womb from 11 weeks of pregnancy (9 weeks from fertilisation) up to the point of birth. The word Foetus means … offspring, bringing forth, hatching of young. It is also defined as … The unborn offspring of an animal that gives birth to its young (as opposed to laying eggs) during a stage at which the offspring has taken on a recognizable form (all parts in place, etc.). In human development, the period after the seventh or eighth week of pregnancy is the foetal period.

Induce or Induction - This is a term that describes a medical procedure to start labour and is used for a number of reasons. The most common reasons being when a pregnancy has gone beyond the 42nd week, if the mother develops a medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes or an infection, or if the foetus becomes ill.

Placenta – This is an organ that attaches itself to the lining of the womb it has its own blood supply and is used to provide food and oxygen through the umbilical cord to the baby. Waste products from the developing baby are also passed back to the woman through the placenta so they can be expelled out of her body. When the baby is born the placenta is no longer needed and comes away from the woman’s body after she has given birth, the placenta at this stage is commonly known as the “afterbirth”.

Umbilical Cord – The cord that is attached to the baby’s navel at one end and to the placenta at the other. It carries oxygen, food and nutrients to the baby throughout the pregnancy. After the baby is born the umbilical cord is no longer needed and it dries up and falls off creating a navel scar which is commonly known as the belly button.

Womb or Uterus – The area of the woman’s body where the baby grows.

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The Journey from Conception to Birth

The average length of time from conception to birth for most pregnancies is between 37 & 42 weeks. This time frame can vary from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. Factors such as the woman’s health, twin & multiple births, pregnancy related complications or fetal abnormalities, may require medical intervention which could mean the baby is born before 37 weeks.

The Embryo Stage

Note: All pregnancies are calculated based on the first day of the last menstrual period (when a woman is not pregnant) Example: 1 week from conception would be a 3 week pregnancy. Where the development in the womb is shown in days this means from conception, where development is shown in weeks this relates to the length of the pregnancy.

DAY 1: When sperm fertilises egg, cells begin to divide and new life is created. At conception the embryo receives half its genetic identity (DNA) from its mother and half from its father. Genetic identity includes: eye colour, likely adult height and the sex of the baby. The embryo is smaller than a grain of salt at this stage.

3 WEEKS (5 DAYS FROM CONCEPTION): The fertilised egg has been dividing and growing for 5 days and at the same time it travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus where it will implant into the wall of the uterus. As well as the embryo developing the placenta also develops at this stage.

4½ WEEKS (17 DAYS): The embryo has its own blood cells.

5 WEEKS (21 DAYS): The embryo’s heart starts to beat.

6 WEEKS: The embryo has a complete skeleton

7 WEEKS: Teeth buds begin to form

8 WEEKS: Finger nails begin to grow

9 WEEKS: Has finger prints

10 WEEKS: Can swallow, can wrinkle forehead and frown

The Foetal Stage

12 WEEKS: 5.5 cm long, is aware of sound, all organs working (except the lungs), can suck its thumb, will sneeze if something touches its nose

20 WEEKS: First movements felt by the woman, foetus can feel pain

28 WEEKS: Lungs mature enabling the foetus to breathe by itself once born , Opens eyes

32 WEEKS: Layers of fat form under the skin to keep the foetus warm in preparation for birth and life outside the womb.

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What happens if my baby is born early or if I don’t go into labour until after my due date?

• Some women may be prone to deliver their babies early and this could mean medical intervention is necessary as the maturity of the baby’s organs such as the lungs may not be able to function without help.
• For those women who don’t go into labour by the time of their due date (40 weeks) medical intervention in order to induce labour may be necessary if labour has not begun naturally by the 42nd week of pregnancy.

If you have found this article informative and would like more help, advice, support, or to talk to someone in confidence about any aspect of pregnancy or pregnancy related concerns, please visit our contact us page or call us on 02476 603444.

For more information on foetal development check out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4121411.stm