A book designed to support Dundee parents-to-be to bond with their baby before birth will be given to all expecting families in the city, and launched at a special event at Dundee Contemporary Arts on Tue 17 September.
Hello In There Wee One is a partnership project between Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside Infant Mental Health Team, Dundee Contemporary Arts, and University of Dundee, and was created to support parents to communicate and bond with their baby before they are born. Through illustrations, questions, stories, songs and prompts, the book encourages parents-to be to imagine and think about their growing baby, helping them to prepare for their new arrival and leading to stronger relationships after birth.
The book was designed with input from local families, who worked with Dundee artist Louise Kirby to create a book that is bespoke to the city. The final book features colourful illustrations of local landmarks, including RRS Discovery, Broughty Castle, and Dundee Law, and as well as providing a guide for bonding through pregnancy, the completed book also serves as a personalised keepsake.
Designed to help meet the needs and expectations laid out in the Scottish Government’s Voice of the Infant Guidelines and Infant Pledge, which advocates for the rights of infants, Hello In There Wee One will be given to all expecting families in Dundee. It will be distributed through current ante-natal support across the city, including Midwives, Social Workers and Family Nurses, ensuring all parents have the chance to access it. This is especially important for parents-to-be with added vulnerabilities and for whom bonding with their bump has increased challenges. It has also been made available to access online at nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk.
Lesley Sharkey, Director of Midwifery at NHS Tayside, said “Research shows and clinical practice tells us that babies' emotional health and wellbeing begins before they are born. Hello in there wee one helps parents in Dundee find ways to bond with their babies before they arrive. This can help build strong bonds between babies and the important people in their lives right from the start, and supports infant development and mental health.”
Beth Bate, Director of DCA said “This project is an incredible demonstration of the ways art and culture can support health, wellbeing and social care outcomes, through working in partnership with some of our most important services and institutions. I’m so proud that this beautiful book will be made available to all expecting families in our city.”
Dr Vicky Armstrong, Art Therapist at University of Dundee and Dundee Contemporary Arts, said: “We know that helping expectant parents to feel connected to their baby before they make an appearance can support their early bonding. This project was a wonderful chance to bring together the expertise of lots of different health professionals and to learn from the lived experiences of families across Dundee. Using art was such a powerful way to bring people together to share ideas and everyone involved can be very proud of the final book.”
Hello In There Wee One was launched at an event at Dundee Contemporary Arts, which brought together project partners, family participants, artists and those involved in providing the book to families. Guests were given a first look at the book and took part in creative activities.
One of the Dundee mums who helped design the book said: “I would have loved to get a book like this when I was pregnant, so I’m happy that we were able to help make this happen for other mums and I just enjoyed the chance to do some art myself too.”
Support for this project was provided by CORRA and UNCRC Innovation Fund.
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) is an internationally renowned centre for contemporary art and registered charity that enables audiences, artists and participants to see, experience and create through our four programme areas: exhibitions, cinema, print studio and learning.
