This can include things like not feeling cared for, feeling unsafe at home, or seeing adults struggle with things like alcohol, drugs, violence, or mental health problems.
ACEs can have long-lasting negative effects on physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing, which can also affect preconception health and pregnancy outcomes.
Why it matters in preconception
Pregnancy is a time when people often think about their own childhood and what kind of parent they want to be.
For someone who had difficult experiences growing up, this can bring up strong or painful feelings.
Some people may feel more anxious during pregnancy, or old feelings of stress or trauma may come back.
Others may notice new feelings they have not had before.
Understanding how childhood experiences affect health can help people get the right support early.
A short animated film has been developed to raise awareness of ACEs, their potential to damage health across the life course and the roles that different agencies can play in preventing ACEs and supporting those affected by them. The film has been produced for Public Health Wales and Blackburn with Darwen Local Authority.
By addressing the long-term impact of childhood trauma through trauma-informed care, mental health support, and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices, individuals with a history of ACEs can improve their preconception health and have a better chance of a healthy pregnancy and family life.
Trauma-Informed Derbyshire: Foundation Learning
Trauma-Informed Derbyshire offers a free, interactive 3-module online course available to all partners, practitioners, volunteers, and staff across Derbyshire and Derby until April 2027.
Developed in partnership with Research in Practice, the course explores the nature of trauma, the lived experiences of survivors, and the shift toward trauma-sensitive practice.
Integrating trauma-informed principles into preconception care ensures that conversations around fertility, pregnancy preparation, and early parenthood are delivered with empathy, awareness, and the capacity to respond to people's past experiences.
Key messages for professionals to share
Encourage early conversations, advise individuals to register with a GP or midwifery services.
People with ACEs may face extra barriers, they may find it harder to ask for help, trust services, or make healthy lifestyle changes. If they feel comfortable, gently encourage them to talk to their professional about any past experiences, worries, or childhood difficulties that might affect how they feel now.
Reassure individuals that their past does not define theirs or their baby's future. Pregnancy can bring hope and motivation, offering an opportunity to make positive changes and address past trauma.
Although screening for ACEs is not routine in antenatal care, recognising signs of trauma and providing sensitive, trauma-informed support can improve outcomes.
Pregnancy can bring a sense of hope and motivation, offering an opportunity to reflect on their own childhood, make positive changes, and address past trauma for the first time.
Referral pathways for specialised services:
- pre-birth support Derbyshire 0 to 5 Service: referrals can be made to Starting Point through the completion of an early help assessment