Amma Birth Companions

Based in Glasgow – and unique in Scotland - Amma provides holistic, trauma-informed care and community to pregnant people facing challenging circumstances during their journey from pregnancy through early parenthood. We support women seeking asylum and with insecure immigration status, alongside other underserved groups disproportionately affected by social determinants of health - including poverty, trauma, housing instability, and lack of healthcare access. They face language barriers, financial hardship, and unfamiliarity with UK systems and experience displacement, poverty, and isolation - all of which compound feelings of fear and disempowerment, leading to higher risks of birth trauma, postnatal depression, and long-term bonding difficulties. 

Our services include: 

Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Companionship: Highly trained volunteers work in small teams alongside our perinatal staff to provide trauma-informed, culturally safe care to our clients from the third trimester of pregnancy, during birth, and for the first few weeks postpartum. A group of mentors provide expert knowledge and guidance. Companions ensure clients understand their rights and can make and express informed choices about their care, aiming to support a safe and positive perinatal experience. The team cares for a caseload of around 40 clients at any one time.

Peer Support Activities: Having started online during lockdown, Amma Family has grown into a thriving peer support programme. Last year, over 80 mums and babies were welcomed to our office for our weekly peer support group, with many others taking part in gardening club, postnatal fitness class, social outings, and educational workshops. Amma Family supports parents to build community, increase confidence and learn from one another. We foster collaboration amongst participants and build on our clients’ existing strengths, cultural traditions, and knowledge. 

Antenatal Education: Facilitated by a midwife and a birth educator, Pregnancy Group (antenatal classes) is tailored to the unique needs of the participants, providing a comprehensive and holistic understanding of how to prepare for birth and life with a newborn. The group is designed to be inclusive, trauma-informed, and accessible, incorporating education, food, and opportunities to socialise. We use multilingual resources, visual aids, and interpreter support. We aim to provide clients with the knowledge and confidence needed to ask questions and self-advocate for a safe, dignified birthing experience. Clients can attend from 20 weeks of pregnancy onwards.

Advocacy & Research: Our advocacy efforts, led by a staff member with relevant lived experience, include managing an Experts by Experience group and leveraging firsthand accounts for policy changes, improved services, and community engagement. Our advocacy and research work demonstrates an urgent sense of responsibility to amplify our clients’ experiences as a powerful catalyst for change. A growth in these activities signals an increasing awareness of our work, with a rising number of requests to participate in advisory roles and academic research.

We are proud that many of our clients describe Amma as “Like family”. To read more about our work, check out www.ammabirthcompanions.org