Pregnancy Basics
Pregnancy Basics
  • Home
  • About the tool
  • Using the Tool
  • Options
  • More
    • Home
    • About the tool
    • Using the Tool
    • Options
  • Home
  • About the tool
  • Using the Tool
  • Options

BASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & Support

BASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & Support

A tool to observe, assess and support Pregnancy Bonding & Attachment.


BASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & Support

BASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & SupportBASICS - Bonding & Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care & Support

A tool to observe, assess and support Pregnancy Bonding & Attachment.


Welcome to Pregnancy Basics

Helping parents connect with their baby – from the very start.

You can start using the free version today, or unlock deeper insight and real-time data tracking with the digital version and dashboard.

Register for Free Toolkit

What is Pregnancy BASICS?

A gentle, reflective way to notice early parent–baby connection.

Pregnancy BASICS (Bonding and Attachment Screening for Intervention, Care and Support) is a strengths-based observation and reflection tool designed for use during pregnancy. It enables professionals to gently assess the relationship between parents and their unborn baby – and identify families who may benefit from early support.


Pregnancy BASICS includes:

  • Trimester-specific conversation prompts
  • Practitioner-led observation across six bonding areas
  • 4-level reflection scale (Strong, Building, Neutral, Concerning)
  • Support guidance and signposting


It's not a diagnostic tool. It's relational, respectful, inclusive – and designed to fit easily into your existing appointments, home visits, or group sessions.

Why Is It Needed?

Because attachment doesn’t start at birth — and neither should support for it.

Download your free Quick Start Guide

Why Pregnancy Bonding & Attachment Matters

The foundations of a child’s mental health, development and future relationships begin before birth.

Attachment doesn’t begin in the delivery room — it begins during pregnancy. But despite the critical importance of early bonding, there is currently no consistent or widely-used tool to help practitioners observe, understand and assess the parent-fetal relationships during pregnancy so that intervention, care & support can be provided if needed.


Many current tools — like the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) — rely on maternal self-reporting, include intrusive or emotionally loaded questions, and often exclude fathers or partners. This can unintentionally undermine trust, especially for vulnerable families.

Pregnancy BASICS was created to fill this gap. It provides a gentler, more inclusive, and observational approach, giving practitioners a simple way to universally:


  • Observe real signs of developing attachment
  • Include both mothers and partners
  • Use strengths-based conversation prompts
  • Identify when additional support may be needed
  • Embed bonding during pregnancy into everyday practice


Aligning With National Priorities

Pregnancy BASICS was designed with UK policy in mind, supporting delivery on:


✅ The 1001 Critical Days agenda

✅ The Start for Life programme

✅ Perinatal mental health pathways

✅ Parent–infant relationship strategies

✅ Early intervention and safeguarding frameworks

✅ NHS England's equity and inclusion guidance


It enables earlier identification of bonding concerns or relational risks – before the baby is born – and supports better integration across maternity, health visiting, family hubs, early help, and safeguarding teams.


Reflective, low-burden and rooted in relational practice – Pregnancy BASICS turns policy into meaningful action.

Testimonials & Practitioner Feedback

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

 “Pregnancy BASICS gives us the tool we all knew we needed, but didn’t have — something we can use in everyday appointments that helps us understand how parents are bonding during pregnancy, without needing long intrusive questionnaires or difficult conversations.” 

Family Hub Practitioner

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

 “Parents often want to talk about the baby, but they don’t know how to start. This tool gives us a natural way in — it helps us notice things, ask the right questions, and open up space for early support.” 

Midwife, NHS Pilot Site

Health Visitor, Early Help Team

Midwife, NHS Pilot Site

 “The MAAS was useful, but it only told one side of the story — and it didn’t always sit well with families. This feels more human. It fits into real conversations and everyday practice.” 

Contact Us to find out more

WhatsApp is a really quick way to get in touch...

Message us on WhatsApp

Register for Free Toolkit

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Cancel

Copyright © 2025 - Pregnancy Basics - Hands on Babies Ltd - All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy

Would You Or Your Team Benefit From Using Pregnancy BASICS?

Register your interest to Access the Pregnancy BASICS Toolkit for FREE

Register

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

DeclineAccept