Maternity

As soon as you know you are pregnant, please get in touch with your local maternity unit to book your first appointment. This is called your 'booking appointment', and you will meet a midwife for the first time.

Ideally you should be seen by a midwife by the time you are 10 weeks pregnant, or as early into your pregnancy as possible.

Planning where to have your baby is an important decision. Evidence shows that giving birth in the UK is generally very safe. You can choose where to have your baby.

During your antenatal care, your midwife, and sometimes a doctor (obstetrician), will discuss your health with you. With information from you, they will assess your health and the health of your baby. You can decide what feels right for you. You can change your plans about where to have your baby at any stage if your pregnancy changes or you change your mind.

Your midwife should explain that you can choose to give birth at home, in a midwifery unit (either freestanding or alongside a hospital with an obstetric unit) or in a hospital obstetric unit.  Your midwife will explain which of the options are available for you in your area. Wherever you choose to have your baby, you should be supported in your choice.

For more information visit Supporting your pregnancy at Newham Hospital; Pregnancy; supporting; Newham Hospital (bartshealth.nhs.uk)

 Antenatal care is the care you get from health professionals during your pregnancy.

It's sometimes called pregnancy care or maternity care.

You'll be offered appointments with a midwife, or sometimes a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth (an obstetrician).

You should start your antenatal care as soon as possible once you know you're pregnant. You can do this by contacting a midwife or GP.

You can make your first appointment quickly and easily by self-referring directly to your local maternity unit or visiting your GP.

For more infromation on at antenatal care visit Your antenatal care - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Antenatal classes

Antenatal classes can help you to prepare for your baby’s birth and give you confidence and information.

They're usually informative and fun, and they're free on the NHS.

You can learn how to:

• look after and feed your baby
• stay healthy during pregnancy
• make a birth plan, considering the different arrangements for labour and birth and the choices available to you

You may also meet some of the people who will look after you during labour and after the birth. You'll be able to discuss your plans and any worries with professionals and other parents.

Antenatal classes are also a good way to make friends with other parents who are expecting babies around the same time as you. These friendships can help you through the first few months with your baby.

for more information visit Antenatal classes - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Birth Plan

A birth plan is a record of what you would like to happen during your labour and after the birth. You don't have to create a birth plan but, if you would like one, your midwife will be able to help.

Discussing a birth plan with your midwife gives you the chance to ask questions and find out more about what happens in labour.

It also gives your midwife the chance to get to know you better, and understand your feelings and priorities, and allows you to think about or discuss some things more fully with your partner, friends and relatives.

You can change your mind about your wishes for labour and birth at any time.

for more information visit How to make a birth plan - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Where to give birth: the options

You can give birth at home, in a unit run by midwives (a midwifery unit or birth centre) or in hospital.

Your options about where to have your baby will depend on your needs, risks and, to some extent, on where you live.

If you're healthy and have no complications (low risk) you could consider any of these birth locations. If you have a medical condition, it's safest to give birth in hospital, where specialists are available. This is in case you need treatment during labour.

If you give birth at home or in a unit run by midwives, you’re less likely to need assistance such as forceps or ventouse (sometimes called instrumental delivery).

Wherever you choose, the place should feel right for you. You can change your mind at any point in your pregnancy.

for more information visit Where to give birth: the options - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Download a birth plan template

You can download a birth plan template to fill in and save.

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NHS trust you can choose to have your baby at one of our tranquil birthing units or in the comfort of your own home cared for by experienced midwives, or in one of our labour wards with doctors close at hand. For some women, giving birth in hospital will be the safest option.

For up to date support for your birth visit Supporting your birth at Newham Hospital; Pregnancy; supporting; Newham Hospital; birthing options (bartshealth.nhs.uk)

Follow link to download useful advice of specific situations conditions and choices

Once your baby has been born, we will continue to care for you both and help you to get to know each other.

In preparation for returning home, we will provide general after birth care and support for you both (called postnatal care) including:

• Baby feeding support and advice
• Full newborn examination prior to leaving hospital
• Newborn hearing screening prior to leaving hospital
• Follow up care will be organised by your local community midwife

For more information about support in newham after birth Visit Supporting you after your birth at Newham Hospital; after birth; feeding; support; Newham Hospital (bartshealth.nhs.uk)