During your pregnancy

We would advise you to take the following steps for a healthy pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant:

1. Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Sometimes you’ll be advised by your midwife or GP to take 5 milligram of folic acid if you are diabetic, epileptic, have a family history of neural tube defects or a BMI over 30. Folic acid reduces the risk or neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida.
2. Stop smoking or cut down. Smoking during pregnancy has been linked with premature birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death and miscarriage. We offer support to help you stop.
3. Do not drink alcohol as this can pass to your baby and may cause developmental problems.
4. Stop using any illegal substances as these can pass to your baby and cause serious harm including stillbirth.
5. Cut down on caffeine, if you drink a lot. Consuming too much caffeine in pregnancy can be linked to serious complications such as low birth weight, miscarriage and stillbirth.
6. Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can raise your risk of having high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis, miscarriage and gestational diabetes.
7. Check your medications as not all medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Do not stop taking medication without talking to your GP first.
8. Check your vaccination history with your GP. Have you have your measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination? If not, you can arrange to have this prior to pregnancy. You should avoid having the MMR vaccine 1 month prior to getting pregnant.
9. If you have a long term condition such as epilepsy, mental health or diabetes, talk to your GP prior to becoming pregnant so that they can offer support and refer you if necessary.
10. Test for Sickle cell and Thalassaemia which are inherited blood disorders mainly affecting people whose family come from Africa, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, India, Pakistan, South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

More information about planning your pregnancy is available on the NHS website.

If you are part of the LGBT+ community, there is more information on ways to become pregnant. 

Have you had a positive pregnancy test? The first part of motherhood and your journey to becoming a parent is your pregnancy.

The care during your pregnancy if often called ‘antenatal care’. 

Our team are excited to meet you. They are: 

• dedicated to providing you with a high standard of maternity care, personalised to your individual needs
• passionate about helping you to make informed decisions and choices throughout your pregnancy

If you live in Rotherham you can fill out our self-referral form.

If you live outside of Rotherham, please contact your GP to find out how to reach your community midwives.

Your first appointment is often referred to as a ‘booking appointment’ and we aim to have it before your tenth week of pregnancy.

Ideally you should tell you’re GP or Midwife about your pregnancy by 8 weeks to make sure you can be seen before 10 weeks by your community midwife. Community midwives in Rotherham are available in many places, such as Family Hubs, Children’s Centres and GP surgeries.

We know that pregnancy can be both exciting and a daunting time for you and your family. We are here to make sure you have the best experience possible.

At your appointment, your midwife will:

• check your general health and complete blood tests with your consent
• discuss who you live with and if you have any support agencies working with your family
• give advice on health and lifestyle
• talk about your antenatal (before birth) care options
• discuss where you would like to give birth. All women and birthing people can choose which hospital they wish to provide their pregnancy, birth and after birth care. The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust works in partnership with the South Yorkshire Local Maternity and Neonatal System
• talk about your postnatal care (after birth)

Your care will be tailored to your individual needs.

Bloods will be taken to: 

• check your iron level
• find out your blood group
• look at your family origins
• check for sickle cell and thalassaemia
• check for infectious diseases

If you know that you have sickle cell or thalassaemia, or are a known carrier, please make your community midwife aware and ask to be referred urgently to the screening team. 

You may also be offered a vaginal swab as part of the antenatal screening program. This swab checks for infectious diseases that may affect your pregnancy. 

Your community midwife will give you details of how to access the screening tests for you and your baby information.

You will be offered 2 ultrasound scans:

1. The first scan will confirm your due date and give you the chance to have screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau’s syndrome.
2. The second scan will check your baby’s anatomy and look for any structural abnormalities. The appointment may take up to two hours. Partners or family members are welcome to come with you.

Community midwifery

Community midwives hold caseloads and work as a team to provide care during pregnancy and during and after birth. This includes homebirth. The routine appointments offered by your community midwife are:

Booking appointment (before 10 weeks)

We will:

• provide you with your personalised care plan
• provide you with information on healthy eating, staying active, pelvic health, bonding with your baby, benefits of breastfeeding and skin to skin, what to expect during pregnancy, pregnancy care services, symptoms to watch out for and maternity benefits
• offer to measure your blood pressure, height, and weight, and calculate your BMI and risk of blood clots during pregnancy. You may be offered medication to reduce this
• offer to test your urine to check for protein or infection
• check your carbon monoxide levels
• offer screening tests and make sure you understand them before deciding whether to have them
• talk to you about vaccines we offer during pregnancy, like for flu, whooping cough and RSV
• advise if you need extra care from other experts
• help you quit smoking, if needed
• offer an ultrasound scan to complete screening (with your consent) and give you an estimated due date
• talk to you about your options for where to give birth
• offer a 20-week ultrasound to check your baby’s development

11 to 14 weeks

• We will perform an ultrasound scan (in Greenoaks antenatal clinic) to measure your baby and give an estimated due date. Screening is also offered at this scan for Down syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau syndrome.

16 weeks

We will:

• discuss your first hospital visit and will review you personalised care plan
• measure your blood pressure, test your urine and check your carbon monoxide levels
• provide information on avoiding alcohol during pregnancy, benefits of skin-to-skin contact, and how to keep your pelvic health strong
• review and discuss the results of any screening tests you chose to do
• consider an iron supplement if you have anaemia
• refer you (with your permission) to a health visitor, local Family Hub or Children's Centre for services such as weighing clinics and baby classes after your baby is born
• ask you about your mental health

20 to 21 weeks

• We will perform an ultrasound scan (in Greenoaks antenatal clinic) to check for certain structural abnormalities.

25 weeks

We will:

• measure your blood pressure, test your urine and check your carbon monoxide levels
• use a tape measure to check the size of your uterus (if you are not having growth scans regularly)
• provide you with a Maternity Certificate (MAT B1)
• talk to you about our workshops and classes to learn more about labour, birth, induction of labour and breastfeeding
• talk to you about your baby’s movements

28 weeks

We will:

• measure your blood pressure, test your urine, check your carbon monoxide levels and use a tape measure to check the size of your uterus (if you are not having growth scans regularly)
• do a blood test to check for anaemia and antibodies
• talk to you about your baby’s movements
• offer an Anti-D injection if you are Rhesus negative
• offer an RSV vaccination
• offer to book workshops and classes for labour, birth, induction of labour and/or breastfeeding
• talk to you about your personalised care plan

We may offer you a glucose tolerance test to test for diabetes in pregnancy.

31 weeks

We will:

• measure your blood pressure and test your urine, check your carbon monoxide levels and use a tape measure to check the size of your uterus (if you are not having growth scans regularly)
• review the results of screening tests done at 28 weeks
• offer to book workshops and classes for labour, birth, induction of labour and/or breastfeeding
• ask you about where you would like to give birth

34 weeks

We usually see you at home for this appointment. We will:

• complete a simple home check to ensure all is safe for a newborn baby. Your community midwife may ask if they can check the kitchen space where equipment may be sterilised and the space where your baby will be sleeping during the day and night
• discuss your personalised care plan
• provide information about preparing for labour and birth, including how to recognise active labour, ways to cope with pain, and making your plan for birth
• discuss your plans for the care of yourself and your baby for the first few weeks after birth
• review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests from your last appointment
• measure your blood pressure and test your urine, check your carbon monoxide levels and use a tape measure to check the size of your uterus (if you are not having growth scans regularly)
• offer your second anti-D treatment if you are rhesus negative
• offer to book workshops and classes for labour, birth, induction of labour and/or breastfeeding

36 weeks

We will:

• discuss your personalised care plan
• measure your blood pressure and test your urine, check your carbon monoxide levels and use a tape measure to check the size of your uterus (if you are not having growth scans regularly)
• offer to recheck your weight and height to recalculate your pregnancy BMI. This will help us to review your likelihood of developing a blood clot. You may be offered some medication to reduce this risk
• check to see if your baby is positioned with their head down
• discuss options to turn your baby if it is feet or bottom first (breech) and methods of birth if your baby remains breech
• review the results of screening tests done at 34 weeks
• talk to you about your mental health

38 weeks

We will:

• discuss your personalised care plan
• measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• measure the size of your uterus using a tape measure (if you are not having regularly growth scans)
• check the position of your baby
• discuss the offer of a cervical membrane sweep at 39 weeks pregnant if there are no signs of labour

40 weeks

We will:

• discuss your personalised care plan
• measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• measure the size of your uterus using a tape measure (if you are not having regular growth scans)
• check the position of your baby
• offer you a cervical membrane sweep and will offer to book you an induction of labour if you haven’t gone into labour by 41 weeks of pregnancy

If you have a medical condition or if something changes during your pregnancy, you will be assigned a specific consultant. This might mean you will have extra appointments in Greenoaks antenatal clinic and may not need to see your community midwife as often as the majority of your care will be provided by Greenoaks.

We have a team of obstetric consultants who each specialise in different areas and high-risk pregnancies. Consultant clinics are held at the Greenoaks antenatal clinic.

Greenoaks antenatal clinic

You can bring 1 other person to all of your appointments, scans and procedures.

We kindly ask that children do not come to scan appointments. If this is a problem, please call Greenoaks before your appointment and our team will be happy to assist you. 

Most care is given by your midwife in community but you may be asked to come to one at our antenatal (before birth) clinic. Our clinics are held in Greenoaks, located on the Rotherham Hospital site across from the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre. 

These visits can take up to 3 hours. There is parking available on site.

Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. If your baby’s movements slow down, change or stop, it could mean your baby is not well.

What to do

Contact maternity triage immediately if you notice any changes in your baby’s movements. This could save your baby’s life.

Maternity triage is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact them on 01709 427700.

Important reminders

• It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour. Your baby should move during labour too.
• Do not wait until the next day to seek advice if you are worked about your baby’s movements. 

If you have any concerns. Contact maternity triage right away.

During your pregnancy, labour and after birth, your care should fit your needs. 

Personalised care means you have choices about how your care is planned. It’s based on what matters to you. 

With your midwife or obstetrician (doctor), you will have the opportunity to talk about your family, health and personal circumstances and preferences for your care. This helps to make sure your care is right for you as an individual and as a family.

Your care team will provide you with all the information you need. This helps you make the best choices that feel right for you and your baby.

Personalised care plan

You will receive a personalised care plan. You may use this to write down your wishes, worries, and what you would prefer for your care and the care of your baby.

Regular updates

We will review and update your plan during pregnancy. This makes sure your care stays right for you and your baby. Any changes will be made with you and your family.

Bring your plan with you

Please bring your personalised care plan to every appointment. This helps us give you the best and safest care.

Making informed decisions is a key part of personalised care and support planning. This means that anyone receiving care is fully supported and informed about their choices and care options. 

With informed decision-making, you and your healthcare team work together to decide what care is best for you. Your experience is just as important as the medical expertise.

What is informed decision making?

Informed decision making helps you to:

• understand your options, including risks and benefits
• make decisions about your care
• get clear and reliable information in a way you understand and in good time.

BRAIN: Making informed decisions

We use tools like BRAIN to help explain your options. BRAIN is an acronym to help you think through your choices:

• Benefits: what are the benefits of the test, pain management, medication, procedure or plan being considered?
• Risks: what are the risks of the test, procedure or plan? What are the risks compared to the benefits? Are there any side effects?
• Alternatives: what are other ways to approach the situation? There may be many options, especially during a healthy pregnancy.
• Intuition: what does your gut feeling say about the choice? Your intuition is an important part of decision making.
• Nothing: what happens if you do nothing? What if you wait an hour, a day or week? Consider benefits and risks of doing nothing too.

For more information, please ask your midwife. We hope this helps you to feel supported to make the best decisions for you and your baby.

During pregnancy, screening tests are offered to check for any health conditions you or your baby might have. Deciding to have these tests is a personal choice.

What screening tests will I be offered in pregnancy?

Screening for:

• hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis
• sickle cell and  thalassaemia
• Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome

Some screening tests will also be offered to your baby after they're born:

•    newborn physical examination
•    newborn hearing screening
•    newborn blood spot test

More information about screening tests for you and your baby is available on the Gov.uk website.

Cervical screening

The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that all women should have a cervical smear every 3 years. If your smear is due we recommend you have one at your 6 to 8 week postnatal check-up.

During your pregnancy, you will usually be offered 2 ultrasound scans:

1. First scan (dating): This is done between 11 and 14 weeks to estimate your baby’s due date based on their measurements. This scan usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, but may take longer if the baby is moving a lot or in a tricky positions.
2. Second scan (anomaly): This is done between 18 and 21 weeks to check for any certain structural abnormalities in your baby. It also usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, but might take longer if needed.

You might need more than 2 scans, depending on your health and pregnancy.

You can bring 1 other person to your scan with you.

Some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to protect you and your baby. These include the inactivated seasonal flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine. Inactivated vaccines do not contain live viruses. 

Some vaccines, like the tetanus vaccine, are safe to have if needed. However, some vaccines, like the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and yellow fever vaccines, have potential risks. Always discuss these with your midwife or doctor before deciding.

Recommended vaccines in pregnancy

Flu

During pregnancy, your immune system is weaker to protect the pregnancy. This means you are more likely to get illnesses like the flu. Pregnant women and birthing people are more likely to have flu complications and may need to go to hospital. The flu vaccine helps prevent this or makes the flu less severe.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough is serious for young babies. Most babies with whooping cough will need to go to hospital. 

If you get the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy, your body makes antibodies that protect your baby. These antibodies pass to your baby, protecting them until they can get their own vaccine at 8 weeks old. 

You usually get the whooping cough vaccine at 20 weeks pregnant, but this can be given from 16 weeks. To best protect your baby, have the vaccine before 32 weeks of pregnancy. If you miss this, you can still get it later. 

If you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine, contact your midwife or GP.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes coughs and colds. It can be serious for babies, causing lung infections that may need hospital treatment. 

The RSV vaccine during pregnancy passes protection to your baby, reducing their risks of severe RSV for the first 6 months. 

You should get the RSV vaccine around your 28 week antenatal appointment. Getting vaccinated as soon as possible from 28 weeks provides the best protection. It can also be given later if needed, even up until labour. 

If you are 28 weeks pregnant and haven’t been offered the RSV vaccine, contact your midwife or GP.

COVID-19

if you’re pregnant or think you might be, it is recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccines to protect you and your baby. 

Pregnant women and birth people are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19, especially later in pregnancy. Your baby could also be at risk. 

It is safe to have the COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. The vaccine does not contain live viruses and cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.

Being pregnant is a big life event, and it is normal to feel many different emotions. Usually, these feelings are normal and you can manage them using some of the suggestions below. But sometimes, they can make it hard to do everyday things like go to work or take care of your other children. 

Your midwife can help support you and help you to have a positive pregnancy and birth. If you are feeling sad and it is affecting your life, there are things you can try to help you feel better.

• Talk about your feelings: share how you feel with a friend, family member, doctor or midwife.
• Try calming breathing exercises: these can help you relax if you feel overwhelmed.
• Stay physically active: exercise can improve your mood and help you sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet: have regular and balanced meals.
• Attend antenatal classes: meet others who are expecting babies around the same time.

Occasionally, you might have thoughts or feelings that scare you, like wanting to hurt yourself or others, or hearing voices that aren’t there. If this happens, you need to get help right away. Please talk to your midwife about this as soon as possible.

Where to get help

Rotherham and Doncaster Perinatal Mental Health Service 

‘Perinatal’ refers to the time from when you become pregnancy to up to a year after giving birth. This local perinatal mental health service offers confidential and non-judgemental care for women with moderate to severe mental health problems who are planning to have a baby, are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months.

Talking Therapies

NHS Talking Therapies help adults with common mental health problems like depression, anxiety and stress.

Light Pre and Postnatal Support

Light offers peer support groups and one-to-one sessions for parents experiencing similar things. It is a safe and friendly place to get support.

RotherHive

RotherHive provides online wellbeing information, support and advice for adults in Rotherham.

Domestic abuse happens a lot. You are not alone, and it is not your fault. It is wrong. 

Domestic abuse means being hurt or frightened by someone close to you, like a partner, ex-partner, family member or carer.

Domestic abuse can include:

• Controlling you by making you feel scared or alone and using threats to use physical or sexual violence
• Hurting your feelings (emotional abuse) or playing mind game (intimidation, degradation, isolation)
• Hitting or forcing you into sexual activity
• Financial control and or abuse (taking your money or controlling how you spend it)
• Harassment and or stalking (following you around or bothering you)
• Bullying you online or through messages

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

Midwives and doctors will routinely ask about domestic abuse at your consultations.

Hopian operates a helpline for individuals and professionals in Rotherham. Call 0330 2020571. They offer information, safety advice and signposting for support.

At your booking appointment, your midwife will calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) and give you advice based on the result. 

If your BMI is over 35, you will receive specialist care from a team of midwives and consultants (doctors). If your BMI is very high, you might also have an assessment with an anaesthetist doctor.

Why BMI matters

Having a high BMI during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications for you and your baby. It is important to manage your health to reduce these risks.

Getting support

There are many services that can help you stay active and eat well during pregnancy. These services can help you develop healthier habits for life. Your midwife can refer you to these services at your booking appointment or any time during your pregnancy.

Specialist support

We work closely with teams in Physiotherapy and Health Psychology to support women with a high BMI. Your midwife may discuss a referral to these services to provide extra help. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please ask your midwife.

We advise you to eat a varied and healthy diet during your pregnancy. Iron supplements are given only if needed based on your blood test results.

Dairy

Food you can eat:

• Pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and ice cream
• Hard cheeses like cheddar, gruyere and parmesan
• Pasteurised semi-hard cheeses like edam
• Pasteurised soft cheeses like cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi and goat’s cheese without white rind
• Cooked soft or blue cheeses

Food to avoid:

• Unpasteurised milk products like soft ripened goat’s cheese
• Mould ripened soft cheeses with a white coating, like brie or camembert (unless cooked and steaming hot)
• Soft blue cheeses like Danish blue, gorgonzola and Roquefort (unless cooked and steaming hot)

Unpasteurised and soft cheeses might have Listeria bacteria, which can cause an infection leading to miscarriage or stillbirth. Cooking cheese until it is steaming hot kills the bacteria.

Meats

Food you can eat:

• Well-cooked meats like chicken, pork and beef without any pink or blood
• Cold, pre-packed meats like ham or corned beef

Meats to be careful with:

• Cold cured meats like salami, pepperoni, chorizo and prosciutto (unless cooked thoroughly)

Food to avoid:

• Raw or undercooked meat
• Liver and liver products
• All types of pate, including vegetarian pate
• Game meats like goose, partridge or pheasant

Raw or undercooked meat may have bacteria or parasites that toxoplasmosis, which can lead to miscarriage. Live products have a lot of vitamin A, which can be harmful to the baby. Game meats may contain lead shot.

Eggs

Foods you can eat:

• Raw, partially cooked, or fully cooked British Lion stamped hen eggs
• Foods made with British Lion stamped eggs, like mousse and mayonnaise
• Well-cooked eggs from any other source, including duck, goose or quail

Foods to avoid:

• Raw or partially cooked hen eggs that are not British Lion stamped
• Raw or partially cooked duck, goose or quail eggs

British Lion stamped eggs are less likely to have salmonella, which could cause food poisoning.

Fish and seafood

Foods you can eat:

• Cooked fish and seafood
• Sushi made with cooked fish
• Cooked shellfish like mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams.

Fish and seafood to limit:

• No more than 2 portions of oily fish per week (salmon, trout, mackerel or herring)
• No more than 2 tuna steaks or 4 medium cans of tuna per week

Foods to avoid:

• Swordfish, marlin and shark
• Raw shellfish
• Cold-smoked or cured fish (unless cooked and steaming hot)

Tuna has more mercury, which can harm your baby. Oily fish can have pollutants that are also harmful in large amounts. Cold-smoked or cured fish might have listeria bacteria, leading to serious infection or harm to your baby.

Caffeine amounts

• 100mg in a mug of instant coffee
• 140mg in a mug of filter coffee
• 75mg in a mug of tea
• 40mg in a can of cola
• 80mg in a 250ml can of energy drink
• Less in chocolate

Herbal teas

Some herbal teas have caffeine. Check the label for caffeine content. Drink no more than 1 to 2 cups a day.

Liquorice

Liquorice is safe to eat. Avoid liquorice root.

Fruits, vegetables and salads

Wash all fruits, vegetables and salads and remove any soil that could make you ill.

Enoki mushrooms

Cook enoki mushrooms thoroughly to kill listeria bacteria. Wash hands and surfaces when handling them.

Peanuts

You can eat peanuts unless a healthcare professional advises against it or you have a nut allergy.

Vitamins

Avoid high-dose multivitamins and any supplements with vitamin A.

The Department of Health and Social Care recommends avoiding all alcohol during pregnancy. This will keep any risk to your baby to a minimum.

Why avoid alcohol?

When you drink alcohol, it passes from your blood to your baby through the placenta. This can seriously affect your baby’s development because their liver is not fully developed and cannot process alcohol.

Risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy:

• Miscarriage: alcohol increase the risk of losing your baby early in your pregnancy
• Premature birth: alcohol can cause your baby to be born early
• Low birthweight: babies can be born smaller if you drink alcohol during pregnancy
• Long-term conditions: drinking alcohol can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

What is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a serious, lifelong condition that can cause problems with:

• learning and behaviour
• joints, bones, muscles and some organs
• managing emotions and social skills
• hyperactivity and impulse control
• communication, such as speech problems

The more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk to your baby. If you have any concerns, please speak to your midwife.

Stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can do to have a healthy pregnancy and give your baby the best start in life.

How we can help

Our special team is here to support you, not judge you. We know stopping can be hard, but women and birth people are 4 times more likely to stop with our help.

What we offer

All pregnant smokers will be referred to our team. We offer:

• Weekly face-to-face visits
• Telephone support
• Free nicotine replacement treatment
• Information on using e-cigarettes
• Support throughout your pregnancy and after birth

It is never too late to stop smoking during pregnancy. We are here to help every step of the way.

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes to help you grow, carry and birth your baby. It can sometimes be difficult to know which changes are normal and when you should seek help.

Common pelvic health issues

Pelvic health issues can include:

• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Third or fourth degree tears from childbirth
• Bowel incontinence
• Constipation
• Episiotomy and perineal tears
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia)
• Back and pelvic pain
• Problems with your tummy muscles

Please do not feel embarrassed to talk to your midwife about your pelvic health. Research estimates:

• about 1 in 3 women experience urinary leakage 3 months after pregnancy
• about 1 in 5 women have accidental bowel leakage 1 year after pregnancy
• about 1 in 12 women report symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (when 1 or more organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina)

Pelvic floor exercises

Doing daily pelvic floor exercises can help reduce leaks. It is important to do them properly, including both short and long squeezes. You can feel your pelvic floor muscles if you try to imagine stopping yourself from peeing or farting. 

We can help you manage your symptoms with the knowledge and skills to improve your pelvic health. You can download the free GetUBetter app for South Yorkshire which provides you with 24 hour access to tailored programmes, pelvic floor exercises, and advice on when to seek help and access to local treatments and services.

You can continue to have sex during a normal pregnancy. If you have any concerns, your midwife will be happy to discuss them with you.

Depending on where you live, you will see a community midwife at a clinic that is easiest for you to get to. We cover a large area, so some travel may be needed to reach a clinic.

Home births

For some women, having their baby at home can be a more relaxing and positive experience. Home births are a safe choice if there are no health concerns for you or your baby and you want to give birth at home with midwife support. 

Research shows that having your baby at home can:

• increase the chance of a normal birth without intervention
• reduce the need for interventions like caesarean birth, assisted instrumental birth, episiotomies and medicinal pain relief
• make it more likely to use water for birthing
• lead to higher levels of labour and birth satisfaction

If there is a problem during labour, your midwife will advise and help transfer you to the hospital.

If you want to have your baby at home, community midwives can support and guide you. Please talk to your community midwife for more information.

After your baby is born, community midwives and maternity support workers will continue to care for you and your baby at home.

If you gave birth in the hospital: a community midwife will visit you the day after you go home to create a care plan for you and your baby.

If you gave birth at home: the community midwife will visit you the next day.

You can choose where to have your follow-up care. Postnatal care can continue at home or in the community midwife clinics for up to 28 weeks after birth. 

Most women are discharged from midwifery care between 10 and 14 days after birth. After that, the health visiting 0-19 service will continue to care for your baby.

You can book on to:

• Breastfeeding workshop
• Induction of labour workshop
• Labour and birth preparation workshop

Book a workshop.

Ask Olive is our Facebook page run by qualified midwives. It provides information to families during their pregnancy and the early stages of parenthood. 

The Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) listens to the experiences of women, birthing people and families, and brings together service users, staff and other stakeholders to plan, review and improve maternity and neonatal care.

MNVPs ensure that service users’ voices are at the heart of decision-making in maternity and neonatal services by being embedded within the leadership of provider Trusts and feeding into the South Yorkshire Local Maternity Neonatal System (which in turn feeds into Integrated Care Board (ICB) decision-making). This influences improvements in the safety, quality, and experience of maternity and neonatal care.

For more information or to share your experience of the maternity and neonatal services in Rotherham or South Yorkshire, contact:

• Sophia Peart – Strategic MNVP Lead – Rotherham & LMNS Sophia.peart@nhs.net
• Rotherham Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership on Facebook

Are you in labour or have an immediate concern? 

Call maternity triage on 01709 427700. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Are you up to 19 weeks and 6 days pregnant? 

Call the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit on 01709 427072.

Do you need to change your community appointment? 

Call the community midwifery appointment line on 01709 423729.

Do you need to change your antenatal clinic appointment? 

Call Greenoaks on 01709 424513.

Are you more than 20 weeks pregnant and have a pregnancy concern? 

Call maternity triage on 01709 427700.

Do you need to contact Wharncliffe antenatal and postnatal ward? 

Call Wharncliffe Ward on 01709 424348.

For any concerns after you have been discharged from hospital after giving birth to your baby

Call Wharncliffe Ward on 01709 424348.

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