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 The information featured in this website is the most up to date Maternity information available. The informational booklets provided at clinic to expectant mothers may have slight differences due to the booklets being reprinted yearly. The Maternity Reception is on the first floor. Open Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 5pm Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm Always report on arrival when attending clinics. Please make your future appointments at the desk on the way out. Throughout your pregnancy you will have regular antenatal care as your baby is developing properly. However, we can only advise you on any changes you should make regarding your lifestyle and activities. It is up to you to make the adjustments. Your community midwife will arrange to visit you and your partner at home early in your pregnancy and help you plan your care and complete your own Pregnancy Health record (PHR) which your can keep until you have your baby. Always keep this record with you so all professionals can fill in any results or examinations you have received. This way you are the most informed person about yourself. The hand held Pregnancy Health Record now provide extensive supportive information. Your first visit to the antenatal clinic will normally be when you are 12 weeks pregnant. This visit is to confirm your expected date of delivery by undertaking a 'dating' scan. By reviewing your medical and obstetric notes at this appointment we can ensure your receive the correct level of care between the midwives, GPs and obstetricians. You will also have blood taken for the tests as described in your hand held Pregnancy Health Record.
If your pregnancy is causing any concerns, you will be invited to attend the Antenatal Day Assessment Unit situated within the clinic. Here it is possible to monitor your baby using an electronic foetal monitor; this can be repeated as necessary, enabling any decisions to be made regarding your care.
Hospital birth with consultant/GP/midwife care Your consultant will decide how often you need to attend the unit to see a member of the obstetric team. In between you will be seen regularly by your GP or midwife. Hospital birth with GP/midwife care If there are no anticipated worries concerning your pregnancy and delivery you may be offered GP/midwife care. If during your pregnancy you did develop problems, a consultant referral would be made. Home birth If you would like to discuss the option of a home birth with a midwife, ask your GP for the name of the midwife attached to his/her surgery or ring the community midwives office. She will discuss with you whether you have any complicating factors that would make a home birth inadvisable. If your GP advises you against a home birth and you want to discuss this further, telephone the hospital and ask to be put through to a supervisor or midwives. If you live outside North Warwickshire in Leicestershire or Coventry your community midwife will not be based in this hospital. However, we communicate very well and your midwife will be informed about you via the GP surgery. Ask her to explain how you can contact her for advice.
Blood Tests Blood is taken from you at the beginning of pregnancy. Information collected includes: blood group whether you are rhesus negative or positive, whether you are anaemic. You are also tested for various infections like hepatitis B which could be passed to your baby. You will also be asked whether you would like to be tested for HIV. Though it is very rare, if you were found to be positive, you would receive treatment that would reduce the risk of your baby being infected. For details of each test see your hand held Pregnancy health Record. Ultrasound This is used routinely to confirm the baby's expected date of birth. It is usually carried out at about 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you have had problems previously, your doctor might arrange for an earlier scan. A second scan is offered to you at around 20 weeks of pregnancy, when it is possible to examine the baby more closely for any abnormalities. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that are converted to moving pictures. The ultrasonographer is able to measure the size of the baby and see some of its vital organs. Although the scan is one of the highlights of pregnancy, it is a very important diagnostic test which requires a great deal of skill and concentration on the part of the ultrasonographer, so please save your questions until the end. The ultrasonographer will ask you to be quiet initially while she takes measurements of the baby before explaining her findings to you. When you have a scan in early pregnancy it is possible to purchase an image or picture of your baby. This costs £3 so you will need to have £1 coins with you as the staff do not carry any cash. Triple screening blood test By testing a small sample of maternal blood an indication of increased risk can be made that your baby could have spina bifida or Down's syndrome. This is not a diagnostic test but does allow us to offer more detailed tests if necessary. You do not have to take this test. You will have an opportunity to talk to a midwife or doctor first so that you can make an informed decision. Do talk about this before your clinic appointment so you know what questions you want to ask. Amniocentesis This test is performed by removing some of the fluid from around the baby. This is done by passing a fine needle through the abdomen under ultrasound guidance. The fluid is then sent to a specialist laboratory where it is tested for specific chromosomal abnormalities. the full results of this test take two to three weeks to be returned. Along with the usual test for amniocentesis a test called PCR is now available on the NHS. (only since 01/10/2004) which can give results in 72 working hours for three chromosomal conditions one of which is Down Syndrome. The risk of miscarriage from Amniocentesis is 1:150 Who would have this test? If your individual downs risk is greater than 1:250 following the triple test If there is an inherited disease in your family which could be detected with this test. If you wish to discuss Amniocentesis an appointment can be arranged with a consultant. Chorionic villus sampling CVS is not undertaken in this unit and referral to Birmingham Women's Hospital would be required if requested. The risk of miscarriage with CVS is quoted as between 1:50 and 1:100, but it does have the advantage of being performed earlier, at around 11 weeks. It is done for usually the same reasons as Amniocentesis but in addition it is also offered to ladies who will be 37 years of age by their expected date of delivery. If you are interested in this test please discuss this with your midwife. This test is done by removing minute fragments of tissue that normally become the placenta. This is done by inserting a needle through the abdomen under ultrasound guidance.
Exercise It is important to be fit to cope with your altered shape and for when you go into labour, so take regular exercise of a similar nature as before your pregnancy. Diet If you eat a varied and healthy diet you should not require extra vitamin supplements. Some women require iron tablets a little later in pregnancy, but your midwife or doctor will advise you. Foods to avoid The following foods may contain bacteria which can be harmful to your unborn baby:
Toxoplasmosis This is an infection which is not usually dangerous to healthy adults and children but could harm the unborn baby. We do test for this infection if necessary but advise the following precautions: If you are a cat owner, take extra care by wearing rubber loves when emptying the cat litter tray
How will I cope with labour? Should I breastfeed? I wish I could relax. Why can't I sleep? All these and many more questions are asked by pregnant women every day. We are able to answer many of them and help you discuss the issues which concern you and your partner at this special time in your lives. Emotions are heightened during pregnancy and afterwards. You will often feel tired, particularly at the beginning and end of pregnancy. You will often feel tired, particularly at the beginning and end of pregnancy. You will be worried about the birth experience and how you will cope. Attending Parent Preparation Sessions with your partner is a good opportunity to gain more knowledge from an expert and will help you enormously. We offer a variety of discussion groups at a selection of venues across the area so there should be one to suit your needs. From after you have your 20 week / 2nd scan you can book onto the sessions. The only charge is for the coffee! These are very informal sessions giving prospective parents the opportunity to discuss openly many issues concerning labour, pain relief, baby feeding choices and to develop relaxation and coping skills for labour. Aquanatal Sessions The aquanatal sessions at Bedworth Leisure Centre are recommended for the useful exercises and for great fun. They are aimed specifically at pregnant women and led by a practising qualified midwife. They are held on Mondays 8pm-9pm, cost is £1.95 for members and £2.60 for non members. Wearing Seatbelts You are advised to continue to wear your seatbelt when driving but keep it well above and below your bump. Ask your midwife for advice about correct wear. Smoking You are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby if you do not smoke. If you want support and advice to reduce or stop smoking, please talk to our doctor or midwife. Sex in pregnancy There is no physical reason why you should not have sexual intercourse throughout a normal pregnancy. Your midwife is used to discussing this subject with women so if you have any concerns or want advice, do not be afraid to ask her. Other help Other organisations provide support, advice and help during pregnancy and childbirth. There is a local National Childbirth Trust (NCT) group and La Leche League. Telephone numbers are in local directories. Whatever help and advice you require, please discuss it with your community midwife. Together you can plan the preparation sessions to suit your individual needs. Complimentary therapies We have a midwife with a qualification in aromatherapy who can advise you on which oils will benefit you when having a baby. These oils are available in the clinic for a small voluntary contribution which maintains our stocks. TENS machines If you are interested in using a TENS machine (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) in labour as a method of reducing pain, contact the Community Midwives office and ask for a form to complete. The Physiotherapy Department supply these so you can apply it prior to admission in early labour. |
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