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  3. Maternity Services (current) /
  4. Your Pregnancy Journey (current)

Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy and birth are one of the most joyful and challenging experiences you will ever have in life. The more that you can prepare and understand about that journey the better. Ideally, you should begin thinking about this even before conception to ensure that you are as fit and healthy as you can be. Within the Maternity Services section you can find links to information about services local to you, general pregnancy and birth advice, and information on more specialist services. 

  • To get you started, visit here for a week-by-week pregnancy guide. 
  • To start your NHS pregnancy journey, visit the NHS England main pregnancy website here. You will find guides, in different languages, to all you need to know about trying for a baby, pregnancy, labour and birth. 
  • More localised help for expectant and new parents can be found Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council websites.
  • Advice on perinatal mental health in the area can be found here.  
  • Look here for information about keeping healthy in pregnancy including diet, vaccinations, work, smoking, alcohol, exercise, mental health, work and travel. 


Useful Information  

The information below is a small sample of where you can find information and advice when you, your partner or someone else you know has a baby. Please check before attending any advertised session and note that some groups charge. Different groups may give a different perspective on elements of your pregnancy, so please always check with your midwife, GP or health visitor if you have any concerns.  


If you like using social media then you may be able to contact your midwife via Facebook. You can ask questions about your pregnancy or caring for your new-born baby via the ‘Ask a Midwife’ Facebook messaging service (monitored Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, excluding bank holiday).

The following links will take you to Facebook groups where you can find frequently asked questions and privately message any queries directly to a midwife:

 

If you have any concerns about your baby's movements, please contact your local Maternity Unit immediately, don’t delay. If bleeding, go directly to Accident and Emergency.

Screening both before and after pregnancy is completely your own choice. Genetic testing and counselling are also available for those considering marrying or married to blood relatives (consanguinity/cousin marriages) who plan to conceive. To find out more about baby screening visit here.

Tommy’s
Resources for dads, partners and non-birthing parents. They hope to be helpful for anyone who is supporting someone through pregnancy and birth. It describes how pregnancy and birth may affect you and suggest ways that you can be involved.

Dadpad
A FREE evidence based app accessible to all fathers living in Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull. It is designed to reduce your anxieties, create a strong bond and healthy attachment with your baby, build stronger family relationships, and helps you to recognise when you or your partner might need to get help for your mental health.  


 

 

Perinatal mental health refers to mental health problems which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. The risk of developing a mental health problem during the perinatal period is greater than developing a physical illness. We understand that this can be a very difficult and confusing time. More than 1 in 4 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. 

Many parents worry that having a problem with their mental health means that they are a bad parent, or fear that they will be judged by health care professionals. This isn’t the case, you are not alone, and there is support out there for you. The sooner you ask for help the sooner things can improve. In Coventry and Warwickshire, you can find information about accessing support here.

For vulnerable families: www.barnardos.org.uk 

  • If in immediate danger please call 999 (no credit for mobile phones is needed). If you can't speak because you are not alone, press 55 on your telephone when the call taker is on the line, and they will still provide help. 
  • You can also use the Ask for ANI codeword at your local pharmacy if you're experiencing domestic abuse and need immediate help. ‘ANI’ stands for Action Needed Immediately. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it means they’re ready to help. They will offer you a private space, provide a phone and ask if you need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.
  • Coventry Haven https://www.coventryhaven.co.uk/
  • Domestic Abuse: how to get help with translated guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help
  • Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247
  • Karma Nirvana, UK Helpline for ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage on 0800 5999 247
  • LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428/help@galop.org.uk
  • Men's Advice Helpline on 0808 801 0327/info@mensadviceline.org.uk
  • Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
  • If you, or someone you know, is worried about or is a victim of domestic abuse please call the Safe to Talk helpline on 0800 111 4998. The Safe to Talk helpline is available Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am - 1pm. 

Your baby's movements are an important way of checking that they are well. Fetal movements can be anything from a flutter, kick, swish or roll.

Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed. There are staff on the hospital maternity unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You must not wait until the next day to seek help if you are worried about your baby's movements. Contact your Fetal Well Being Unit or Labour Ward Triage immediately. 

If you need this information in another language or format, please ask a health care professional. Hospitals also have access to interpreting and translation services. Or you can access leaflets in different languages via the link here. 

 

Contacts

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, College Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 7DJ  
Main Switchboard: 024 7635 1351
Maternity Unit
Call: Triage Unit on 0247686 5246

 

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, Lakin Road, Warwick, CV34 5BW.
Main Switchboard Tel: 01926 495 321 
Maternity Unit 
Antenatal Assessment Unit (AAU) Ext 4090

 

University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX
Main Switchboard: 02476 964000
Maternity Unit 
Fetal Well Being Unit: 02476 967427
Open Monday to Friday 7:30am - 8:30pm Saturday & Sunday 9am -5pm
Labour Ward Triage: 02476 967333 Open 24 hours

You can read the Government report here. 
 
The first 1001 days include pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life. There is clear, evidence that this is a significant and influential phase in development. This is an age of opportunity. What happens during this period lays the foundation for a child’s future health, wellbeing and learning. To find out more follow this link. 

Start 4 Life provides trusted NHS help and advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood to keep you healthy and well and give your baby the best possible start. Learn more by heading to the website.

There are different types support available in our area for new families.

What type of extra support is available?

  • Breastfeeding Peer Supporter

Peer supporters work mostly voluntarily and can be found  in hospitals and the wider community. They will have experience of breasting their own children, have some training but not necessarily a formal qualification.  As well as general support, they may also help identify feeding problems that need specialist support.  As your hospital or local children’s centre about connecting with them.

 

  • Breastfeeding Counsellor

A breastfeeding counsellor has undertaken in depth training in breastfeeding support and counselling skills.  They work closely with parents to find solutions for common breastfeeding issues they may be experiencing. 

 

  • International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

A lactation consultant is a highly trained and qualified breastfeeding specialist.  Lactation consultants provide clinical and expert support on issues such as tongue-tie and infants with weight gain issues.  Lactation consultants often work privately but some are employed by the NHS to provide tongue-tie clinics and specialist support.

 

Support from your NHS trust

  • Early Breastfeeding Support Service – Warwickshire North, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Rugby.

The community based support service provide antenatal breastfeeding education sessions and proactive breastfeeding support for families on discharge from hospital until baby is 8 weeks old via telephone, home visits and group support.

 

  • Group support (available by appointment up to 4 months old):

Bedworth

St Michael’s children & family centre, first & third Friday of the month, 9.30am to 11.30am.

Nuneaton

Camp Hill Children’s centre, Wednesdays, 10am to 11,30am.

Rugby (From 5th September 2022)

Claremont Children’s centre, Wednesdays, 10am to 11.30am.

 

Contact details:

Email: swg-tr.breastfeedingnorth@nhs.net
Telephone: 01926 626529

OR register using forms below:

Register here for virtual antenatal sessions (after 20 week scan): https://forms.office.com/r/PTT6JeBwxw

Register here for postnatal support (for babies 8 weeks and under): https://forms.office.com/r/ux581awkkX

 

  • Social Media and web resources:

NHS Infant Feeding Nuneaton, Bedworth, North Warwickshire, and Rugby private facebook group

NHS Warwickshire Welcomes Breastfeeding

 

Infant Feeding Information Playlist

 

  • Coventry Infant Feeding Team

Providing peer support, home visits, groups and infant feeding telephone line to new parents in Coventry.

Contact details:

Address:Radford Children’s Centre, Coventry, CV6 1HD

Telephone: 07904 984620

Email: breastfeedingsupport@coventry.gov.uk

 

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Coventry Infant Feeding Team

Mosaic Family Hub 9.30-12.30 (specialist clinic)

Pathways Family Hub 13.30 – 16.30 (peer led clinic)

Park Edge Family Hub 9.30-12.30 (peer led clinic)

Woodside Family Hub 9.30-12.30 (peer led clinic)

Woodside Family Hub 09.30-12.30 (specialist clinic)

 

Virtual antenatal Friday @1pm

 

  • Warwick Hospital

Infant Feeding support is available for the first month after birth for families whose baby was born at Warwick or who live in the South Warwickshire catchment area for Community Midwifery Services.

Telephone: 01926 495321 extension 8584 Monday – Friday 9am to 4pm.

Staff may not always be in the office but there is an answer-machine for parents to leave a message and staff will call them back. This may be the following day.

For support outside the Infant Feeding office hours or for urgent queries parents are advised to contact the Bluebell Birth Centre 01926 495321Ext 6974.

The Tongue Tie assessment and treatment service takes referrals from health professionals who have assessed babies with feeding difficulties. The babies must have been born at Warwick Hospital or their parents live in the South Warwickshire catchment area for Community Midwifery Services in order to be referred.

 

  • George Eliot Hospital

Tongue Tie mobility assessment up to 4 weeks. 

Alex Dunderdale

Telephone: 07789713675

 

  • UHCW

Out of hours support for new parents up to 6 weeks post birth:

Contact Ward 25 on Telephone: 02476 96 7315.

 

  • MAMTA, support for Black and Minority Ethnic families in Coventry

Parentcraft classes, including Infant Feeding.

Address: 70-72 Elmsdale Avenue, Foleshill, Coventry, CV6 6ES 

Email: info@fwt.org.uk 

Telephone: 024 7663 7693

 

  • National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding Peer support and online support (NCT)

 

Nuneaton NCT

Tel: 07885 915661

rsabinnct@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/NCTNuneaton/

https://facebook.com/groups/551891282242769/

 

Rugby NCT

Tel: 07925 143553

rugby@nct.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/NCTRugby/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1619878394978690

 

Southam NCT

Tel: 07855 817860

coordinator.southam@nct.org.uk

southam@nct.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NCTSouthamSupport/

Friday NCT support is all through the year and consists of both BF Peer Supporter group - Southam Bumps and Babies (10am-11.30am). And in a separate room a BFC by appointment: 10am-12noon. Both bookable here

 

Stratford NCT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/117042359008842/

 

Warwick Central NCT

Tel: 07906 959632

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nctwarks/

Tuesday NCT support is currently term time only at Lillington Children’s Centre - 9.15-11.15. This is with an NCT BFC and bookable here

 

  • NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors

Coventry

El Molloy NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor (Coventry)

07786 490252 

South Warwickshire

Jen Culley NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor (Leamington)

07734910070

Lisa Colmillo NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor (Leamington/Warwick)

07906 959632

lisa.colmillo@gmail.com

 

Stratford/Alcester

Vikki Kidd NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor

07376385425

vikkikidd.nct@gmail.com

 

Rugby

Liz Skidmore NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor (Rugby)

07925 143553

liz.skidmore.nct@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/BreastfeedingRugbyLutterworth

 

  • Other birth workers – paid services

 

Charlotte Holloway – Antenatal birth educator, ante/postnatal yoga and Birth Doula.

07876 577639 

info@mindbodyandbirth.com

 

Bump2baby Reality

helen@bump2babyreality.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/bump2babyreality/

 

Natal Nurture – Jen Culley

07734 910070

natalnurture@outlook.com

 

Tongue Tie Specialists

Diana Warren

07910608179

diana@tongue-tie.info

https://www.facebook.com/groups/219881955258950

 

Teresa Chambers

Please submit an Enquiry form via the website www.feeding-untied.co.uk

teresa@feeding-untied.co.uk

 

Association of Tongue Tie professionals

www.tongue-tie.org.uk/find-a-practitioner/

 

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) in Coventry and Warwickshire

Helen Wright helenwright.ibclc@gmail.com  Tel: 07976 732272

Rachel Priestley Rachel-priestley@hotmail.co.uk  Tel: 07976 956085

Vikki Kidd VK.bfiss@gmail.com  Tel: 07779 204695

Find a lactation consultant: https://lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/

 

  • Warwickshire Children’s and Family Centres

14 Children’s and family centres operate across Warwickshire providing support for young families, including infant feeding. For your nearest centre and more information click here

 

  • National helplines and support

https://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/  Tel: 0300 100 0212  9.30am – 9.30pm

https://abm.me.uk/ Tel: 0300 3305453 9.30am – 10.30pm

https://www.laleche.org.uk/get-support/

https://www.nct.org.uk/ Tel: 0300 330 0700 – Option1 – 8am to Midnight

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

https://www.tongue-tie.org.uk/

 

  • Local Support Lines and resources

CHAT HEALTH

If you are the parent or carer of a pre-school child, or an expectant parent (28 weeks and over), you can text a health visitor on 07520 615 293, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

0-5s website https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/

 

 

  • General Information

Breastfeeding | Feeding Your Baby | Start for Life (www.nhs.uk)

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