Care during your Pregnancy
How to book your first appointment
Please contact us as soon as you find out you are pregnant. This is so that we can make your first appointment with a midwife and you can access free prescriptions, dentistry and support. To register to receive your care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals you will need to make a My Pregnancy Notes account using the link below.
For help with registering please visit the My Pregnancy Notes support page to view a step by step video and instructions.
If you have not heard from us within 14 working days or by the time you are 8 weeks pregnant, or you need help to book your appointment please telephone 0113 487 0690.
Your midwife will discuss the care you will need at your first appointment. You will be cared for by a midwife or maternity team depending on your individual needs. Midwife led antenatal care is usually offered if you have no identified risk factors on assessment.
Maternity team care is offered if you require specialised consultant care in the pregnancy. Maternity team care may mean a combination of visits to the Consultant in the hospital antenatal clinic, and to the midwife in the community. A plan of care will be discussed and agreed depending on your individual circumstances.
You are welcome to see your General Practitioner (GP) along with their midwifery led care. The whole focus of care is on your and your individual choices.
When you ‘book’ for pregnancy care in Leeds Teaching Hospitals you will be given a “My Maternity Journey” pack to keep forever, and your maternity care will be recorded electronically. You can see your notes by logging into My Pregnancy Notes.
If you are concerned about bleeding in early pregnancy, contact your Midwife if you are booked. If you are awaiting your booking appointment please contact your GP.
For more information about bleeding and pain in early pregnancy please follow this link.
Your baby's movements
At around 20 weeks of pregnancy you will start to feel your baby move. Your midwife will ask you about your baby's pattern of movements. A baby moving during pregnancy can be anything from a flutter, kick, swish or roll and these are a sign that baby is well. When a baby is unwell, they may conserve energy by slowing down their movements. This can be the first sign of a problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BTHB-DVi8M
Between 20-26 weeks you will start to recognise your baby's pattern of movements, which will continue throughout the pregnancy. If your baby's pattern of movements changes or reduces in number, please call and speak to a Midwife promptly: LGI on 0113 3926731 or St James's on 0113 2065781
Specialist ante-natal screening services are offered to all women. Please read government information on NHS screening.
View a short animation about screening.
Leeds is part of the National evaluative roll out of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) meaning if you receive a higher chance result for having a baby with Down, or Edward’s & Patau’s syndrome following combined or quadruple testing you will be offered NIPT.
For further information and specialist counselling please contact: Screening Team on 0113 2065530; or speak to your community midwife.
Whooping Cough Vaccination and Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Expectant mothers can help protect their babies by getting themselves vaccinated against whooping cough from 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The seasonal flu vaccination provides around 70-80% protection against flu. Having the seasonal flu vaccination will reduce the risk of you catching flu this winter, therefore reducing the risk of complications during pregnancy and protecting your baby.
For further information, you can speak with your GP or midwife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4tRyUMvCk
Oral Health in Pregnancy
It is important to look after your dental health in pregnancy as hormonal changes can make some women more at risk of developing gum problems. For more information please see the Oral Health for Pregnancy leaflet
