My Maternity Journey

Congratulations on your pregnancy

Please carry your notes with you at all times.

You will have a named midwife who will be part of a small team, ensuring you receive personalised care throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

We recommend that you download the free Baby Buddy app; it has lots of useful information about pregnancy and beyond.

Becoming a parent can be tough, but you’re not alone, have a look at the Leeds Mindwell website to explore how you are feeling and find the right help and support.

Accessing your notes

This online service will enable you to:

• Record your Personalised Care Plan
• Note down any questions you wish to ask your Midwife at your next appointment
• Add documents (Eg your Maternity Exemption Certificate and MAT B1) and notifications
• (Eg changing GPs or telling us you are moving away)
• Access leaflets and information
• Add Your Maternity Exemption Certificate and MAT B1

Take Care Of Yourself:

• Contact your local children’s centre for lots of support and groups to join during pregnancy and the early years
• Make sure to go to all your appointments
• Have your flu, RSV vaccine and whooping cough jabs, they are free!
• Give up smoking
• Stop drinking alcohol
• Stay active
• Ensure a healthy balanced diet
• Do not delay speaking to your midwife if you have any concerns or worries

It is important to tell your midwife if you

• Change address
• Change GP
• Change telephone number
• This is essential to keep your records up to date!

Medicines

Always read the label of any medicines that you buy over the counter and ask for information from your pharmacist or midwife. If you are admitted to one of our hospital wards, it is important that you bring any medicines that you are taking with you.
Ibruprofen is NOT safe to take in pregnancy, but it can be safely taken after the birth of your baby.

We recommend buying basic pain relief like Paracetamol and Ibuprofen before your baby arrives. These are not usually provided when you leave the hospital after your baby is born. You can buy them at pharmacies, supermarkets, local shops, and petrol stations.

What you’ll need for labour and birth

Whether you’re planning to have your baby at home, in hospital or at a midwifery unit, you should get a few things ready at least 2 weeks before your due date.

If you’re planning to give birth in a hospital or midwifery unit, your midwife will probably give suggestions of what you’ll need to pack. This will include things for you and your new baby.

You can use any kind of bag you want, from a rucksack to a small suitcase.

For yourself, you will need to consider:

• Your birth plan and hospital notes
• something loose and comfortable to wear during labour
• a couple of packets of super-absorbent sanitary or maternity pads
• 5 or 6 pairs of knickers – you may want to bring some disposable ones
• toiletries
• towels
• a fan, water spray or flannel to cool you down
• front-opening or loose-fitting nighties or tops to enable skin to skin easily with your baby
• a camera
• healthy snacks and drinks
• A TENS machine if you intend to use one

For your baby you will need to consider

• bodysuits, vests and sleepsuits
• a hat preferably woolen
• plenty of nappies
• blanket
• cotton wool
• muslin squares

Home births

If you’re planning to give birth at home, discuss your plans and what you need to prepare with your midwife. Think about where in your home you want to give birth. You’re likely to need:

• clean bed clothes and towels
• clothes (including a hat) and nappies for the baby
• a couple of packets of super-absorbent sanitary or maternity pads

Think about where in your home you want to give birth.

Follow the link below to visit our website for a list of everything you’ll need:

We have a team of experienced homebirth midwives who work in our Lotus team and provide care during labour and birth at home.

Postnatal

Documents and records

We will tell your GP and the 0-19 service (the health visiting team) about your care and the medicines which you are taking. This is important so those teams can support your ongoing care. We will usually send this information electronically via the Leeds Care Record.

If you or your baby needs any follow up treatment or checks at the hospital, you will be informed of the reason why and an outpatient appointment will be sent out in the post.
Following the birth of your baby you will be given a Postnatal Care Plan containing further postnatal information for you to read. If you need further support your midwife will develop a Personalised Care Plan that sets out what help you may need after the birth of your baby.

Here are some tips to keep your baby safe during sleep:

• Babies don’t need hot rooms – ideally, between 16-20ºc is just right
• Choose lightweight blankets and clothing for sleep – use one or more layers of light blankets
• Sleep your baby on a flat, firm, clean and dry mattress
• Don’t let anyone smoke in your home – babies are healthier if they are kept smoke-free
• Take care of your baby’s health – have your baby immunised and go for regular check- ups.

Keeping your baby close will help you to recognise the signals your baby makes to tell you that they are hungry or need comfort. Responding to these signals will make your baby feel safe.

To reduce the risk of cot death, babies should sleep in their own cot in their parents’ room until six months.

Transport safety for your baby

It is important that you have a car seat for your baby when travelling. The car seat must be safe and fit your car and you must know how to use it properly.

Babies should not be placed in car seats for any longer than 30 minutes and for a car journey. Babies are more at risk from cot death if they are left for a long period of time in a car seat especially unsupervised.

Here are some top tips to consider when buying your infant car seat

• Ensure car seats conform to British safety standards R44.04 and R129 (I-Size).
• It is not advisable to purchase second hand car seats, unless you are very clear on the age and history of the car seat. It is important a car seat is not used if it has been involved in an accident or it is damaged.
• The seat must fit correctly in any car that it is used in. Ask the retailer to show you how the seat fits and check it is suitable for your car before you buy it.
• Ensure you baby is securely strapped into the car seat before wrapping in blankets.
• For more information please visit: www.goodeggcarsafety.com

Useful websites

How did we do?

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals we welcome feedback from parents to help make continual improvements to our services.

Comments, suggestions or complaints

Useful contact numbers

For health care professionals