People advised to give birth in Leeds following a fetal diagnosis

Introduction

You will have received this leaflet following discussions in either Fetal Cardiology, Fetal Medicine or both. The doctors caring for you will have advised that your baby should be born in Leeds General Infirmary due to a diagnosis made on scan. This is because Leeds is a regional centre for neonatal cardiology, neonatal surgery and complex neonatal care.
We appreciate that this may be an unexpected change to your birth plans and you may be anxious about coming to an unfamiliar hospital. This aim of this leaflet is to offer further information to support you and your family though this journey.

Initial steps

The Fetal Medicine midwives will organise a telephone booking appointment with you. This usually takes place between weeks 24-28 of pregnancy or later if the decision for birth in Leeds is not made until then. The call will usually last between 20-60 minutes. If you need an interpreter to support you with this appointment then please inform the midwives if they are not already aware.

The purpose of this call is to record your information onto the Leeds maternity system. Your local hospital will use an alternative system for recording your information and Leeds will not have access to this.

We appreciate that the questions at this appointment may be a repeat from your booking appointment at your local hospital but this appointment is essential to ensure the safety and wellbeing of you and your baby.

What does this mean for the rest of my care in pregnancy?

Throughout the rest of your pregnancy, you should continue all your routine care at your local hospital. This includes community midwife appointments and any other appointments made to care for you such as antenatal clinic due to a medical condition. Leeds will not take over your routine care. It is important that you continue to attend all these appointments to ensure the wellbeing of both you and your baby.

At further appointments in Fetal Medicine or after seeing Fetal Cardiology, the Fetal Medicine team may also advise we take some bloods and perform some of your observations. This is again to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your and your baby when preparing for birth in Leeds.

Leeds Fetal Medicine Unit and Leeds Fetal Cardiology (if your baby has a heart condition) will make a plan of care with you to advise how often you should be seen in their departments. These appointments are extra to all your routine care at your local hospital.

How will the birth of my baby be planned?

Usually, people who now are giving birth in Leeds will be offered a planned date for birth. This helps the teams that will help and care for your baby after birth prepare for their arrival, and increases the chance that your baby will be born in Leeds. Depending on the details of you and your baby’s health needs, and your personal preferences, we will offer either an induction of labour or a caesarean section. These birth plans will be discussed with you to allow you to make an informed decision.

If you unexpectedly give birth prior to a planned date then please be reassured that your baby will still receive care as planned as specialist teams are on call 24 hours a day.

For further information about induction of labour and caesarean section, please see the links at the end of this leaflet.

Other useful information for your birth

When you attend Leeds for the birth of your baby, one birth partner can stay with you 24 hours a day. During your stay, when you are on delivery suite you can have an additional birth partner with you.

Please be aware that camp beds are not provided therefore if birth partners wish to sleep then this will be in a chair.

Following your birth, if your baby is on the Neonatal Unit but you are fit to be discharged from hospital, there are other options to allow you to stay near your baby. Details of this can be found in the Neonatal Unit patient information booklet. If you have not already been given this and your baby is expected to go there then please ask one of the Fetal Medicine midwives for a copy.

When you attend Leeds for the birth of your baby, if you have any handheld notes from your local hospital then please bring these with you and give to the midwife caring for you.

Who should you contact if you have any concerns in your pregnancy?

When If you have any urgent pregnancy concerns, we recommend you contact your local Maternity Triage or Assessment Centre, even if you are not planning to have your baby at your local maternity unit.

You should contact your local Maternity Triage or Assessment Centre:

• If you have concerns about your baby’s movements.
• If you have any vaginal bleeding.
• If you think your waters may have broken.
• If you have any abdominal pain.
• If you think you may be in labour.
• If you have any other concerns.

We advise you contact your local hospital as this is the safest option for you and your baby. If you are in labour when you arrive at your local hospital, they will aim to transfer you to Leeds if it is safe to do so. However, if it is not deemed a safe option then they will transfer you and your baby after the birth. It is safer for your baby to be born in a hospital rather than on the journey when you are trying to get to Leeds.

Other useful information

Tour of maternity services

Neonatal Unit

Please click the links below to visit:

The Neonatal unit webpage

‘Leeds Centre for Newborn Care’ patient information leaflet

Neonatal Unit Podcast webpage

Family Integrated Care

Induction of labour

Caesarean section

Contact us