During your pregnancy
You will receive antenatal care during your pregnancy before your baby is born
During your pregnancy
We’re here to support you and provide clear information to enable you to make decisions about the care you receive based on your individual needs and circumstances.
This My journey through maternity booklet provides information and helps you to make decisions about your care. There is also an online my pregnancy journey virtual tool available which informs you what to expect and when, and includes tips on keeping yourself well.
During your pregnancy you should have conversations with your midwife about:
- Skin to skin - the value of skin to skin contact and what this means for mother and baby.
- Responding to your baby’s needs - how closeness, comfort and love can help a baby’s brain to develop. Responsive feeding and paced bottle feeding (where appropriate).
- Feeding - the value of breastfeeding as protection comfort and food. How to get feeding off to a good start.
Reduced fetal movements
If you are not happy with your baby’s movements, you must contact the maternity unit straight away on 01924 543006/543002, where there are midwives working 24/7.
Please do not use hand-held monitors, Dopplers or phone apps to check your baby’s heartbeat. Even if you detect a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well - if you are worried, please speak to a midwife.
For more information about reduced fetal movements please visit pregnancy charity, Tommy's, website or refer to their leaflet, as below:
Your birth choices
We offer all four choices of place of birth as recommended by NICE:
- Alongside birth centre at Pinderfields Hospital
- Freestanding birth centre at Dewsbury and District Hospital
- Labour Ward offering a consultant-led delivery suite at Pinderfields Hospital
- Home birth where you'll be supported by a midwife during labour with the option of a water birth
Giving birth is generally safe wherever you choose to have your baby.
Visit Your birthing choices to read more about your birth options and the facilities on offer at Mid Yorks.
If you’re planning to or considering giving birth outside of the guidelines, speak to your midwife to access our ‘birth matters’ clinic.
The NHS website provides further information on birth options and lists the advantages and considerations for each option.
Online maternity notes
At your first contact first contact over the telephone with your community midwife, or booking appointment, you will receive information and login details for Badger Notes where you can access your maternity records and a range of information leaflets.
Badger Notes will allow you to access your maternity records as well as accessing lots of information about your pregnancy. You will also be able to create a birth plan using the app as well as submit questions to your midwife.
For help creating an account and to discover some of the key features of the app visit: Badger Notes App Tour - YouTube
Having issues with the app? Please use the help page at: Badger Notes - Help & FAQ. If the issues persist, please contact your community midwife who will be happy to help.
Visit the following sections for more information
Patient information leaflets
MY choices for pregnancy, birth and beyond.pdf [pdf] 2MB
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT).pdf
How to access the maternity notes app .pdf
Low pregnancy associated plasma (PAPPA).pdf
Substance misuse in pregnancy.pdf
Tokophobia - Fear of childbirth in pregnancy.pdf
Uterine artery doppler scan.pdf
Venous Thromboembolism VTE and your pregancy.pdf
Weight management in pregnancy.pdf
GP booking appointment
Your pregnancy appointment, also known as your booking appointment, will most likely take place at your local GP surgery at around 8 weeks of pregnancy. You can make contact with your community midwife via your GP as soon as soon as you find out you are pregnant
Your pregnancy appointment, also known as your booking appointment, will most likely take place at your local GP surgery at around 8 weeks of pregnancy.
This appointment will take around one hour and is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have.
At this appointment the midwife will ask you a series of questions about your medical history, previous pregnancies and health and well-being. You are likely to receive information on the following:
- blood tests offered to you that will be repeated at different times of your pregnancy
- the birth options that are available
- antenatal classes available
- approximate timings for future appointments.
At this appointment your midwife will recommend either midwife-led or consultant-led antenatal care. This will depend on a variety of factors, such as your physical and mental health, family history, or events in pregnancy previously.
To find out about how your baby is growing download the free Baby Buddy NHS app.
A guide to routine appointments
Throughout your pregnancy you may have additional appointments with Obstetric consultants or other health professionals. This will be dependent on risk assessments made throughout your pregnancy but all referrals will be discussed with you at the time.
These appointments will be made at the hospital site nearest to your address, however on some occasions specialist clinics are only held at one hospital site in which case you would be required to travel to attend these.
Weeks of Pregnancy |
Appointments |
Method |
|---|---|---|
|
Before 10 weeks |
Pre-booking and booking Information on:
We will also review the health and social history of you and your family to assess if you require additional care in your pregnancy, this may include referral to see an obstetric consultant, mental health support or other specialist services. Your blood pressure, height, weight, BMI will be measured to ensure you have the correct care pathways. A urine sample will be taken to exclude infection. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels will be discussed and monitored with your consent. You will be given access to your maternity notes which you will be able to view and interact with on an app on your phone or a laptop. Please let the midwife know if you do not have access to either of these. Your midwife will ensure you have all the relevant contact numbers in case you have any concerns during your pregnancy. |
Telephone / face to face |
|
Before 14 weeks |
You will have a scan to estimate when your baby is due, you may also have screening tests completed at this scan if you have opted to have these in your pregnancy: Down syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, Patau Syndrome After your scan you will be given a customised growth chart to keep with you. Please bring this to all appointments as this is used to monitor your baby’s growth. |
Face to face |
|
16 weeks
|
Your midwife will measure your blood pressure and check your urine for protein. Check your CO level and smoking discussed. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements. Review and discuss your scan and screening test results. Check your customised growth chart which you will have been given at your scan. You should bring this to all appointments. If your blood group is Rhesus negative you will be offered Genotyping to test the blood group of your baby. This will be discussed with your midwife. If you are at risk of gestational diabetes and glucose tolerance test will be arranged. Your midwife will assess this. If you have a history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy you will be offered a glucose tolerance test at 16 weeks. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will ensure you have a 20 week scan booked to check the physical development of your baby. |
Face to face |
|
Around 20 weeks |
You will have a scan to check the physical development of your baby. |
Face to face |
|
25 weeks – if this is your first baby |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements. Your midwife will give you your Mat B1 form Your midwife will offer you information about parent education. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will discuss the role of the health visitor with you and a referral sent to make the health visitor aware of your pregnancy. |
Face to face |
|
26-28 weeks |
You may have a glucose test (GTT) if you have been assesses as at risk for gestational diabetes (NB not everyone has this test). Even if you had a GTT at 16 weeks and this was normal this test will be offered again at this stage to ensure gestational diabetes has not developed. |
Face to face |
|
28 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements You will be offered a blood test to screen for antibodies and anaemia. If you had a GTT the result will be checked and discussed. Your midwife will discuss the role of the health visitor with you and a referral sent to make the health visitor aware of your pregnancy. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will start to talk to you about feeding choices, parent education options and options for birth. |
Face to face |
|
28 weeks |
If your blood group is rhesus negative you may be offered Anti D at this time if you have not had genotyping or if your genotyping showed your baby’s blood group is rhesus positive or gave an inconclusive result. All information about this will provided when you receive your Genotyping result. |
Face to face |
|
31 weeks – if this is your first baby |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will discuss the results of your screening test at 28 weeks Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will start to talk to you about feeding choices, parent education options and options for birth. |
Face to face |
|
34 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will discuss the results of your screening test at 28 weeks Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will talk to you about feeding choices, options for birth and your birth plan. |
Face to face |
|
36 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will check for the presentation of your baby. This is to check that your baby is in the head down position. If your baby is not head down you will be referred for a scan to check this and see a consultant to discuss options if required. You will be weighed and your BMI recalculated. You may be offered swabs to check for MRSA if your midwife assesses you to be at risk. A blood test may be offered to check your iron levels if anaemia was identified at your 28 week screening test. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will talk to you about feeding choices and you will have the opportunity to complete your birth-plan with support, advice and information. |
Face to face |
|
38 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will check for the presentation of your baby. This is to check that your baby is in the head down position. If your baby is not head down you will be referred for a scan to check this and see a consultant to discuss options if required. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support referrals you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. |
Face to face |
|
40 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will check for the presentation of your baby. This is to check that your baby is in the head down position. If your baby is not head down you will be referred for a scan to check this and see a consultant to discuss options if required. If this is your first baby your midwife will discuss and offer you a stretch and sweep. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support referrals you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. Your midwife will ensure you have had opportunity to discuss and make a birth plan. |
Face to face |
|
41 weeks |
Your midwife will check your blood pressure and urine sample. Your CO levels will be measured and smoking discussed. Your midwife will measure the size of your abdomen and plot this on your customised growth chart. Your midwife will talk to you about your baby’s movements Your midwife will check for the presentation of your baby. This is to check that your baby is in the head down position. If your baby is not head down you will be referred for a scan to check this and see a consultant to discuss options if required. Your midwife will offer you a stretch and sweep. Your midwife will discuss induction of labour with you. Your midwife will discuss your care and ensure you have all the appointments and support referrals you need for you in your pregnancy, this may include mental health support or specialist services. |
Face to face |
Midwife-led care
If there are no identified risk factors at your booking appointment, your antenatal care will be provided by the community midwifery team. If you develop a medical condition or complications during pregnancy, you will be referred to consultant-led care where you will have appointments with an obstetric consultant.
At Mid Yorkshire, some women receive their maternity care within a model known as ‘continuity of carer’ and it is our ambition to increase the opportunity for more women to receive care in this way. Continuity of carer midwifery teams are made up of no more than 8 midwives and they provide consistent care to women during their maternity journey: pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. This helps to establish a relationship of mutual trust and respect in line with your decisions.
Consultant-led Care
We have a team of obstetric consultants available to support with certain medical or obstetric needs. If you have an existing medical condition, or develop problems during pregnancy, you will be allocated a named consultant who will support you to develop a plan of care based on your needs.
At Pinderfields Hospital Labour Ward, we have consultants on hand to support with any complications that may arise during labour.
People expecting twins or multiples will be offered consultant-led care.
Antenatal clinics and outpatients
We offer antenatal clinics and day units at all three of our hospital sites. Consultants are available when obstetric clinics are running.
You can see your Consultant at your local hospital for your Antenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy. Specialist Obstetric Clinics these are held at Pinderfields Hospital.
Antenatal clinics are held:
- Monday to Friday at Pinderfields Hospital 7.30 am to 5.30pm
- Monday to Thursday at Dewsbury and District Hospital 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesdays and Thursdays at Pontefract Hospital 8.30am to 5.30pm
If you have any enquires in relation to your appointments please call out appointments line on 01924 541118.
You may be offered routine checks with a member of our maternity team such as blood pressure, weight urine samples and blood tests.
Baby’s movements
If you are concerned about a change in your baby's movement pattern you will be asked to attend the antenatal day unit for monitoring where we can listen to your baby's heartbeat and monitor their movements we can also arrange emergency ultrasound scans if required.
Please ring the antenatal Day Unit, if you cannot get through. If you need urgent advice please call our maternity triage department on 01924 543006.
If you attend outside of the opening hours, you''ll be seen at maternity triage department at Pinderfields Hospital.
Vaccinations in pregnancy
Some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby.
At Mid Yorkshire, vaccination clinics have been set up in our antenatal outpatient departments at Pinderfields, Pontefract, and Dewsbury hospitals, offering flu and RSV vaccinations. COVID vaccines can still be booked through the NHS website, NHS App or at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site. Pertussis at this time is bookable through your GP surgery.
Vaccination clinics take place once a week at each site, as below, with both drop-in and bookable sessions available. You can arrange a booked session through your community midwife.
- Pinderfields Hospital: Monday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Pontefract Hospital: Wednesday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Dewsbury and District Hospital: Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
For additional information about vaccinations in pregnancy, speak to your midwife or visit NHS - vaccinations in pregnancy web page.
Useful information
Professional Midwifery Advocates
At Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust our midwives have access to a Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMAs) who they can speak in confidence, and be supported in their professional growth and development.
The PMAs have a fundamental leadership role in our maternity services, promoting safe and effective evidenced-based care for woman, babies and their families.
Cost of living useful contacts
If you're looking for support with the increased cost of living, take a look at our cost of living useful contacts document. It features website links and phone numbers for organisations offering financial advice, employment support, clothes banks, mental health support and much more besides.