It can be helpful to review events around pregnancy and birth. In South East London most maternity units have a birth reflection/listening service that can be accessed at any time after giving birth or when you return for subsequent pregnancies. To find out about how to access this service, speak to your community midwife.

Bexley

Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Kent History and Library Centre

James Whatman Way

Maidstone

Kent ME14 1LQ

Tel: 03000 415252

Email: register.office@kent.gov.uk

Bromley

Registry Office

Civic Centre

Stockwell Close

Bromley BR1 3UH

Tel: 0330 303 8776 – Option 1

Greenwich

Registry Office

Woolwich Town Hall

Wellington Street

Woolwich SE18 6PW

Tel: 020 8921 5015

Lambeth

Registry Office

Lambeth Town Hall

Brixton Hill

London SW2 1RW

Tel: 020 7926 9420

Lewisham

Registry Office

368 Lewisham High Street

Hither Green

London SE 13 6LQ

Tel: 020 8690 2128

Email: register.office@lewisham.gov.uk

Southwark

Registry Office

34 Peckham Road

London

SE5 8QA

Tel: 020 7525 7669

Children’s and Family Centres

Bexley

Bromley

Greenwich

Lambeth

Lewisham

Each maternity unit in South East London offers all three locations for birth: home, midwife led unit or obstetric led unit, however, if you are planning a homebirth, you will need to be booked with your closest maternity unit.

Community midwife teams

King’s College Hospital – Denmark Hill

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Bexley

Clover

Best Beginnings

Devonport

Maritime

Marshes

Sapphire

Thames

Julie Stead, Matron

Email: julie.stead@nhs.net

Princess Royal University Hospital

Beacon Team

Tel: 01689 866606 or

Tel: 01689 866811

Email: kch-tr.br-Beacon@nhs.net

Blenheim Team

Tel: 01689 866372

Email: kch-tr.br-Blenheim@nhs.net

Oaks Team

Tel: 0203 910 7286 or

Tel: 0203 910 7287

Email: kch-tr.br-Oaks@nhs.net

Ravensbourne Team

Tel: 01689 864819

Email: kch-tr.br-Ravensbourne@nhs.net

St Thomas’ Hospital

University Hospital Lewisham

Manor House

Tel: 07741 232 205

Poppie

Tel: 07741 232 744

Broadway

Tel: 07810 055 405

Rainbow

Tel: 07769 648 588

Wells Park

Tel: 07717 661 272

Bluebell

Tel: 07766 248 935

Waldron

Tel: 020 3049 3740

Parkview

Tel: 020 8318 7441

Indigo

Tel: 07717 661 265

Emerald

Tel: 07584 544 999

Lynn Bayes, Matron

Email: Lynn.bayes@nhs.net

Each of the South East London maternity units offer those core maternity services:

• birth centre
• birthing pools
• obstetric-led care
• midwife-led care
• infant feeding specialists
• consultant cover
• home birth option
• specialist diabetes clinic
• ultrasonography services
• antenatal ward
• antenatal care in the community
• birth preparation classes
• local neonatal care
• postnatal ward
• postnatal care in the community
• postnatal care at home
• perinatal mental health specialist support
• private room hire

Bromley

Tel: 020 8313 9303 (option 1) (9.00am-4.30pm Mon-Fri)

Email: info@bcwa.org.uk

Website: Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid

If you are unable to call there is a ‘CHAT’ option on the website:

Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid CHAT

Greenwich

Greenwich Domestic Violence and Abuse Service (GDVA) , provides practical advice, emotional support and signposting to support survivors and professionals across London. The advice line can also help you to access refuge accommodation or other specialist domestic violence services.

Advice and Helpline number

Tel: 020 8317 8273

Website: www.gdva.org.uk for more information and to access support online visit the website.

Royal Greenwich Community Hub provides advice and support to access relevant services including domestic abuse services.

Freephone Tel: 0800 470 4831 (8.30am to 6.00pm Mon-Fri)

Email: covid19support@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Website: Royal Greenwich coronavirus community hub

Lambeth

The Gaia Centre, run by Refuge offers independent, confidential support and advice to any Lambeth resident experiencing domestic abuse (as well as other forms of gender based violence). It is a single point of access for women, girls and men experiencing violence and abuse. This means that anybody experiencing any form of gender-based violence in Lambeth can find all the tailored support they need under one roof.

They also have an early intervention service which supports young people aged 11 up.

There is also access to a number of refuges which offer safe accommodation to those fleeing domestic abuse, although you may need to access refuges in another area of the country for safety reasons.

Refuges can be accessed via the Gaia Centre or by calling the National Domestic Abuse 24/7 freephone helpline:

Gaia Centre

Tel: 020 7733 8724

Email: lambethvawg@refuge.org.uk

For more information and a list of support services you can also view Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) which lists all of Lambeth’s support services.

Lewisham

Athena, Lewisham

The Athena service, run by Refuge provides confidential, non-judgmental support to those living in the London Borough of Lewisham who are experiencing gender-based violence. It opened its doors in April 2015 and provides outreach programmes, independent advocacy, group support, refuge accommodation and a specialist service for young women.

Who can use Athena:

• Women and girls aged over 13

• Men aged 16 or older

• Transgender and identifies as male, female, as another gender, or is questioning gender identity

For more information If you’re in Lewisham

Athena Service Tel: 0800 112 4052

Email: lewishamvawg@refuge.org.uk

Website: Refuge one stop shop services

Southwark

If you are experiencing any kind of domestic or sexual abuse, the Southwark Advocacy and Support Services (SASS) can help. They support people aged 16 and above, who live in Southwark, at risk of domestic or sexual abuse whether they choose to report the abuse to the police or not.

SASS offer support whether you choose to report the abuse to police or not . They also provide a service for men, women and young people using violence within an intimate or family relationship.

For help contact SASS:

Tel: 0207 593 1290

Website: Southwark Advocacy Support

Donate

Charitable Trusts

Many of the NHS Trusts and hospitals in South East London have their own charities. These charities raise money via fundraising activities for patients and staff and by coordinating and receiving charitable donations. Money raised is re-invested into service improvement projects. To find out more about your local NHS hospital charity, follow the links below.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Greenwich and Lewisham NHS Trust

Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust Charitable Fund

League of Friends at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Email: diane.hudson@nhs.net

Tel: 020 8836 4667

Friends of University Hospital Lewisham

Email: valerie.fairbrass@nhs.net

Tel: 020 8836 4667

You can decide where in South East London you want to receive your maternity care during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Women and their families are encouraged to provide feedback either via the individual Trust websites (listed below), Our Healthier South East London or SEL Clinical Commissioning Group. This information collected will be used to ensure continued improvement of services:

www.ourhealthiersel.nhs.uk/get-involved/

www.selondonccg.nhs.uk/contact-us/

The South East London Local Maternity System meet quarterly and work together to drive maternity improvements across the sector. Workstream meetings are held bi-monthly to focus on individual areas of work and the Maternity Delivery Group monthly to monitor progress.

Visit the Our Healthier South East London website to find out more about how you can get involved in health improvement projects in your area.

www.ourhealthiersel.nhs.uk/get-involved/

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

St Thomas’ Hospital

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

King’s College Hospital – Denmark Hill

Princess Royal University Hospital

Princess Royal University Hospital

Tel: 01689 863252

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Email: pals.qeht@nhs.net

Tel: 020 836 4592

University Hospital Lewisham

Email: pals.lewisham@nhs.net

Tel: 020 8333 3355

Health visitor contact by borough

Bexley

Tel: 0300 330 5777

Email: bromh.bexley0to19.co.uk

Bromley

Bromley Healthcare

Phoenix Children’s Resource Centre

38 Masons Hill

Bromley BR2 9JG

Tel: 0300 5777 3000

Greenwich

Memorial Hospital

Shooters Hill

London SE18 3RG

Tel: 020 8836 8621

Email: Oxl-tr.cat@nhs.net

Lambeth

Tel: 020 3049 5300

Email: gst-tr.spahealthvisitingservicelambeth@nhs.net

Lewisham

Lewisham Honor Oak

20 Turnham Road

Brockley SE4 2LA

Tel: 0203 049 2269

Lewisham Lee

2 Handen Road

London SE12 8NP

Tel: 0203 049 2112

Lewisham Downham

7-9 Moorside Road

Bromley BR1 5EP

Tel: 0203 049 1900

Lewisham Forest Hill

Sydenham Green Health Centre

26 Holmshaw Close

Sydenham SE26 4TH

Tel: 0203 049 2777

Lewisham Bellingham

Bellingham Children’s Centre

109 Randlesdown Road

London SE6 3HB

Tel: 0203 049 2755

Southwark

Tel: 020 3049 8166

Email: gst-tr.spahealthvisitingservicesoutwark@nhs.net

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

St Thomas’ Hospital

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

King’s College Hospital – Denmark Hill

Email: kingsmvp.southwark@gmail.com

Facebook: Kings Maternity Voices

Twitter: Kings MVP Twitter

Princess Royal University Hospital

Bexley

www.bexleyccg.nhs.uk/Your-Services/Maternitychoice

Email: bexleymslc@gmail.com

Facebook: Bexley Maternity Voices

Bromley

Email: PRUHmaternityvoices@outlook.com

Facebook: Bromley Maternity Voices

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Email: greenwichmvp@gmail.com

Facebook: Greenwich Maternity Voices

Twitter: @GreenwichMSLC

University Hospital Lewisham

Email: mvp.lewisham@gmail.com

Facebook: Lewisham Maternity Voices Partnership

Twitter: @MslcLewisham

Instagram: MVP Lewisham

Maternity care in South East London

If you live outside of South East London, you can still use this app’s content and develop your personal care plans. To find your nearest unit follow this link:

In South East London, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (Oxleas) and the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) provide mental health services.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has a new trust wide perinatal mental health service. The service is based at Queen Mary’s Hospital and consists of a multidisciplinary team of professionals including team manager, consultant perinatal psychiatrists, specialist perinatal nurses, clinical psychologists, nursery nurses, OT, Social worker and administrators.

These are divided into three small teams for Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich. Each team works closely with midwives, obstetricians, health visiting, other secondary mental health services and children’s social services. There are close links with GPs, IAPT and third sector organisations (including Cocoon, MIND, and Mums Aid).

The service offers specialist assessment, care and treatment for women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or up to 12 months postnatal. The team offers a range of specialist interventions, including advice to help women weigh up the risks and benefits of using psychiatric medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

SLAM – The Perinatal Mental Health Team is a multidisciplinary mental health service for pregnant and postnatal women with severe and complex mental illness.

The team aims to prevent, detect and treat perinatal mental health problems. We work to improve the experience of pregnancy and the postpartum period for women and their families, as well as early life experiences for babies.

Women at risk of relapse in pregnancy and following delivery are assessed early in pregnancy to allow them time to consider the treatment and care options available. The Perinatal Mental Health Team works collaboratively with women, their families and other professionals to plan care during pregnancy and the early postpartum period.

The Perinatal Mental Health Teams work jointly with adult mental health services already providing care for a woman when she becomes pregnant. We work in partnership with maternity services, children and families’ social services, primary care and other Trust mental health services.

Our service consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, perinatal nurses, perinatal nursery nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and administrators.

The Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP)

This project aims to improve the safety and outcomes of maternal and neonatal care by reducing variation in practice and providing a high quality healthcare experience for all women, babies and their families across England.

PReCePT (Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm Labour)

The PReCePT programme aims to reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy in babies born prematurely by giving women a medication called magnesium sulphate during labour. This programme is being rolled out across South East London and other activities include improving care, strengthening staff capability across maternal and neonatal units and supporting mothers to become more involved with their care to improve quality of life of preterm babies and their families.

Private maternity hospitals

You can opt to have your baby in a private hospital. Find more information about private maternity units and locate specific private maternity units here.

Private maternity service within an NHS facility

Private rooms

All hospitals in South East London have the option of private rooms for after the birth, and these vary in cost. You can ask your midwife or doctor about this.

For research projects in South East London Local Maternity System, please see the related link section below.

Talking therapy services or IAPT services are offered throughout South East London, and in every London borough, providing support to those experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Priority is given to pregnant women and new parents. You can either self-refer over the phone or online, or ask your midwife or GP to do it for you. The service is free and aims to be flexible around your needs.

Talking therapy/IAPT contact details in South East London:

‘Our ambition is for mothers, babies and their families in South East London to experience joined up, high quality care during and after their pregnancy. They should be supported to make choices that are right for them, and where risks or complications mean additional intervention is required the care is safe with a good outcome.

We will work in partnership to ensure women and their families are involved in making decisions about their care, are prepared for a healthy and confident pregnancy, received holistic great quality care and feel supported before and after birth.’

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

St Thomas’ Hospital

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

King’s College Hospital – Denmark Hill

Email: kch-tr.volunteers@nhs.net

Princess Royal University Hospital

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Lewisham University Hospital

Midwife

Obstetrician

Paediatrician/Neonatalogist(baby doctor)

Sonographer

Maternity support worker

Student midwife

Health Visitor

Other staff members

It can be helpful to review events around pregnancy and birth. In Herts and West Essex all maternity units have a birth reflection/listening service that can be accessed at any time after giving birth or when you return for subsequent pregnancies. To find out about how to access this service, speak to your community midwife.

Essex

Central contact and information for all the Essex Birth Registration Centres listed below:

Tel: 0345 603 7632

Dunmow

Great Dunmow Library

47 White Hart Way

Dunmow CM6 1FS

Epping

Epping Registration Office

Epping Library

St John Road

Epping CM16 5DN

Harlow

Harlow Registration Centre

Harlow Central Library

Cross Street

Harlow CM20 1HA

Uttlesford

Uttlesford Registration Office

Council Offices

London Road

Saffron Walden CB11 4ER

Hertfordshire

Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead Register Office

The Forum

Marlowes

Hemel Hempstead

Hertfordshire HP1 1DN

St Albans

St Albans Register Office

The Gatehouse

1 Victoria Street

St Albans AL1 3TF

Stevenage

Stevenage Register Office

Danesgate House

Danesgate

Stevenage SG1 1WW

Watford

Watford Register Office

31 Hempstead Road

Watford WD17 3EY

Essex Family Services

Brambles Family Hub

Epping Library

St Johns Road

Epping CM16 5DN

Tel: 0300 2470122

Hazelwood Family Hub

Hillhouse Primary School

Ninefields

Waltham Abbey EN9 3EL

Tel: 0300 2470122

Little Oaks Family Hub Delivery Site

Loughton Resources Centre

Torrington Drive

Loughton IG10 3TD

Tel: 0300 2470122

True Stars Family Hub Delivery Site

The Limes Centre

Limes Farm

Chigwell IG7 5LP

Tree House Family Hub

Parnall Road

Harlow CM18 7NG

The Meadows Family Hub Delivery Site

Harberts Road

Harlow CM19 4DL

Tel: 0300 2470122

Potter Street Family Hub

Caters Mead

Harlow CM19 9EU

Tel: 0300 2470122

Spangles Family Hub

Lower Street

Stansted

Mountfitchet CM24 8LR

Tel: 0300 2470122

Little Goslings Family Hub Delivery Site

North Street

Great Dunmow CM6 1AZ

Tel: 0300 2470122

Hertfordshire Family Centre Services

Watford & Three Rivers

Hertsmere

Dacorum

St Albans

East Herts

North Herts

Broxbourne

Welwyn Hatfield

Stevenage

This is a decision you will make following discussion with your midwife or doctor at around 34-36 weeks of pregnancy, but it is helpful to start thinking about your preferences before this time.

Each maternity unit in Herts and West Essex offers three locations for birth: home, midwife led unit or obstetric (consultant unit. You may also choose to access a free-standing midwifery unit outside of our area. Please talk to your midwife to discuss your choice.

Community Midwife Teams

Princess Alexandra Maternity Unit

Tel: 01279 827 102 option 3

Tel: 01279 441 607 (ask for the Maternity Bleep Holder)

Watford General Hospital Maternity Unit

Please contact your named midwife directly on the mobile number you will be given.

Please see alternative contact numbers below:

Watford General Hospital

Tel: 01923 217361

Hemel Hempstead

Tel: 01442 287789

St Albans City Hospital

Tel: 01727 897394

East & North Herts NHS Trust

Please contact your named midwife directly on the number you will be given.

Please see alternative contact numbers below:

East & North Herts Community Midwife Team information

Tel: 07917 505 287

Core services available at all Herts and West Essex LMNS maternity units:​

• Midwife-led care
• Consultant led care
• Fetal medicine service
• Specialist diabetes service
• Ultrasound service
• Perinatal mental health service
• Specialist birth options/planning service
• Birth preparation classes
• Antenatal care in the community
• Antenatal ward
• Maternity day assessment unit
• Maternity triage service
• Home birth service
• Alongside midwife-led birth centre
• Labour ward
• Birthing pools
• Individual rooms for labour & birth
• 24 hour epidural service on labour ward
• Maternity theatre service on labour ward
• Infant feeding specialists
• Specialist neonatal care from 28 weeks
• Postnatal ward
• Postnatal care at home and in community clinics
• Private room hire

Each maternity unit in Herts and West Essex is linked to its hospital trust’s charity. Hospital charities raise money via fundraising activities for parents and staff and by coordinating and receiving charitable donations. Money raised is re-invested into service improvement projects. Find out more about your local NHS hospital charity.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

You can decide where in Herts and West Essex LMNS you want to receive your maternity care during pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Information on maternity services in Herts and West Essex LMS is available in other languages here:

Women and their families are encouraged to provide feedback via our purpose-built feedback websites (links below) to help us continually improve our services. You can also give your feedback to your maternity teams via the following methods:

​

• Face-to-face if you are currently in hospital
• Telephone
• E-mail
• Letter
• Local Maternity Voices Partnership group

Please ask your midwife for further information.

The friends and family test has been paused at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and The Princess Alexandra Hospitals NHS Trust during the response to COVID-19.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Email: pals.enh-tr@nhs.net

Tel: 01438 285811

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Email: paht.pals@nhs.net

Tel: 01279 827211

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Email: westherts.pals@nhs.net

Tel: 01923 217198

Essex

Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service

Harlow North Healthy Family Team

Kao Park

London Road

Harlow CM17 9NA

Tel: 0300 247 0122

Email: vcl.essexwest-hftcentraladminhub@nhs.net

Harlow South Healthy Family Team

Tree House Family Hub

Parnall Road

Harlow CM18 7NG

Tel: 0300 247 0122

Email: vcl.essexwest-hftcentraladminhub@nhs.net

Epping and Waltham Abbey Healthy Family Team

Brambles Family Hub, Epping Library

St John’s Road

Epping CM16 5DN

Tel: 01992 602 330

Email: vcl.essexwest-eppingadmin@nhs.net

Loughton and Buckhurst Hill Healthy Family Team

Brambles Family Hub, Epping Library

St John’s Road

Epping CM16 5DN

Tel: 01279 342165

Email: vcl.essexwest-hftcentraladminhub@nhs.net

Uttlesford Healthy Family Team

Saffron Walden Community Hospital

Radwinter Road

Saffron Walden CB11 3HY

Tel: 0300 247 0122

Hertfordshire Family Centre Services

Watford and Three Rivers

Westfield Family Centre (Main Hub)

Croxley View

Watford WD18 6NS

South Oxhey Family Centre (Main Hub)

C/o Oxhey Wood Primary School

Northwick Road

South Oxhey

Watford WD19 6NL

Duty Health Visitor:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday – Friday

Bushey & Oxhey

Tel: 020 8515 8210

Rickmansworth

Tel: 01923 775065

Watford Central

Tel: 01923 234282

Garston

Tel: 01923 243568

Email: watford&threerivers.fcsenquiries@inspireall.com

Hertsmere

The BECC Family Centre (Main Hub)

Shakespeare Drive

off Furzehill Road

Borehamwood WD6 2FD

Duty Health Visitor:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday- Friday.

Hertsmere

Tel: 020 8359 8520

Email: hertsmere.fcsenquiries@inspireall.com

Dacorum

Windmill Family Centre (Main Hub)

Broadfield Primary School

Broadfield Road

Hemel Hempstead HP2 4DW

Duty Health Visitor:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday- Friday.

Dacorum rural

Tel: 01442 285837

Hemel Hempstead

Tel: 01442 454655

Email: dacorum.fcsenquiries@inspireall.com

St Albans

Sopwell Family Centre (Main Hub)

C/o Mandeville Primary School

Mandeville Drive

St Albans AL1 2LE

Duty Health Visitor:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday- Friday.

St Albans

Tel: 01727 891300

Email: stalbans.fcsenquiries@inspireall.com

Harpenden and Villages

To contact your health visiting team, please call our duty line:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday- Friday.

Duty Health Visitor:

Tel: 0300 123 7572 08:00 hrs – 17:00hrs Monday- Friday.

Lister Stevenage Maternity Voices Partnership

West Hertfordshire Maternity Voices Partnership

West Essex Maternity Voices Partnership

National Maternity Voices

Maternity care in Herts and West Essex

If you live outside of Herts and West Essex LMNS, you can still use this app’s content and develop your personal care plans. To find your nearest unit follow this link:

The Herts and West Essex Local Maternity and Neonatal System, in partnership with other services, support our women and families with their mental health, emotional wellbeing and mental health awareness. We consider your mental health and emotional wellbeing to be just as important as your physical health.

Please speak to your midwife or obstetrician if you need support with your mental health.

The following websites and telephone numbers can also be used to access advice and support:

Hertfordshire

If you need urgent support please contact our Single Point of Access number.

Tel: 0800 644 4101

West Essex

If you need urgent support please call the Crisis Line.

Tel: 0330 726 0110

National maternal and neonatal programmes in Herts and West Essex

The Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP)

PReCePT (Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm Labour)

Private maternity hospitals

You can opt to have private healthcare during your pregnancy and birth. Find more information about private maternity units and locate specific private maternity units here.

Private rooms

Some Herts and West Essex maternity units participate in research projects.

To find out how you can participate in a research trial go to:

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Helpful links in Herts and West Essex:

Hertfordshire

Tel: 0300 777 0707

West Essex

Our vision statement

• We strive for continuous improvement ensuring women and families have a safe and positive, personalised care experience.
• Women and staff will work within a culture of kindness and trust to develop pathways that empower families to have proactive involvement, positively impacting health and wellbeing for the future.
• We will develop and invest in our workforce supporting them to provide quality care.
• Digital improvements will be utilised to share information across the LMNS and provide choice to service users in an accessible way.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Depending on how many weeks pregnant you are, you may be offered medicines to try and slow down or stop your labour, antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing an infection, and steroid injections that are given to you, to help your baby’s lungs develop and prepare for life outside the womb should they be born early. If your baby is extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks) you may need to be transferred to a maternity unit with a neonatal intensive care unit.

In Herts and West Essex, each maternity unit has a local neonatal unit/special care baby unit caring for babies who need additional support. If your baby requires neonatal intensive care they may need to be transferred to a more specialist hospital. Please speak to your midwife or obstetrician for more information.

Midwife

Obstetrician

Paediatrician/Neonatalogist(baby doctor)

Sonographer

Maternity support worker

Student midwife

Health Visitor

Other staff members

Our objective

Herts and West Essex are committed to implementing the recommendations from Better Births, which aims to provide care that is "safer, more personalised, kinder, professional and more family friendly; where every woman has access to information to enable her to make decisions about her care; and where she and her baby can access support that is centred around their individual needs and circumstances".

Visit A Healthier Future to find out more about how you can get involved in health improvement projects in Herts and West Essex.