Support

Congratulations on your pregnancy. You may have lots of questions about what will happen and what support is available should you need it. 

Most mums-to-be will not need any more than routine check-ups through their pregnancy. We have put together some useful advice for you during your pregnancy and afterwards. You can also access further information via our Financial Support for Families advice page.

Midwifery and/or consultant support

  • Mums to be who are expected to have a straight forward pregnancy as known as low risk. This care is provided by your local community midwife. Appointments may be at your GP surgery, a local children's centre, the hospital or at home.
  • Mums to be who may have had complications during the pregnancy or in a previous pregnancy will be offered a choice of who looks after them. This may be either the community midwife and the hospital doctor or just the hospital doctor. Appointments will be held at the George Eliot Hospital.
  • Our team of experienced midwives will help you during your pregnancy. 

Multiple pregnancy support 

  • Support is available for mums who are expecting a multiple pregnancy. Your community midwife will provide you with information. 

Healthy Weight Advice

  • Healthy Weight advisers are available to help you if you are worried about your weight or have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35. They will get in touch with you and provide valuable healthy eating advice and develop a programme to support you. The aim of the programme is to help you control your weight gain while you are pregnant. This advisor will hellp you to understand what foods are best for you and your baby. 
  • Your midwife may also arrange for you to see a specialist dietition if this would support your pregnancy or a member of the diabetes team if you have diabetes. 

Triage 

A triage service is based at the hospital and provides emergency help and support. If something is not quite right and you want to speak to someone straight way please get in touch. We may see mums who:  

  • can't feel the baby move when they expect to
  • suddenly start to have an unusual pain
  • are bleeding
  • are suffering from itching
  • If you need advice or to see someone urgently please call 024 7686 5246 and we will let you know what to do next.

Physiotherapy 

  • During pregnancy some mums to be suffer with pelvic girdle pain. This is a pain that is often one sided and may be concentrated in your buttocks. It may appear to jump from side to side or be accompanied by a general back pain or pain at the front of your pelvis.
  • If you have these symptoms please discuss this with your midwife who may refer you to a hospital physiotherapist who specialises in caring for pregnant women. This physiotherapist will assess you and will provide ongoing support and advice to help you manage this during your pregnancy.

Professional Midwife Advocate (PMA)

  • Professional Midwife Advocates are experienced midwives who work within the hospital or in the community and support other midwives to provide excellent care. This additional support is to ensure that you and your baby receive the very best, quality and safe care. 

Smoking in Pregnancy

Anyone who wants to stop smoking can contact NHS Warwickshire Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service

Children and Family centres

Warwickshire Children & Family Centres
Warwickshire Family Information Service (FIS) (for information and access to groups/stay and plays)

Health and Wellbeing

5 ways to wellbeing
Mamma Mia support for mums to be in Coventry and Warwickshire

Mamma Mia 1.PNG

 

We know that the colder months can be difficult for families.  You might be worried about paying your heating bills with the increase in energy prices and concerned about trying to keep your home and your baby warm.  Whilst we understand it can be tempted to wrap your baby up to keep them warm while they sleep, we know that overheating increases the chances of SIDS and research shows that it's better for babies to be cooler rather than too hot. 

To reduce the risk of overheating, avoid using thick bedding and duvets and remove any outdoor clothing and hats when you are indoors.  During the winter months, firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a well-fitted baby sleep bag are fine for babies to sleep in. 

To help Lullaby Trust have put together some useful advice on safer sleep during the colder months.  
Keeping warm this winter - The Lullaby Trust"

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/LullabyTrust

How to follow safer sleep advice in Emergency Situations Resource 2022

Online courses and apps for parents

Children and Family centres 

Self referral/self access

Self help