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Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Leaflet Library 

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Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Leaflet Library 

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Patient information leaflets - Sherwood Forest Hospitals

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At Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust we are dedicated to ensuring patients receive the best possible information about their care and treatment. Our information leaflets have been created by healthcare professionals and credible organisations, and are designed for patients, relatives and carers.

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Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Leaflet Library

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Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Leaflet Library

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Nottinghamshire Information and Support Service Directory

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Nottinghamshire Information and Support Service Directory

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Notts Help Yourself Home PageWelcome to Notts Help Yourself Find information and services for Nottinghamshire all in one place If you receive Direct Payments, get involved and tell us about your experience

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Nottingham City Information and Support Service Directory

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Nottingham City Information and Support Service Directory

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ASKLiON | Ask Lion - Nottingham City Directory

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Find activities and support in Nottingham with the LiON directory - community groups, health and welfare support, nursing homes, childcare, schools, services for children, families and SEN support

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NHS Information for Expectant Parents and Families

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NHS Information for Expectant Parents and Families

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All you need to know about pregnancy, labour and birth including trying to get pregnant, foods to avoid, antenatal care and how to keep well in pregnancy.

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NHS Vaccination in Pregnancy Information

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NHS Vaccination in Pregnancy Information

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Find out about vaccines in pregnancy – recommended ones, travel ones, and those best to avoid until after you’ve had your baby.

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Tool to Support Conversations About Birth Setting Choice

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Tool to Support Conversations About Birth Setting Choice

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Choosing your birth location

You can give birth at home, in a unit run by midwives (a midwifery unit or birth centre) or in hospital.

Your choices about where to have your baby depend on your needs, risks and, to some extent, on where you live.

You can usually consider any of these birth locations. But if your pregnancy is high risk or you have certain medical conditions, it's safest to give birth in hospital, where specialists are available. This is in case you need treatment during labour.

If your pregnancy is low risk and you give birth at home or in a unit run by midwives, you're less likely to need assistance such as forceps or ventouse (sometimes called instrumental delivery).

Wherever you choose, the place should feel right for you. You can change your mind at any point in your pregnancy.

Find out what's in your area

Your midwife will discuss the options available in your area but if you're willing to travel, you're free to choose any maternity services.

As well as from your midwife, you can get information from:

children's centres

your GP surgery

local maternity units

You may also want to get advice from your friends and family.

Talk to your midwife about going to have a look around the local maternity services, and ask questions if you do not understand something or think you need to know more. Some hospitals also offer virtual tours on their websites.

Home birth

You can choose to give birth at home. This is usually only recommended if you have a straightforward pregnancy, and both you and the baby are well.

Giving birth is generally safe wherever you choose to have your baby.

But if you're having your first baby, home birth slightly increases the risk of serious problems for the baby - including death or issues that might affect the baby's quality of life - from 5 in 1,000 for a hospital birth to 9 in 1,000 for a home birth.

If you've had a baby before, a planned home birth is as safe as having your baby in hospital or a midwife-led unit.

It's rare, but if something goes seriously wrong during your labour at home, it could be worse for you or your baby than if you were in hospital with access to specialised care.

If you give birth at home, you'll be supported by a midwife who will be with you while you're in labour. If you need any help or your labour is not progressing as well as it should, your midwife will make arrangements for you to go to hospital.

Advantages of home birth

The advantages of giving birth at home include:

being in familiar surroundings, where you may feel more relaxed and better able to cope

not having to interrupt your labour to go into hospital

not needing to leave your other children

not having to be separated from your partner after the birth

increased likelihood of being looked after by a midwife you have got to know during your pregnancy

if your pregnancy is low risk, a lower likelihood of having an intervention, such as forceps or ventouse (vacuum delivery), than giving birth in hospital

Considerations

There are some things you should think about if you're considering a home birth.

You may need to transfer to a hospital if there are complications.

Epidurals are not available at home, but you can use gas and air, a warm bath, a birth pool, TENS and any relaxation techniques you've learned. Find out about pain relief in labour.

Your doctor or midwife may recommend you give birth in hospital - for example, if you're expecting twins or if your baby is lying feet first (breech). Your midwife or doctor will explain why they think a hospital birth is safer for you and your baby.

If you choose to give birth at home or in a unit run by midwives, you should be given information by your midwife or GP about what would happen if you had to be transferred to hospital during labour and how long this would take.

Planning a home birth

Ask your midwife whether a home birth is suitable for you and your baby.

If you choose to have a home birth, your midwife will arrange for members of the midwifery team to help and support you. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

how long would it take if I needed to be transferred to hospital?

which hospital would I be transferred to?

would a midwife be with me all the time?

how do I get a birthing pool?

Midwifery units or birth centres

Midwifery units or birth centres are more comfortable and homely than a maternity unit in a hospital. They can be:

part of a hospital maternity unit, where pregnancy (obstetric), newborn (neonatal) and anaesthetic care is available

separate from a hospital, and without immediate obstetric, neonatal or anaesthetic care

Advantages of a midwifery unit or birth centre

The advantages of giving birth at a midwifery unit include:

being in surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and better able to cope with labour

being more likely to be looked after by a midwife you have got to know during your pregnancy

the unit potentially being much nearer your home

if your pregnancy is low risk, a lower likelihood of having an intervention such as forceps or ventouse (vacuum delivery) than giving birth in hospital

Considerations

There are some things to think about if you're considering giving birth in a midwifery unit or birth centre.

You may need to be transferred to a hospital if there are any complications.

In a unit that's completely separate from a hospital, you won't be able to have certain kinds of pain relief, such as an epidural. Ask your midwife whether the unit or centre is part of a hospital or completely separate.

Your doctor or midwife may feel it's safer for you to give birth in hospital.

Planning a birth in a midwifery unit or birth centre

Ask your midwife if there are any midwifery units or birth centres in your area. There may be others you can use if you're prepared to travel.

Hospital birth

Most births happen in an NHS hospital maternity unit. If you choose to give birth in hospital, you'll be looked after by midwives, but doctors will be available if you need their help.

You'll still have choices about the kind of care you want. Your midwives and doctors will provide information about what your hospital can offer.

Advantages of hospital birth

The advantages of giving birth in hospital include:

direct access to obstetricians if your labour becomes complicated

direct access to anaesthetists, who give epidurals

there will be specialists in newborn care (neonatologists) and a special care baby unit if there are any problems with your baby

Considerations

There are some things you should think about if you're considering a hospital birth:

you may go home directly from the labour ward or you may be moved to a postnatal ward

in hospital, you may be looked after by a different midwife from the one who looked after you during your pregnancy

you're more likely to have an epidural, episiotomy, or a forceps or ventouse delivery in hospital

Planning a hospital birth

Your midwife can help you decide which hospital feels right for you. If there's more than one hospital in your area, you can choose which one to go to. Find out more about the care provided in each so you can decide which will suit you best.

Birth questions to ask

Here are some questions you might want to ask if you're considering having your baby in a midwifery unit or birth centre, or in hospital:

Are tours of the maternity facilities available before the birth?

When can I discuss my birth plan?

Are TENS machines available for pain relief or do I need to hire one?

What equipment is available - for example mats, a birthing chair or bean bags?

Are there birthing pools?

Are partners, close relatives or friends welcome in the delivery room?

Are they ever asked to leave the room - if so, why?

Can I move around in labour and find my own position for the birth?

What is the policy on induction, pain relief and routine monitoring?

What types of pain relief are available, such as epidurals?

How soon can I go home after the birth?

What services are provided for premature or sick babies?

Who will help me if I breastfeed?

Who will help me if I choose to formula feed?

Will my baby be with me all the time or is there a separate nursery?

Are there any special rules about visiting?

How long would it take if I needed to be transferred to hospital from a birth centre?

Which hospital would I be transferred to?

Would a midwife be with me all the time?

Wherever you decide to give birth, you can change your mind at any stage of pregnancy. Talk to your midwife if there's anything you're not sure or want to know more about.
Find out more about your choice of place of birth on the Birthrights website

If you are thinking about unassisted birth

You can choose to have a home birth without a midwife with you (unassisted birth). This is sometimes called freebirth.

Talk to a midwife if you are worried about your care.

They can:

discuss with you the role of the midwife and help you make an informed choice

personalise your care and support so it's right for you.

If you decide to have an unassisted birth, you can change your mind at any time during your pregnancy or labour. NHS midwives will always be available to support you.

A midwife can offer you support and advice during labour, and check on the health of you and your baby. They'll know if you or your baby need help, and can arrange for medical attention if needed.

If you have an unassisted birth, you'll need to tell a GP about your baby's birth as soon as they've been born. This is because by law every birth in the UK needs to be recorded (notified) within 36 hours. A GP or midwife will need to see you before they can notify the birth.

When the birth has been notified, your baby will get an NHS number for their NHS care.
Find out more about freebirth, unassisted childbirth and unassisted pregnancy on the AIMS website

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Find out about your options for where to give birth: at home, in hospital or at a midwife-led (midwifery) unit. Learn more about which pain relief methods will be available.

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Give your baby a better start in life. Getting babies healthy and active from birth gets them off to the best start.

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Baby Fetal Movements Information and Symptom Checker

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Baby Fetal Movements Information and Symptom Checker

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If you notice that your baby’s movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, it may be a sign that your baby is not well.

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We’re Mind, the mental health charity. We’re here to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

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Financial Benefits Information for Pregnant People and Families

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Financial Benefits Information for Pregnant People and Families

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Benefits and financial support for families - GOV.UK

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Help if you look after children or plan to have or adopt a child. Includes Child Benefit.

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Information and Support for Those Having a Multiple (e.g. twin) Pregnancy

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Information and Support for Those Having a Multiple (e.g. twin) Pregnancy

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Twins Trust - We support twins, triplets and more...

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Supporting you through every milestone of your journey with twins, triplets or more. From being pregnant with twins, triplets or quads through to parenting twins, triplets or quads, we are here for you.

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Information and Support for Families of Babies Born Unwell or Premature

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Information and Support for Families of Babies Born Unwell or Premature

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For babies born premature or sick | Bliss

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Our vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

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Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Support for Families Who Have Experienced Baby Loss

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Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Support for Families Who Have Experienced Baby Loss

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Everything we do grows out of love. We provide holistic and therapeutic support for bereaved families, in the form of counselling, drop in sessions, woodworking, yoga and wellbeing walks. We have a forest school family friendly session every month to support bereaved siblings, and have community events throughout the year.

Many of our team are bereaved parents, grandparents and family members, and so here at Zephyr's you will find folk who really understand. We offer support for anyone touched by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby or child, of any age - and regardless of the circumstances of your experience.

You can complete the Support form here to receive updates on our support services and offers, or please feel free to email Carly (Zephyr's Mum, Founder and Managing Director of our Charity.) You can also read more about what we offer on our Support page here

Our social media pages are a good way to be in touch and keep up to date too, if you'd simply like to find out more about our organisation too. You'll find links to these at the bottom of the page.

You might not know what you're looking for, and that's ok.
Your loss might be very recent, or long ago, and that's ok too.
Perhaps you're here because of a friend, relative or colleague (you are welcome here too)
Maybe you'd like to get involved - fundraise, volunteer or support us - thank you!

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Zephyr's - Nurturing Support for bereaved families

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Everything we do grows out of love. We provide holistic and therapeutic support for bereaved families, in the form of counselling, drop in sessions, woodworking, yoga and wellbeing walks. We have a forest school family friendly session every month to support bereaved siblings, and have community events throughout the year.

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Information and Support for Families Affected by a Difficult and Traumatic Birth 

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Information and Support for Families Affected by a Difficult and Traumatic Birth 

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The Birth Trauma Association

If you're a parent who's been traumatised by birth, we're here to help. We have a team of peer supporters: parents (one of whom is a dad) who have all experienced traumatic birth themselves and been through a process of recovery. If you'd like to talk to them over email about your experience, please contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone them on 0203 621 6338.

You can also join our Facebook group for parents with birth trauma: www.facebook.com/groups/TheBta

We find that parents who come to us often have the same questions, so we've prepared some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) documents you can download. They are:
How do I access my birth notes? How do I access therapy to help me recover from my birth trauma? How do I ask for a debrief? How do I make a complaint about my maternity care? How do I take legal action against the hospital where I gave birth? I want to avoid another traumatic birth. What can I do and what are my rights?
If you want to find out more about birth trauma, our package of three training videos can help.

Birth can be traumatic for all sorts of reasons. It could be that you were left in pain for hours, or your baby's heartrate dropped and you needed an emergency caesarean section. Perhaps you had a difficult forceps birth leaving you with severe tears. Perhaps you had a postpartum haemorrhage, or your baby was born ill, needing to spend time in special care.

There may have been times during labour when you felt that staff didn't look after you properly, or didn't listen to you, and you felt alone and frightened.

And afterwards, even your baby is well, those feelings don't always go away. Research shows that about 4-5% of women who give birth develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares and extreme anxiety that makes daily life immensely challenging. That's about 30,000 women a year in the UK. Many more have some trauma symptoms, but not enough for a PTSD diagnosis. We use the term "birth trauma" to cover everyone who feels that their traumatic birth is continuing to affect them.

Fathers and partners can develop PTSD as a result of witnessing a traumatic birth. They need help too.

In the video below, five women talk about their experience of birth trauma and how they found help.

Keep up to date with The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) on social media

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The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) supports all women who have had a traumatic birth experience. It is estimated that, in the UK alone, this may result in 10,000 women a year developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Based Support Service for Those Effected by Domestic Abuse

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Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Based Support Service for Those Effected by Domestic Abuse

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Working to promote healthy, equal relationships free from abuse

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We are Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families. We provide expert advice and practical support for single mums and dads in England and Wales.

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Support and Advice for Families Affected by Homelessness and Housing Concerns

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Support and Advice for Families Affected by Homelessness and Housing Concerns

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Shelter - The housing and homelessness charity

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Shelter believes everyone should have a home. More than one million people a year come to us for advice and support via our website, helplines and national network of services.

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Polish Village - Support Me Maternal Project

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What is the purpose of the Polish Village? The Village of support for Polish Families in the UK. We specialise in pregnancy and up to the first years of life. The Polish Village promotes conscious motherhood and attachment parenting, breastfeeding and upbringing in bilingualism. We embrace our Polish heritage, offering a range of free […]

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Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies

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Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies

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Rhubarb Farm offers work placements, training and volunteering opportunities to people with long-term issues, offering support to people who are ex-offenders, have mental ill health, physical ill health, learning disability or physical disabilities.

St Ann's Advice Centre has been a part of the community for over 20 years and are dedicated to giving advice on debt, welfare benefits and employment.

The Oasis Community Gardens is located in the heart of a disadvantaged housing estate. Many projects are working together on the site which also includes Community Centre with activities and projects for all ages.

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Notts Talking therapies is a free, confidential NHS service designed to help with common mental health issues such as stress and depression.