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After your baby is born, and depending on the type of delivery that you had, you may stay in the hospital for a few days if necessary. If everything was uncomplicated, natural and straight forward, you may be discharged from hospital within the first 6 hours.

Follow this link to our page regarding the current arrangements for visitors during your stay with us after your baby's arrival. The details for amenity rooms can also be found here.

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Urgent Safety Alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows

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Urgent Safety Alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows

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Self-feeding pillows/prop feeders present a risk of serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an Urgent Safety Alert for baby self-feeding pillows and is urging the public to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely.

Businesses selling these products must immediately remove them from the market as they cannot comply with the safety requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Baby self-feeding pillow products are designed to be attached to a bottle so that the baby may be positioned on its back to self-feed without the assistance of a caregiver holding the bottle and controlling the feed.

This is inconsistent with NHS guidance in relation to safe bottle feeding.

When used as intended, even whilst under the supervision of a caregiver, it could lead to immediate, serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.

Consumers, local authority trading standards services and businesses are asked to take specific action to cease use or remove these products from the market as advised below.

Action

OPSS has identified that this category of products will always be dangerous due to their design and intended use and can never be made safe.

Consumers

Consumers should immediately stop using these products and dispose of them safely.

Businesses

Must immediately remove these products from the market as they cannot comply with the safety requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations, 2005.

Must comply with their obligations under product safety law.

Local Authority Trading Standards and Northern Ireland Environmental Health

Should identify and take appropriate action against businesses that sell baby self-feeding pillows as they do not comply with the safety requirements set down in the General Product Safety Regulations, 2005.

Visit the Office for Product Safety and Standards web pages on GOV.UK for further information and contact details.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Urgent Safety Alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows

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Midwives are the lead experts in caring for low-risk women throughout their antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. We work alongside obstetricians if a woman has more complications, always catering your care to what is safe for you and your baby. Putting your needs and wants first is what midwives advocate for and we tailor and individualize care around you.

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One of our community midwives visit you the day following your discharge from hospital to check on you and your baby. The next visit will generally be on day 5, when we check your baby's weight and complete the Newborn Blood Spot Screening if you are happy for them to have it. Information on this test can be found here.

Your midwife will then set the next visit based on the needs of you and your baby. We will usually visit until day 14-28, after which time your care is handed over to the health visiting team.

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Switchboard: 020 7794 0500
Department extension numbers:
Appointment line - 0203 758 2022 - option 2 Sapphire team
Scans - 35644
Triage - 36208
Maternity Day Unit - 33845
Antenatal/Postnatal Ward - 33845
Labour Ward - 020 7830 2721

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Switchboard: 020 3758 2000
Department extension numbers:
Appointment line - 0203 758 2022 - option 2 Sapphire team
Scans - 0208 216 5216
Triage - 0208 216 4408
Maternity Day Unit - 0208 261  5144
Antenatal/Postnatal Ward - 0208 216 5219
Labour Ward - 0208 216 5180

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Welcome all to meet the Colindale team midwives!
We have a range of midwives in the team who cater their care and services to suit your needs!
Putting you in the center of what we do, we hope to make your pregnancy experience the best one yet!
We provide you with complete continuity of care, which means you see a member of our team all the way throughout your pregnancy experience. The aim of this is to provide you with a familiar face who you know and trust to make this exciting journey even better!

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Our Team Leader!

Born in Spain but healthcare career developed in Ireland and England.

My background is within Nursing and Midwifery.

I have been working in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as a Recovery Nurse in Maternity before becoming a Registered Midwife so I have been supporting women and babies for a long time now 💚.

I have been a community/case-loading midwife for 4 years and have been enjoying every second of it.

I am focused on making women safe as they follow this natural process.

I love being alongside women at every step of their journey, having conversations with them throughout where they get to make the choices that are very important to them and their babies.

🗓Clinic day: Thursday.

📍Clinic Location: Silkstream Children's Centre.

📞 07929778793

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𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖-𝙨𝙝𝙮) 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲

Having trained at the Royal Free Hospital, and worked there since, I am an experienced midwife who is passionate about providing continuity to the women in my care.
I am excited to enhance your experience of maternity care by caring for you in your pregnancy, during your labour and birth, and at home in the postnatal period.

Looking forward to meeting you at our “Meet the midwives Sessions”. 😉

🗓Clinic day: Monday.

📍Clinic Location: Silkstream Children's Centre.

📞07976842267

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Being a part of a continuity of care team means that I get to be a part of your pregnancy journey right from the beginning till the end of your postnatal period. I am excited to meet many of you and discuss all things related to pregnancy and postpartum.

I Hope to support you during this time and would love to get to facilitate your births wherever that may be!

Wishing you the best in this journey, and hope to get to share these special moments with you.

🗓Clinic day: Tuesday.

📍Clinic Location: The Greentop.

📞07929790911

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I trained at Royal free hospital and continued my midwifery journey with them. I got the opportunity to rotate and gain knowledge and experience in antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care.

I am passionate and excited to support you and your family throughout this life changing time in your lives. I am Also here to empower you with the resources you need to enable you to make decisions for you and your baby.

Excited to meet you all soon 😊

🗓Clinic day: Friday.

📍Clinic Location: The Silkstream Children's Center.

📞 07976323802

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I am a passionate midwife who thrives on making your pregnancy experience the best one yet. I don't believe in 'normal, standard care', I believe in tailoring our sessions to you and making everything individual.
Having trained at Barnet for 3 years, I have experience in all three hospitals we offer. Covering Chase farm, Barnet and Royal free.
I believe having a baby is one of the greatest experiences a family goes through, and in my care I try to include the surrounding family along the journey as well as much as possble! And more so, I will always try and make everything FUN!

🗓Clinic day: Fridays

📍Clinic Location: The Hyde Children's Centre

📞07773581919

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Born in Ireland 🇮🇪 but building a family in London 👨‍👩‍👦.

I would like to say that I am thrilled to be part of the Colindale team.

I have previously worked at the Royal Free across the ward areas but community based continuity of care is my passion.

I am looking forward to supporting you to bring your little one (or ones!) into the world.

Whether you have lots of questions on your mind (no question is a silly question) or would like breastfeeding support, I will be with you every step of the way through your pregnancy and during those early days after your baby has been born.

🗓Clinic day:  Wednesdays.

📍Clinic Location: Silkstream Children Centre.

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Hi I'm Li,
I'm the only Midwife Assistant in the team.
Most likely you will meet me in your antenatal appointments, and perhaps after you have your baby at home, to provide postnatal care and breastfeeding support.
I'm originally from the Philippines and a midwife by profession in my own country. So knowing a lot about midwifery I can confidently say you're in good hands with the team❤️

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https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit

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You get Child Benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is:

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

There's no limit to how many children you can claim for.

By claiming Child Benefit, you can get:

an allowance paid to you for each child - you'll usually get it every 4 weeks

National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension

a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one - they'll usually get the number shortly before they turn 16 years old

If you choose not to get Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages.

If your circumstances change

You must report any change of circumstances to the Child Benefit Office.

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Child Benefit - child benefit rates, eligibility, how to claim, child benefit claim form CH2.

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https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/

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Applying online

If you get Universal Credit, you can apply online if:

you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old

your family's monthly 'take-home pay' (also called 'earned income') is £408 or less from employment

If you get Child Tax Credit, you may be eligible for Healthy Start if:

your family's annual income is £16,190 or less

you do not get Working Tax Credit

Most people who get Child Tax Credit can apply online. You can apply online if you're either:

more than 10 weeks pregnant and have children under the age of 4

not pregnant but have children under the age of 4

If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older, you'll need to apply by email or phone.

To apply online, you'll need your:

name

address

date of birth

National Insurance number

baby's due date (if you're pregnant)

benefit award letter if you're over 18 - make sure you enter the exact details shown on your benefit award letter

Make sure that your details are up to date with HMRC or DWP - you may wish to contact them to check or update your details before you apply.

Applying by email or phone

You can apply by email or phone if you're more than 10 weeks pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, and get either:

Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

Pension Credit (which includes the child addition)

You can also apply by email or phone if you're more than 10 weeks pregnant and either:

under 18 years old and not getting any benefits

getting Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you get Child Tax Credit, you'll need to apply by email or phone if you're more than 10 weeks pregnant and have other children who are all aged 4 or older.

You can apply by either:

Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Find out about call charges (opens in a new tab).

If you're not a British citizen but your child is

You might be eligible for Healthy Start depending on your immigration status.

You can get Healthy Start if all the following are true:

Your biometric residence permit (BRP) or your online immigration status (opens in a new tab) will say if you cannot claim public funds. You might also have a letter from the Home Office about it.

To apply for Healthy Start, ask for an application form via email. Only use this email address if you think you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status.
Healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk

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If you get Universal Credit, you can apply online if: you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4 years old your family's monthly 'take-home pay' (also called 'earned income') is £408 or less from employment If you get Child Tax Credit, you may be eligible for Healthy Start if: your family's annual income is £16,190 or less you do not get Working Tax Credit Most people who get Child Tax Credit can apply online.

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| With effect from Monday 21st November 2022,

One partner or companion can attend all antenatal clinic appointments and pregnancy scans.
One partner or companion can attend the Maternity Day Unit (Barnet) and Day Assessment Unit (Royal Free) and Triage units at both sites.
Two birth partners can support women on the labour wards and in the birth centres.
One partner or companion can visit throughout a 24-hour period on Victoria ward and 5 South (antenatal / postnatal wards)
One additional partner or companion is permitted on Victoria ward and 5 South (antenatal / postnatal wards) between 2pm-8pm. The second visitor can be a sibling.

We remind all visitors that they must remain vigilant regarding infection control precautions. Face face masks must be worn when in the hospital building and adherence to hand hygiene and social distancing to be observed at all times

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Whilst the government has removed COVID-19 restrictions; infection control policies remain in place with the trust because many of our patients are elderly or immune-compromised. This includes wearing a face covering while you are inside our buildings and adhering to hand hygiene and social distancing guidelines. Thank you for your understanding and keeping patients, visitors and staff safe from infection.

The following types of visiting are now being offered for patients in our hospitals.

Visiting

At the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, we understand the important role visitors play in supporting patients in their recovery. We want all visitors to feel welcome, valued and able to ask questions. Our visitors' charter sets out what you can expect from us and what we will expect from you in return, including the safety measures that are still in place regarding visiting.

For adult inpatients at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital standard visiting times are between 2pm - 8pm every day. However, some wards' opening times may vary and some wards still have restrictions on visiting. Please see visiting table for full details of ward opening times. Restrictions will also apply if the patient has COVID-19, in which case you must telephone the ward first to see if a visit is possible. Patients can have multiple visits each day, but no more than two visitors should be at the bedside at any one time.

Visitors are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before attending hospital. Stay at home if you are suffering from cold/flu symptoms or vomiting and/or diarrhoea, and do not visit until you have been symptom free for at least two days.

Compassionate visiting

Compassionate visiting for adult inpatients means that visiting can occur outside of a ward's normal visiting hours or in times of restricted or suspended visiting, if the patient meets any of the following criteria:

They are dying (last days and hours of life)

They have a mental health issue, dementia, a learning disability or autism

Where the attendance of a key contact will benefit a patient's clinical condition or wellbeing (ward staff will get in touch if a visit will be beneficial)

Intensive care unit

For patients in Barnet Hospital's intensive care unit with COVID-19, please speak to the nursing team to arrange a visit. For patients on ITU North, call 020 8216 5298 and for ITU South, call 020 8216 4120. Patients who do not have COVID-19 can receive visits between 11.30am-7.30pm as detailed above.

For patients in the Royal Free Hospital's intensive care unit in respiratory isolation, such as suffering with COVID-19 or flu, please speak to the nursing team (020 7794 0500 extension 24545 available Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm) to arrange a visit. Patients not in respiratory isolation can receive visits between 12pm-8pm as detailed above.

Maternity

One partner or companion can attend all antenatal clinic appointments and pregnancy scans.

One partner or companion can attend the Maternity Day Unit (Barnet) and Day Assessment Unit (Royal Free) and Triage units at both sites.

Two birth partners can support women on the labour wards and in the birth centres.

One partner or companion can visit throughout a 24-hour period on Victoria ward and 5 South (antenatal / postnatal wards)

One additional partner or companion is permitted on Victoria ward and 5 South (antenatal / postnatal wards) between 2pm-8pm. The second visitor can be a sibling.

Children and young people

We encourage the involvement of parents/carers in all aspects of their child's care. On our children's wards:

Two family members can visit from 8am-8pm.

One adult is allowed to stay overnight.

Siblings can visit.

Emergency department

We are currently accommodating our patients' needs for a companion as much as possible, but we need to do this as safely as possible for everybody. We also need to take account of overcrowding in the department.

Adults are allowed one accompanying visitor in all areas.

Visitors may be expected to wait in the relatives' rooms/waiting areas at times when patients are in the resuscitation room, ambulance assessment area or undergoing scanning/procedures.

At the Royal Free Hospital, children may be accompanied by one or both parents/carers. Please note that parents/carers are expected to take siblings out of the department where more than one adult is present.

Due to the space constraints in the paediatric emergency department waiting room at Barnet Hospital, it is requested that children and young people are only accompanied by one parent or carer.

At times when capacity is full, to avoid overcrowding in waiting rooms, visitors will be asked to wait outside.

Visiting within the department is at the discretion of staff.

Neurological rehabilitation centre at Edgware Community Hospital

The NRC inpatient unit is offering visiting as detailed above, from 1:30pm-7:30pm. Please discuss compassionate visiting requests with the ward manager, key worker or therapist.

Chaplains and faith/religious leaders

One of the trust's chaplains, as a member of staff, can visit a patient on a ward. If there is a request for a patient's own recognised religious or faith leader to attend, this can be facilitated providing they comply with the visitors' charter. The religious or faith leader attending should also let our chaplaincy team know they will be attending. They can do this by calling 020 7830 2742.

Outpatients

You may bring someone with you if you are attending an outpatient appointment in our hospitals. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes prior to your appointment time to minimise overcrowding in our waiting areas.

General advice for patients and visitors

Stay at home if you are suffering from cold/flu symptoms or vomiting and/or diarrhoea, and do not visit until you have been symptom free for at least two days.

All patients and visitors to our hospitals will need to wear a face mask in clinical areas (these are available at entrances) and are asked to use hand gel as soon as they arrive at the hospital, when entering and leaving ward areas and when they leave. A clinical area refers to a department, a ward, a waiting area, or clinic.

Thank you for your co-operation and help in respecting these changes

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Visiting patients at the Royal Free London

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Whilst the government has removed COVID-19 restrictions; infection control policies remain in place with the trust because many of our patients are elderly or immune-compromised. This includes wearing a face covering while you are inside our buildings and adhering to hand hygiene and social distancing guidelines.

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https://ratemynhs.co.uk/survey/8235cebc-93bd-4fdb-a5e1-a1c350b72a6e

North Central London Maternity Services are currently working to improve the pelvic health care that you receive from the NHS during and after pregnancy. Pelvic health problems may include leaking of urine (pee) and/or stool (poo), prolapse (bulging or swelling), injuries and infection in the area between the vagina and anus, pelvic girdle pain (pain in the pelvic area and/or back) and abdominal rectus diastasis (tummy muscle separation).

To make sure that the care we offer meets your needs, we would like to hear about your experiences and your suggestions for improvement. The results of this survey will be used by your local service to understand what we are doing right and how we can improve.

This survey has been developed with service users. The information will be collected and seen by North Central London Maternity Services and will only be shared with others in a way that would not identify you. You do not have to complete this survey if you do not want to.

Register with us to answer a short survey (3 minutes) and receive invites to focus groups. For more information and to register your interest, please contact Holly.Davies12@nhs.net

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https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/patient-experience/

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When the Royal Free Hospital was founded back in 1828, our mission was to provide care and prevent ill health. Our mission remains, but the way we provide healthcare has changed dramatically since then. Some changes are due to advancement in technology and in changes to the economics which underpin healthcare, but we also make changes as a result of patient and carer feedback.

Patient experience can be described as 'what the process of receiving care feels like for patients'. Understanding patient experience can be achieved through a range of activities that capture direct feedback from patients, carers, other service users and the wider community; from surveys to working together to co-produce services. Ultimately good patient experience and involvement is evidenced to result in better clinical outcomes for patients, as one of the three pillars of high quality care alongside patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

We value the feedback of our patients and carers and need to seek and understand your views, so that we can work towards meeting your needs and expectations.

Carers

We want the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust to be a welcoming and supportive trust for carers. Please get in touch with us if there's anything we can do to support you as a carer while the person that you care for is in one of our hospitals. Click to read further resources.

Get in touch with our hospitals

If you would like to share a positive experience or make a suggestion about any aspect of your care, please speak to the person in charge of the ward, clinic or department. Alternatively you can get in touch with our Patient Experience teams. Please note that our Patient Experience teams do not deal with complaints. If you would like to make a complaint, please refer to the 'Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) section below.

Other ways to share your feedback with us

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you are unhappy with the care you have received at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, then in the first instance we suggest talking to the staff involved in your care as this can often lead to issues being resolved more quickly.

If this does not resolve your concerns, you can visit the PALS page for information on how to raise your concern with the trust.

Please note that you can also contact PALS to leave compliments for staff and the care you have received, which will be passed to the team.

Local Healthwatch

Healthwatch is the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services and there is a local Healthwatch for every area of England. Each local Healthwatch gathers information on patients' experiences of local health and social care services which can be used to influence both national policy and local services.

If you would like to find out more information or get involved, contact your local Healthwatch:
Healthwatch Barnet Healthwatch Camden Healthwatch Enfield Healthwatch Hertfordshire
NHS website

You can also leave a review of our hospitals via the NHS website

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When the Royal Free Hospital was founded back in 1828, our mission was to provide care and prevent ill health. Our mission remains, but the way we provide healthcare has changed dramatically since then. Some changes are due to advancement in technology and in changes to the economics which underpin healthcare, but we also make changes as a result of patient and carer feedback.

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https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/services/services-a-z/therapy-services/physiotherapy/pelvic-health-physiotherapy/

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Pelvic health physiotherapy | Physiotherapy | Therapy Services | Services A-Z | Services | The Royal Free

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Pelvic health physiotherapy for men and women experiencing pelvic health problems linked to pregnancy, urological conditions such as bladder and bowel dysfunction. Pelvic health rehabilitation

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Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.
It's a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

It's important to get help as soon as possible if you think you might be depressed, as your symptoms could last for months or get worse and have a significant impact on you, your baby and your family.

With the right support most people make a full recovery.

Depression during pregnancy

Depression in pregnancy (antenatal depression) is also common, affecting more than 1 in 10 women.

Other mental health symptoms that can occur during or after your pregnancy include anxiety, panic attacks and psychosis.
Read more about mental health in pregnancy

Symptoms of postnatal depression

Many women feel a bit down, tearful or anxious in the first week after giving birth.

This is often called the " baby blues" and is so common that it's considered normal.

The "baby blues" do not last for more than 2 weeks after giving birth.

If your symptoms last longer or start later, you could have postnatal depression.

Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth.

Signs that you or someone you know might be depressed include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood

lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world

lack of energy and feeling tired all the time

trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day

finding it difficult to look after yourself and your baby

withdrawing from contact with other people

problems concentrating and making decisions

frightening thoughts - for example, about hurting your baby

Many women do not realise they have postnatal depression because it can develop gradually.

Speak to a GP, midwife or health visitor as soon as possible if:

you think you may be depressed

Many midwives and health visitors have been trained to recognise postnatal depression and have techniques that can help.

Remember that:

a range of help and support is available, including talking therapy

depression is an illness like any other

it's not your fault you're depressed - it can happen to anyone

being depressed does not mean you're a bad parent

it does not mean you're going mad

your baby will not be taken away from you - babies are only taken into care in very exceptional circumstances

Treatments for postnatal depression

Postnatal depression can be lonely, distressing and frightening, but support and effective treatments are available.

These include:

self-help - things you can try yourself include talking to your family and friends about your feelings and what they can do to help, making time for yourself to do things you enjoy, resting whenever you get the chance, getting as much sleep as you can at night, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet

talking therapy - a GP may be able to recommend a self-help course or may refer you for a course of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

antidepressants - these may be recommended if your depression is more severe or other treatments have not helped; your doctor can prescribe a medicine that's safe to take while breastfeeding

Local and national organisations, such as the Association for Post Natal Illness (APNI) and Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS), can also be useful sources of help and advice.

Causes of postnatal depression

The cause of postnatal depression is not completely clear.

There are a number of things that may make you more likely to have postnatal depression. These include:

a history of mental health problems, particularly depression, earlier in life

a history of mental health problems during pregnancy

having no close family or friends to support you

a difficult relationship with your partner

recent stressful life events, such as a bereavement

physical or psychological trauma, such as domestic violence

Even if you do not have any of these, having a baby is a life-changing event that can sometimes trigger depression.

It often takes time to adapt to becoming a new parent. Looking after a baby can be stressful and exhausting.

Preventing postnatal depression

There are things you can do during pregnancy to help you keep well, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having someone you can talk to and turn to for support.

Going to antenatal classes and making friends with other pregnant women or new parents can also be helpful.

If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, talk to a GP or your mental health team if:

you have a history of depression or mental health problems

someone in your family has had mental health problems after childbirth (for example, your mother or sister)

This is so they can offer you appropriate treatment.

You can also talk to a midwife, who can support you or refer you to specialist mental health services if needed. If you have had a mental health problem while pregnant, your doctor should arrange for you to be seen regularly in the first few weeks after birth.

The mental health team, maternity team and GP will work closely with you during your pregnancy and after you have given birth.

Myths about postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is often misunderstood and there are many myths surrounding it.

These include:

postnatal depression is less severe than other types of depression - in fact, it's as serious as other types of depression

postnatal depression is entirely caused by hormonal changes - it's actually caused by many different factors

postnatal depression will soon pass - unlike the "baby blues", postnatal depression can persist for months if left untreated and in a minority of cases it can become a long-term problem

postnatal depression only affects women - research has actually found that up to 1 in 10 new fathers become depressed after having a baby

These factors are equally true of antenatal depression.

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Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It's a common problem. Depression in pregnancy (antenatal depression) is also common.

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/contact-us/patient-advice-and-liaison-service-pals/

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The impact of Covid-19 on PALS and formal complaints

The continuing impact of Covid-19 on our work at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation trust means that there is an inevitable impact on our capacity to respond to concerns and queries at the moment. Please be assured that we value your feedback, but we are advising anyone who is raising a concern or has a concern that we are already looking into, that it may take us longer than usual to get back to you.

Wwe understand that people wishing to raise concerns may be frustrated with the hospital; aggressive and abusive behaviour towards our complaints and PALS teams will not be tolerated

At the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, we are fully committed to providing a high quality patient experience.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your hospital experience please speak to the person in charge of the ward or clinic. We want all our patients to have the best experience possible during your time with us and our staff will do their best to resolve any issues you raise. However, if you feel uncomfortable in doing so, or are unable to do so then the PALS team will endeavour to assist you. PALS is a less formal route for more immediate issues and the service aims to respond in a more informal way within 15 working days.

If you still remain unhappy after your discussions to resolve your concerns, you can make a complaint with our complaints team who will be happy to help you. You are of course free to decide who you want to contact initially in order to resolve your concerns.

Please be aware that the PALS team may need to access the hospital's appointment system, your medical records and/or liaise with other departments in order to be able to help you with your enquiry.

What PALS can do:

If you have a problem with a ward or clinic or member of staff, PALS can talk to them on your behalf to help find a possible resolution.

Help with general enquiries about the hospital and its services

If you have any ideas about how we can make things better, PALS can feed back to the relevant area and let you know the outcome.

Take details of praise and compliments you wish to pass on in relation to the care and treatment you have received.

If the concern you bring to us is about another trust we will contact the relevant trust so that they help you, or we will give you the information you need to contact the correct trust.

What PALS cannot do:

offer a counselling service

give you detailed medical information or a medical diagnosis

change or affect a medical decision that has been made

book or change appointments

deal with requests for work experience or volunteer opportunities, references, invoices, job applications and promotional and advertising materials. These requests will not receive a response.

Listening and responding to your feedback

We work hard to provide high standards of hospital care and services and we know how important it is that patients and those who care for them are as happy as possible while with us. Our staff love to hear your comments and all feedback is passed back to the team. If anything falls short of the expectations of our patients or their families, we will do all we can to put things right and make sure the same thing doesn't happen again.

We take all concerns very seriously and will investigate each matter that is raised. We will respond to you as quickly as possible and we use the complaints we receive to improve our services and healthcare for all our patients.

Contact us
The PALS team at Barnet Hospital
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service is based on the ground floor of Barnet Hospital, near the main entrance.

The walk-in service is open Monday to Friday, from 10am-4pm. You can contact PALS using the details below:

Tel: 0208 216 4924 Monday - Friday (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Email: bcfpals@nhs.net
Write to us: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet EN5 3DJ
The PALS team at Chase Farm Hospital
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service is provided by the Patient Experience Team and is available from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. The Patient Experience Team can be contacted using the following methods:

Tel: 020 8375 1328
Email: rf-tr.cfhpals@nhs.net

Should you wish to speak to a member of the Team whilst at the hospital please ask a member of staff to call the Patient Experience Team on ext: 51328. A member of the team will arrange to meet with you.
The PALS team at the Royal Free Hospital
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service for the Royal Free Hospital is based on the ground floor, opposite the main reception.

The walk-in service is open Monday to Friday from 10am-4pm. You can also contact PALS using the details below:

Tel: 020 7472 6446/6447 Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm (020 7472 6445 - 24 hour answer phone)
Email: rf.pals@nhs.net

Write to us: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG
Download our leaflet to find out more about our service.
Taking things further

We understand that there are times when you may not feel satisfied with the response you receive from the member of hospital staff you have spoken to about your concern, or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) .

If you wish to take a concern about your care further, you can contact the complaints team of the hospital concerned.

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The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

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The continuing impact of Covid-19 on our work at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation trust means that there is an inevitable impact on our capacity to respond to concerns and queries at the moment.

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https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/health-professionals/free-pregnancy-resources/leaflet-and-banner-feeling-your-baby-move-sign-they-are-well

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https://padlet.com/charlotteeaston1/Bookmarks

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Contact us:
0203758 2434 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
Email: rf.ebc@nhs.net

If you are unable to contact the midwife or for any other concerns about yourself or your baby please call Barnet Hospital Maternity Triage on 0208 216 4408.

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The Edgware Birth Centre is standalone centre located within Edgware Community Hospital. There are no obstetricians on site and should complications arise during labour you would be transferred to our nearest hospital by ambulance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put new measures in place for women due to give birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit our dedicated COVID-19 advice page for maternity service users.

Contact us

Telephone: 0203 758 2434 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
Email: rf.ebc@nhs.net

All women planning to give birth at Edgware Birth Centre will be cared for by a dedicated team of midwives who will care for you throughout your pregnancy, labour and after your baby is born. Please call the midwife on the number provided by the Edgware Birth Centre Team when you are in labour.

If you are unable to contact the midwife or for any other concerns about yourself or your baby please call Barnet Hospital Maternity Triage on 0208 216 4408.

Facilities

At the Edgware Birth Centre we have:

five ensuite birthing rooms

three birthing pools for you to labour/birth in

birth stools to help you with an upright birth as well as bean bags and birth balls.

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The Edgware Birth Centre is standalone centre located within Edgware Community Hospital. There are no obstetricians on site and should complications arise during labour you would be transferred to our nearest hospital by ambulance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put new measures in place for women due to give birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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| What is the NHS Friends and Family Test?
The NHS Friends and Family Test is based on one straightforward question that we are asking people who are accessing a wide range of NHS services. It means you can give your feedback about the care you have received. The NHS wants to make sure that you have the best possible experience of care and the NHS Friends and Family Test is a way of gathering your feedback, so we can understand what has worked well and, where necessary, make improvements.

How does it work?
By clicking the links below, you will be able to tell us about your experience of our on antenatal, labour and postnatal care both within the hospital and with your community midwifery team.

Antenatal Care Survey
Postnatal Care Survey
Labour Care Survey

You can also provide us with your feedback by vising our website. www.royalfree.nhs.uk/maternity

How will the results be used?
Your feedback will help us to learn more about our services.

We want you to tell us what we are doing well - so we can do more of it, but it's also important that you tell us what you didn't like and where we can do better. We'll use your feedback to make changes that will help us to offer a continually improving standard of maternity care.

If you would like any help, advice or have any concerns about your care, you can also contact our Patient Advise and Liaison service (PALS) either via email: rf.pals@nhs.net or telephone on 020 7472 6446. In addition to our PALS team, if you have concerns about your care you can also ask to speak to a Senior Midwifery Manager.

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Skip to main content Skip to navigation Skip to accessibility tools

When the Royal Free Hospital was founded in 1828, our mission was to provide care and prevent ill health.

That mission remains, but the way we provide healthcare has changed dramatically since then.

Some changes are due to advancement in technology and in changes to the economics which underpin healthcare, but we also make changes because of patient and carer feedback.

Patient experience can be described as 'what the process of receiving care feels like for patients'.

Understanding patient experience can be achieved through a range of activities that capture direct feedback from patients, carers, other service users and the wider community - from surveys, to working together to co-produce services.

Ultimately, good patient experience and involvement is shown to result in better clinical outcomes for patients, as one of the three pillars of high-quality care alongside patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

We value the feedback of our patients and carers and need to seek and understand your views, so that we can work towards meeting your needs and expectations.

We use it to celebrate what we're doing well, share learning, replicate successful initiatives where appropriate and to make improvements where you think we could do better.

Share your feedback with our patient experience teams

If you'd like to share a positive experience or make a suggestion about any aspect of your care, please speak to the person in charge of the ward, clinic or department.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with our patient experience teams.
Please note that our patient experience teams do not deal with complaints.

If you'd like to raise a concern or make a complaint, please see the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) section below.

Contact our patient experience teams

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

If you're unhappy with the care you have received at the Royal Free London, then in the first instance we suggest talking to the staff involved in your care, as this can often lead to issues being resolved more quickly.

If this does not resolve your concerns, you can visit our PALS page for information on how to raise your concern with the trust.

Please note that you can also contact PALS to leave compliments for staff and the care you've received, which will be passed to the team.

Healthwatch

Healthwatch is the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services and there's a local Healthwatch for every area of England.

Each local Healthwatch gathers information on patients' experiences of local health and social care services, which can be used to influence both national policy and local services.

To find out more information or get involved, contact your local Healthwatch:

NHS website

You can also leave a review of our hospitals via the NHS website.

Surveys

At the Royal Free London, we have a number of surveys designed to find out what our patients think of our services.

Friends and Family Test

The Friends and Family Test (FTT) is an important feedback tool that provides an opportunity for people who use NHS services to share their experience.

The FFT asks you to rate your overall experience of the care you've received on a scale from very good to very poor.

You'll then be asked to explain why you chose that answer and what matters most to you when you're in hospital.

You should be given the opportunity to complete this before you leave hospital, but if you aren't, you can complete one of our local surveys (see the section below).

If you attend our emergency departments (A&Es) at Barnet Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital you will receive a text message from 80870 asking you to complete the FFT. This message is sent from Healthcare Communications on behalf of the trust and is completely free to respond to. Some mobile networks will tell you that you may be charged, but rest assured that these are generic, automated warnings and that is not the case.

The patient experience teams ensure the results of the FFT are collated, reported on and shared with the relevant departments and management teams, so that action can be taken, and the results fed into improvement plans.
View the national FTT results on the NHS website

Local surveys

We want to ensure that giving us feedback is as easy as possible, and so we've provided various ways for you to tell us what you think.

Many areas have an electronic device or kiosk which you can use to tell us about your experience.

You'll be encouraged to use this device before you're discharged, but you can give feedback at any time during your stay, so please ask a member of staff if you'd like to do so.

There are also devices located in many of the outpatient areas across our hospitals, or you can scan one of the QR codes you'll see on posters using the camera on your smartphone. Please speak with a member of staff if you need more information or support to complete the survey.

All our local surveys start with the Friends and Family Test and then give you the option of answering more questions should you wish.

If you have recent experience of our services, why not complete one of our surveys below:

NHS patient survey programme

The NHS patient survey programme is part of the government's commitment to ensure patient feedback informs the continued development and improvement of healthcare services.

The programme is delivered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on behalf of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

We take part in four national surveys:

adult inpatient survey (carried out every year)

maternity survey (carried out every year)

urgent and emergency care survey (carried out every two years)

children and young people's patient experience survey (carried out every two years)

View our survey results on the CQC website

National Cancer Patient Experience Survey

Although not part of the CQC NHS patient survey programme, the trust also take part in the annual National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.

This survey is an important part of the national NHS cancer programme, which places patient experience on par with clinical effectiveness and safety as a key strategic priority.

If you're invited to take part in one of these surveys, we'd encourage you to do so.

If you experience any difficulties accessing any of the above surveys, please email us.

Nominate a nurse, midwife, or healthcare assistant for a patient's choice award

Nominate a nurse, midwife or healthcare support worker that made the biggest and most positive experience to you as a patient, relative or service user at Royal Free London (this could also be a team of nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers).

Nominate a nurse, midwife or healthcare assistant for a patient's choice award.

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Share your experience | Royal Free London

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Skip to main content Skip to navigation Skip to accessibility tools When the Royal Free Hospital was founded in 1828, our mission was to provide care and prevent ill health. That mission remains, but the way we provide healthcare has changed dramatically since then.

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| The MVP is a group of parents, parents to be and maternity staff all working together to make the maternity care at RFL the best it can be.

If you would like to be more involved in the maternity care provided by the Royal Free, you can join the Royal Free Maternity Voices. Please email: royalfreematernityvoices@gmail.com

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| Advice on making an NHS complaint

It can be difficult to know where to start when making a complaint, so here are some tips to ensure that we can begin looking into your complaint as soon as we receive it.

NHS complaints should be made as soon as possible after the event, as it is easier for everyone involved to remember what happened.
NHS complaints must be made within 12 months of the incident or within 12 months of discovering that you have cause to complain.
Please provide as much relevant information as you can: name, address, date of birth, the name and address of the patient (if different), hospital MRN/NHS number (if known), a full description of all the issues about which you wish to complain, relevant dates and times, the name(s) of the staff(s) and the ward name(s)/department(s) involved
If you have more than one concern, it helps to number the points you are making, so we can make sure we answer all your concerns.
If you make a complaint on behalf of someone else, complete the relevant consent form so that we can respond to you and disclose confidential details of the patient’s care. The investigation will not commence until consent is received.

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Whilst we understand that people wishing to raise concerns may be frustrated with the hospital; aggressive and abusive behaviour towards our complaints and PALS teams will not be tolerated.

We understand that there are times when you may not feel satisfied with the response you receive from the member of hospital staff you have spoken to about your concern, or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you wish to take a concern about our care further, you can contact the complaints team of the hospital concerned.

We take all complaints very seriously and will investigate each matter that is raised. We will respond to you as quickly as possible and we use the complaints we receive to improve our services for all our patients.

We want to learn from complaints and no patient or complainant will be treated unfairly because a concern has been raised about our care. No record is made of a complaint within a patient's medical notes.

Advice on making an NHS complaint

It can be difficult to know where to start when making a complaint, so here are some tips to ensure that we can begin looking into your complaint as soon as we receive it.

NHS complaints should be made as soon as possible after the event, as it is easier for everyone involved to remember what happened.

NHS complaints must be made within 12 months of the incident or within 12 months of discovering that you have cause to complain.

Please provide as much relevant information as you can: name, address, date of birth, the name and address of the patient (if different), hospital MRN/NHS number (if known), a full description of all the issues about which you wish to complain, relevant dates and times, the name(s) of the staff(s) and the ward name(s)/department(s) involved

If you have more than one concern, it helps to number the points you are making, so we can make sure we answer all your concerns.

If you make a complaint on behalf of someone else, complete the relevant consent form so that we can respond to you and disclose confidential details of the patient's care. The investigation will not commence until consent is received.

Complaints team contact details

Barnet Hospital

Telephone: 020 8216 4286 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

E-mail: rf-tr.bcfcomplaints@nhs.net

Write to: Barnet Hospital, Complaints Department, Thames House, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ

Chase Farm Hospital

Telephone: 020 8375 1328 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

E-mail: rf-tr.cfhcomplaints@nhs.net

Write to: Chase Farm Hospital, Patient Experience Team, The Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 8JL

Royal Free Hospital

Telephone: 020 7794 0500 extension 33227 (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm)

E-mail: rf.complaints@nhs.net

Write to: Royal Free Hospital, Complaints Department, Executive Offices, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG

Independent support for making a complaint

For patients of the Royal Free Hospital, free confidential help and support to make a complaint is available from POhWER, an independent complaints advocacy service:

Telephone: 0300 456 2370 (charge at standard network rate)

Minicom: 0300 456 2364

Email: pohwer@pohwer.net

Write to: London IHCAS Advocacy Hub, PO Box 14043, Birmingham, B6 9BL

For patients of Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm, free confidential help and support to make a complaint is available from VoiceAbility, an independent complaints advocacy service:

Telephone: 0300 303 1660

Email: helpline@voiceability.org

Write to: VoiceAbility, Unit 1, The Old Granary, Westwick, Oakington, Cambridge, CB24 3AR

How we respond to your complaint

A letter of acknowledgement will be sent to you within three working days. Providing we have all relevant information, the investigation will commence.

Your NHS complaint will then be investigated by a complaints manager, who will speak to the staff involved and may contact you to discuss the issues raised and agree how to take matters forward.

We aim to provide a response within 35 working days or within an alternative agreed timescale. Sometimes it may take longer if, for example, a member of staff is on holiday and we need their statement. Please note that the 35 working days will commence as of the date that we receive appropriate consent from the patient / a signed copy of the complaint e-mail is received.

Our response will offer a full explanation of the circumstances which led to your complaint and, where appropriate, advise what action we will take to make improvements. We regularly review our complaints and are committed to improving our healthcare services for patients based on our patients' and their loved ones' experiences.

If you are not happy with our response, you have the opportunity to let us know and we will endeavour to reinvestigate any outstanding points or concerns.

What to do if your complaint is not resolved

The NHS complaints procedure aims to resolve all complaints at a local level. However, if you remain dissatisfied with our efforts to resolve your concerns, you have the right to ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to review your case.

The PHSO is the final stage in the complaints process. They will only look into complaints once you have received a final decision from us that you are not happy with. The service is free for everyone. It is important you make your complaint as soon as you receive our final response as there are time limits for the Ombudsman to look into complaints.

You can contact the ombudsman as follows:

Telephone: 0345 015 4033
Online: www.ombudsman.org.uk

In writing:

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

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Whilst we understand that people wishing to raise concerns may be frustrated with the hospital; aggressive and abusive behaviour towards our complaints and PALS teams will not be tolerated.

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| Once you decide that you would like to have your baby with us we will arrange your booking appointment with a midwife. This appointment will either be done face to face or via Attend Anywhere and this is the opportunity to work with your midwife to begin planning your antenatal care. This appointment usually take place prior to 13 weeks of pregnancy.

At this appointment the midwife will take a detailed medical and social history, including details of any previous pregnancies. At the appointment you can discuss whether you would prefer to have your baby at home, at one of our birth centres or on one of our delivery suites. You will also discuss whether you would like to have any antenatal screening tests.

You will also be given the contact details of your named midwife who will have overall responsibility for co-ordinating your care and supporting your choices throughout your pregnancy.

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| We recommend a number of screening tests both during your pregnancy and following your baby's birth. We will discuss them at your booking appointment and then periodically through your pregnancy. Linked below are the leaflets by Public Health England describing these tests.

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STFYAYB provides information about the screening tests offered during and after pregnancy.

Details

This information is about the screening tests you will be offered during your pregnancy and after your baby is born. It explains the different types of test and what the tests are looking for.

Easy read versions of this leaflet are available. Additional information is also available for parents of babies who are in a special care baby unit, neonatal intensive care unit or paediatric intensive care unit.

We hope this advice will help prepare you for discussions with your midwife or doctor so that you can ask the questions that are important to you.

It is your decision whether or not to have any of the tests described.

In this publication, we use the terms 'woman' and 'women' to refer to anyone able to become pregnant, including trans men. Trans men who are pregnant should be offered the same antenatal and newborn screening tests as other pregnant individuals.

The information is available in 12 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali and Urdu.

See how to print digital leaflets if you want to print any sections of this guidance.

Free printed copies of this leaflet are also provided for local screening providers to give to women who cannot access the internet. Screening services can view the full PDF of the printed leaflet and order printed copies on the APS online ordering portal (requires login).

Contact the screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.

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Screening tests for you and your baby (STFYAYB)

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STFYAYB provides information about the screening tests offered during and after pregnancy.

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| Speak to your midwife if you are currently smoking and would like help to quit. Click below for information on how smoking can affect  you and your baby.

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Becoming smokefree before or during pregnancy is important for your baby's health. It's also important for your health.

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| A healthy diet is important for the health and growth of your baby. Click below for some helpful advice and information on foods we would recommend and those to avoid.

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Protein provides the building blocks for your baby to grow. Foods in this group include:

Fish

Have no more than 2 portions of oily fish each week. Make one of them an oily fish like salmon, sardines or mackerel.

There are some types of fish you should avoid (raw shellfish, shark, swordfish and marlin) if you're pregnant or trying to conceive.

Eggs

Hen eggs produced under the British Lion Code of Practice (stamped with the red lion) or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, are considered very low risk for salmonella and safe to eat raw or partially cooked.

Any hen eggs that are not British Lion eggs or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme, should be well cooked. Other types of eggs, including duck, quail and goose eggs, should also be well cooked.

If you have a severely weakened immune system or are on a medically supervised diet prescribed by health professionals, you should cook all eggs thoroughly.

Read about the healthy way to eat eggs.

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Healthy eating in pregnancy - Start for Life

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Having a healthy diet is important in pregnancy, find out which foods to include in your pregnancy diet.

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Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme

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Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme

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Women with diabetes should be empowered to have a positive experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Providing the right information, advice and support about diabetes and pregnancy reduces the risk of complications to mother and baby.

Use the following resources and tools to improve care for women with diabetes before, during and after pregnancy.

Compared to women without diabetes, women with diabetes are:

Five times more likely to have a preterm baby

Three times more likely to have a Caesarean section

Two times more likely to have a baby weighing more than 4kg

Resources

Shared practice examples

E-learning

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Women with diabetes should be empowered to have a positive experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Providing the right information, advice and support about diabetes and pregnancy reduces the risk of complications to mother and baby. Use the following resources and tools to improve care for women with diabetes before, during and after pregnancy.

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| During your pregnancy, you will have regular appointments with you midwife and the wider healthcare team. Where these appointments take place will depend on your individual circumstances and preferences.

The main purpose of these appointments is to monitor yours and your baby’s wellbeing as well as to provide support and guidance about your pregnancy and to help you make informed choices about your care.

Follow this link to the page that explains what appointments you will be offered and a brief outline of any screening that will occur at these appointments. At all appointments, we will test your urine and take your blood pressure. From 26 weeks we will also start measuring your bump (if you do not require additional scans towards the end of pregnancy) and listen to your baby’s heart using a handheld Doppler.

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|  We are delighted to announce that we are rolling out virtual parenthood education workshops to all clients starting from August.

Classes will be available for clients to book direct via the Eventbrite links.

To book, follow the below links to the Eventbrite site:
Becoming a Parent
Preparing for Birth
Infant Feeding

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Please see attached our free parenthood classes!

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Please see attached our free parenthood classes!

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Parenthood education | Antenatal care | Maternity services | Services A-Z | Services | The Royal Free

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Congratulations on your pregnancy. We are offering three workshops to help prepare you for the birth of your baby and beyond. These will be led by a specialist midwife and will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. Please click the links below to book your slot for each workshop. There is a morning and…

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| Between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy, you should start feeling your baby move. Click here for information on the importance of getting to know these movements.

Below is the current advice from Tommy's and the NHS regarding your baby's movements in pregnancy. This leaflet is also available in other languages.

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| Did you know that your baby can hear you from as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy? See link for information on how to ensure that you are doing all you can to build a strong bond with your unborn baby.

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| Some pregnant women are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia (a serious condition which usually presents as high blood pressure and protein in the urine) and intrauterine growth restriction (when the baby is smaller than usual due to not growing at a normal rate in the womb). There is evidence to suggest that this group of women are at reduced risk of developing these conditions if they take a low dose of aspirin during their pregnancy.

Why might I need aspirin during my pregnancy?
If you have one of the following risk factors, aspirin may be recommended during your pregnancy:
Hypertensive disease during your previous pregnancy
Chronic kidney disease
Autoimmune disease such as systemic lupus erythematosis or antiphospholipid syndrome
Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Chronic hypertension
Low Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein (PAPP-A) screening blood test
Previous Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (either birth weight &lt;2.5kg or &lt;10th centile)
Previous stillbirth
Previous pre-eclampsia/eclampsia

If you have two of the following risk factors, aspirin may be recommended during your pregnancy:
First pregnancy
Pregnancy interval of more than 10 years
Family history of pre-eclampsia
IVF pregnancy
Age 40 years or older
Multiple pregnancy
Body Mass index (BMI) of 35Kg/m2 or more at first contact

How much aspirin will I be advised to take?
You will be prescribed 150mg of aspirin to take once daily (although a small number of women may be prescribed a larger dose). You should take this as soon as you receive the prescription (as this is associated with better outcomes) until the birth of your baby.

How will I receive the prescription?
Most risk factors will be identified by your midwife at your first booking appointment. The midwife will send a letter to your doctor to request the prescription which you can collect from your doctor’s surgery.

Some risk factors may be identified later in your pregnancy, for example following an ultrasound scan. If this is the case your midwife or doctor will inform you at that time and will notify your doctor in the same manner.

Are there any contraindications to taking aspirin?
There are some rare medical conditions were aspirin would not be recommended. You doctor will advise you if this applies to you.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact your midwife or doctor.

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| Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some women usually around 20 weeks of their pregnancy or sometimes just after delivery of their baby.

The symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia include:
Severe headache that doesn’t go away with simple painkillers
Problems with vision, such as blurring or flashing in the eyes
Severe pain just below the ribs
Heartburn that doesn’t go away with antacids
Rapidly increasing swelling of the face, hands or feet
Feeling very unwell

These symptoms are serious and you should seek medical help immediately. If in doubt, contact your named midwife or the maternity unit at your local hospital/the hospital you are booked at.

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Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy (from 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered.

Symptoms of pre-eclampsia

Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in your urine (proteinuria).

It's unlikely that you'll notice these signs, but they should be picked up during your routine antenatal appointments.

In some cases, further symptoms can develop, including:

severe headache

vision problems, such as blurring or flashing

pain just below the ribs

vomiting

sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet

If you notice any symptoms of pre-eclampsia, seek medical advice immediately by calling your midwife, GP surgery or NHS 111.

Although many cases are mild, the condition can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if it's not monitored and treated.

The earlier pre-eclampsia is diagnosed and monitored, the better the outlook for mother and baby.

Video: what is pre-eclampsia and what are the warning signs?

In this video, a midwife explains the warning signs of pre-eclampsia.

Who's affected?

There are a number of things that can increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia, such as:

Other things that can slightly increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia include:

a family history of pre-eclampsia

being 40 years old or more

it's more than 10 years since your last pregnancy

expecting multiple babies (twins or triplets)

having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more

If you have 2 or more of these together, your chances are higher.

If you're thought to be at a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia, you may be advised to take a 75 to 150mg daily dose of aspirin from the 12th week of pregnancy until your baby is born.

What causes pre-eclampsia?

Although the exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not known, it's thought to occur when there's a problem with the placenta, the organ that links the baby's blood supply to the mother's.

Treating pre-eclampsia

If you're diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, you should be referred for an assessment by a specialist, usually in hospital.

While in hospital, you'll be monitored closely to determine how severe the condition is and whether a hospital stay is needed.

The only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby, so you'll usually be monitored regularly until it's possible for your baby to be delivered.

This will normally be at around 37 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, but it may be earlier in more severe cases.

At this point, labour may be started artificially (induced) or you may have a caesarean section.

You'll be offered medicine to lower your blood pressure while you wait for your baby to be delivered.

Complications

Although most cases of pre-eclampsia cause no problems and improve soon after the baby is delivered, there's a risk of serious complications that can affect both the mother and her baby.

There's a risk that the mother will develop fits called "eclampsia". These fits can be life threatening for the mother and baby, but they're rare.

Page last reviewed: 28 September 2021
Next review due: 28 September 2024

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Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women, usually during the second half of pregnancy (from around 20 weeks) or soon after their baby is delivered.

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| You will need to provide a urine sample at each antenatal contact you have. The purpose of the MSU is to:
confirm the presence of a urine infection
decide the best antibiotics to use

The aim is to get a sample of urine which is from the middle of your bladder where it is less likely that there will be bacteria present.  If bacteria are found in the sample it may mean that an infection is present.  A midstream sample is best as the first bit of the urine can be contaminated by bacteria from the skin and or from vaginal discharge.

Providing a correct MSU sample reduces the over diagnosis of urine infection due to contamination from the skin or vaginal discharge. See photo below for correct collection procedure for an MSU.

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Fetal Growth Assessment  Your Baby's Size Matters! 

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Fetal Growth Assessment  Your Baby's Size Matters! 

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| Why?
Babies that do not meet their growth potential are more prone to complications. Early detection of small babies can improve health outcomes.

How?
We use the ‘Growth Assessment Protocol (GAP)’ developed by the Perinatal Institute.

We will create a Customised Growth Chart for your pregnancy to monitor your baby’s growth.  The chart is produced according to your individual characteristics, such as weight, height, ethnicity and number of previous pregnancies.  The use of customised growth charts has been endorsed by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Your Midwife will measure the growth of your baby by measuring from the top of the womb to the pubic bone and then she will plot the measurement with an ‘X’ on your customised growth chart.

When?
Your Midwife will print the Customised Chart and will start plotting the measurements from 26-28 weeks.  If we suspect that your baby is not measuring as expected you will be referred for a Growth ultrasound Scan.

Why Not?
Some women who deliver at Barnet, Royal Free or Edgware will have their antenatal care outside the trust and the GP or midwife monitoring their pregnancy may not be trained to use these charts. In such cases we recommend you have your care at the hospital you have booked with.

You may choose to continue your antenatal care outside of our trust but still deliver at Barnet which will opt you out of the GAP/GROW programme.  This means that your pregnancy monitoring for fetal growth will be done in the traditional way that is not customised for you and may prevent early recognition of fetal growth restriction that may present a risk to your pregnancy.

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Most women can travel safely well into their pregnancy, providing they take precautions, such as making sure they have the right vaccinations.

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1. About the Maternity Certificate (form MAT B1)

The Maternity Certificate ( MAT B1) enables a pregnant woman to claim:

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from her employer

Maternity Allowance (MA) from Jobcentre Plus

The certificate:

verifies the pregnancy

confirms the date of the expected week of confinement (EWC)

confirms the actual date of birth when completed after confinement

Doctors or registered midwives must issue form MAT B1 free of charge to their pregnant patients for whom they provide clinical care.

2. MAT B1 specimen

3. How to order a MAT B1

See DWP leaflets and how to order them for information on how to order a MAT B1.

4. How to complete a MAT B1

It's important that MAT B1s are issued:

only when you are satisfied your patient is pregnant

not more than 20 weeks before the EWC

Complete the MAT B1 in ink. Use only MAT B1s that contain a unique certificate number.

4.1 Patient's name

Include your patient's name above Part A on the front page.

4.2 Part A

Complete Part A if you issue the MAT B1 before confinement.

Estimate the date your patient is expected to be confined as accurately as possible. Enter this date in Part A. The qualifying conditions and payment periods of both SMP and MA are based on this date.

4.3 Part B

Complete Part B if you issue the MAT B1 after confinement.

Enter the baby's date of birth and the date the patient was expected to be confined in all cases.

Your patient may not have applied for SMP or MA before confinement but her entitlement will still depend on the EWC.

The MAT B1 may be issued by a doctor or registered midwife who attended the patient in connection with her confinement.

For the MAT B1 to be valid, registered midwifes must include:

their Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) personal identification number

the expiry date of their registration with NMC

Doctors must use their name and address stamp.

5. Duplicate MAT B1s

After a MAT B1 has been issued, only issue another based on the same examination if you need to:

replace an original lost MAT B1

replace an incomplete MAT B1

Clearly mark the replacement "DUPLICATE".

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Maternity certificate (form MAT B1) - guidance on completion

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Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS)

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Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS)

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bumps - best use of medicine in pregnancy

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This website provides reliable, evidence-based, and accurate information about use of medicines in pregnancy, in the form of freely available patient information leaflets called 'Bumps ' leaflets are produced by the UK Teratology Information Service ( UKTIS), a not-for-profit national organisation hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne hospital NHS Foundation Trust and funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of the UK Health Departments.

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| Your midwife will discuss the whooping cough vaccination that is recommended to take between 16 and 32 weeks of your pregnancy. Please have a look at the below leaflet for more information on why this vaccination is recommended.

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| Doing pelvic floor exercises regularly will help prevent you accidentally leaking wee when you cough or strain, both during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

Where are my pelvic floor muscles?
Your pelvic floor muscles surround and support all the organs in your pelvis - your womb, bowels and bladder.

How to find your pelvic floor muscles
You can find out where the pelvic floor muscles are and how you control them next time you go to the toilet. As you wee, try to stop the flow briefly. The muscles you use to do this are your pelvic floor muscles. (Don’t do this more than once, though. It’s not good for your bladder to stop mid-wee and doing it regularly may lead to a urinary tract infection).

Why pelvic floor exercises are important
During your pregnancy, your pelvic floor muscles will loosen due to hormonal changes in your body. This loosening, along with your growing baby pressing on your bladder, may cause you to leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise.

Doing pelvic floor exercises will strengthen these muscles and help you control any accidents. It will also help you ease your baby out during labour, and recover faster after the birth.

How do I exercise my pelvic floor muscles?
Once you’ve found your pelvic floor muscles, try stopping an imaginary wee rather than a real one. Once you can locate them like this, you can exercise them any time you like by tightening and lifting.

To tighten and lift your pelvic floor muscles, imagine doing the following at the same time:
squeezing your bottom as if stopping a poo
squeezing to stop the flow of wee
squeezing as though you’re gripping a tampon in your vagina.

You can do pelvic floor exercises anywhere you like. Nobody will know what you’re doing - as long as you don’t raise your eyebrows each time you squeeze! You can exercise on the bus, while you’re on the phone or waiting in the supermarket queue.

Quick Tip
It can be helpful to link your pelvic floor exercises to something you do often, such as waiting for the train or waiting for the kettle to boil. This will make it easy to remember to do them.

Slow squeeze pelvic floor exercise
This exercise will help support the organs in your pelvis and your growing baby. You may not be able to hold this squeeze for long at first, but keep building up the time and make sure you always release it slowly.
Slowly tighten your pelvic floor, lifting the muscles inwards and upwards.
Continue lifting up through your pelvis and into your tummy.
Try to hold it for 4 seconds, then release slowly.

If you find you struggle to hold the squeeze for this long and there’s nothing left to release, try holding it for less time at first and working up to 4 seconds.
Gradually increase the length of the hold. Make sure you always have some of the squeeze left to release and that you’re able to release slowly at the end of the exercise.

Quick squeeze pelvic floor exercises
This exercise will help make you less likely to wet yourself!
Tighten and lift your pelvic floor in one quick contraction, squeezing the muscles inwards and upwards.
Pause before releasing slowly.
Relax fully at the end.

Try to perform each repetition with the same speed and strength as the first. Remember to breathe normally when you’re doing your pelvic floor exercises.

How often should I do my pelvic floor exercises?
Once you get used to doing them, start off with 5 squeezes 5 times a day. Increase this to 10 squeezes 5 times a day if you can. Try to do a mixture of slow and quick squeezes.

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| Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.

It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester.

It happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels – to meet your extra needs in pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby during pregnancy and after birth. But the risks can be reduced if the condition is detected early and well managed.

Who's at risk of gestational diabetes
Any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but you're at an increased risk if:

your body mass index (BMI) is above 30 – use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI
you previously had a baby who weighed 4.5kg (10lb) or more at birth
you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
1 of your parents or siblings has diabetes
you are of south Asian, Black, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern origin (even if you were born in the UK)

If any of these apply to you, you should be offered screening for gestational diabetes during your pregnancy.

Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes does not usually cause any symptoms. Most cases are only discovered when your blood sugar levels are tested during screening for gestational diabetes.

Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels gets too high (hyperglycaemia), such as:
increased thirst
needing to pee more often than usual
a dry mouth
tiredness

But some of these symptoms are common during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you're worried about any symptoms you're experiencing.

How gestational diabetes can affect your pregnancy
Most women with gestational diabetes have otherwise normal pregnancies with healthy babies.

However, gestational diabetes can cause problems such as:
your baby growing larger than usual – this may lead to difficulties during the delivery and increases the likelihood of needing induced labour or a caesarean section
polyhydramnios – too much amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby) in the womb, which can cause premature labour or problems at delivery
premature birth – giving birth before the 37th week of pregnancy
pre-eclampsia – a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and can lead to pregnancy complications if not treated
your baby developing low blood sugar or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) after he or she is born, which may require treatment in hospital
the loss of your baby (stillbirth) – though this is rare

Having gestational diabetes also means you're at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Screening for gestational diabetes
During your first antenatal appointment (also called a booking appointment) at around week 8 to 12 of your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will ask you some questions to determine whether you're at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.

If you have 1 or more risk factors for gestational diabetes you should be offered a screening test.

The screening test is called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which takes about 2 hours.

It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have not had any food or drink for 8 to 10 hours (though you can usually drink water, but check with the hospital if you're unsure). You're then given a glucose drink.

After resting for 2 hours, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose.

The OGTT is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. If you've had gestational diabetes before, you'll be offered an OGTT earlier in your pregnancy, soon after your booking appointment, then another OGTT at 24 to 28 weeks if the first test is normal.

You can book your GTT here:
https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/pre_timescreen.php?id=10084

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| We have maternity day assessment units on the 2nd floor of Barnet Hospital and on the 5th floor of the Royal Free Hospital. Our specialist maternity day assessment units are for women who require additional care, monitoring and treatment during their pregnancy and after birth.

The reasons you may need to attend the day assessment unit include:

having high blood pressure in pregnancy
the baby not moving as much as usual during pregnancy
you are having severe itching during pregnancy
you are having a problem with a Caesarean section wound after the birth
you are having a problem with the stitches in your perineum after birth

If you have any concerns or would like to know more, you can contact the maternity day assessment unit on 020 7794 0500 x65144 (Barnet Hospital) or 020 7794 0500 x33846 (Royal Free Hospital).

Opening hours
Barnet Hospital:

Monday to Friday 8am-11pm
Weekends and bank holidays 8am-8pm

Royal Free Hospital:

Monday to Friday 9am-6pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays 10am-6pm (closed Christmas Day and New Years' Day)

Outside of these hours you will be seen in the maternity triage unit or on the delivery suites.

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We have maternity day assessment units on the 2nd floor of Barnet Hospital and on the 5th floor of the Royal Free Hospital. Our specialist maternity day assessment units are for women who require additional care, monitoring and treatment during their pregnancy and after birth.

The reasons you may need to attend the day assessment unit include:

having high blood pressure in pregnancy

the baby not moving as much as usual during pregnancy

you are having severe itching during pregnancy

you are having a problem with a Caesarean section wound after the birth

you are having a problem with the stitches in your perineum after birth

If you have any concerns or would like to know more, you can contact the maternity day assessment unit on 020 7794 0500 x65144 (Barnet Hospital) or 020 7794 0500 x33846 (Royal Free Hospital).

Opening hours

Barnet Hospital:

Monday to Friday 8am-11pm

Weekends and bank holidays 8am-8pm

Royal Free Hospital:

Monday to Friday 9am-6pm

Weekends and Bank Holidays 10am-6pm (closed Christmas Day and New Years' Day)

Outside of these hours you will be seen in the maternity triage unit or on the delivery suites.

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We have maternity day assessment units on the 2nd floor of Barnet Hospital and on the 5th floor of the Royal Free Hospital. Our specialist maternity day assessment units are for women who require additional care, monitoring and treatment during their pregnancy and after birth.

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The information below is for you, a friend or a relative who is expecting a baby, planning to become pregnant or has recently had a baby.
What is group B Strep?

Group B Streptococcus (GBS, group B Strep or Strep B) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum, or vagina of 2 to 4 in every ten women in the UK (20 to 40%). This is often referred to as 'carrying' or being 'colonised with' group B Strep.

Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but there is a small chance it can affect your baby around the time of birth.

GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, in babies before they are born. Carrying GBS can also sometimes lead to serious infections for pregnant women, though this is also rare.

How is group B Strep spread?

Group B Strep is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Like many bacteria, GBS can be passed from one person to another through direct contact, for example, hand holding, kissing, close physical contact, etc. As GBS is often found in the vagina and rectum, it can also be passed on during sex.

There are no known harmful effects of carrying GBS. The GBS bacteria do not cause genital symptoms or discomfort. GBS carriage is not a sign of ill health or poor hygiene. Around 20 to 40% of women carry GBS.

Because GBS can be passed from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, everyone (regardless of whether they know they carry GBS) should wash and dry their hands properly before handling a newborn baby.

How is group B Strep found?

Most women carrying GBS have no symptoms, so GBS is often found by chance through a vaginal or rectal swab test or a urine test.
The NHS does not routinely test all pregnant women for group B Strep.
A test designed specifically to identify whether you carry GBS, known as the Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) test, is becoming more available within the NHS and is widely available privately.

Since September 2017, the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) has recommended in their guideline on group B Strep that the ECM test should be used when testing for group B Strep. However, many maternity units still use a standard test (known as the high vaginal swab) that misses up to half of the women carrying group B Strep. Ask your health professionals what is available locally.

There are private home ECM testing kits for GBS you can order.

What could group B Strep mean for my baby?

Many babies come into contact with group B Strep during labour or around birth, and the vast majority will not become ill.

However, there is a small chance that your baby will develop a group B Strep infection. In the UK, about 1 in 1,600 of all babies born develops a GBS infection.

This likelihood of infection is higher if you know you carry GBS; about 1 in every 400 babies born to women known to carry GBS develop a GBS infection.

If the GBS infection is not treated, babies can become seriously ill. But with prompt treatment, most babies will make a full recovery. This makes early detection vital.

The infections that group B Strep most commonly causes in newborn babies are sepsis (infection of the blood and other tissues), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain).
Although group B Strep infection can make your baby very unwell, with prompt treatment, most babies will make a full recovery.
Group B Strep infections are most common in newborn babies during their first few days after birth. However, babies can still develop group B Strep infections up to three months of age, and in very rare cases, beyond three months.

To reflect this, group B strep infections are often split into two categories: early-onset and late-onset infections:

Early-onset group B Strep infection

Early-onset group B Strep infections are those in babies up to seven days old, and occur in around 1 in every 1,750 babies in the UK and Ireland.

Of the babies who develop an early-onset GBS infection, 1 in 19 (5.2%) will die.

Of those who survive an early-onset GBS infection, 1 in 14 (7.4%) will have a long-term physical or mental disability.

Late-onset group B Strep infection

Late-onset group B Strep infections develop in babies older than seven days, and occur in around 1 in every 2,700 babies in the UK and Ireland.

Of those who develop a late-onset GBS infection, 1 in 13 (7.7%) will die.

Of those who survive a late-onset GBS infection, 1 in 8 (12.4%) will have a long-term physical or mental disability.

Overall chances and outlook for babies

On average, in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, every month:

Around 70,000 live babies are born

66 babies are diagnosed with a group B Strep infection
40 early-onset + 26 late-onset GBS infection

of these, 56 babies make a full recovery
35 early-onset + 21 late-onset GBS infection

4 babies die from their group B Strep infection
2 early-onset + 2 late-onset GBS infection

6 babies survive with long-term physical or mental disabilities
3 early-onset + 3 late-onset GBS infection

Group B Strep and risk of miscarriage or stillbirth

There is evidence that group B Strep can cause late miscarriage (death of the baby between 14 and 24 weeks of pregnancy) and stillbirth (death of the baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy up until the baby is born). We don't understand why group B Strep causes stillbirths or late miscarriages in some babies but not others.

However, thankfully stillbirths are relatively uncommon in the UK, and group B Strep is not a common cause of them, accounting for around 1% of all stillbirths before labour in high-income countries. So, it is rare that someone carrying GBS will have a stillbirth or late miscarriage caused by GBS.

We're not aware of any evidence that group B Strep causes earlier miscarriages (before 14 weeks of pregnancy).

Is my baby at risk of group B Strep infection?

Any baby can develop a group B Strep infection, but early-onset group B Strep infection is more likely if...

your baby is born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy) - the earlier your baby is born, the greater the risk;

you have previously had a baby who developed a group B Strep infection;

you have a high temperature (or other signs of infection) during labour;

you have tested positive for group B Strep in this pregnancy;

you haven't gone into labour within 24 hours after your waters have broken.

Developing late-onset group B Strep infection is more likely if...

your baby is born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy);

you have tested positive for group B Strep in this pregnancy.

There are ethnic differences in group B Strep infection rates. The overall rate of GBS infection for Black babies is 1 in 1,000 live births, which is 51% higher than the rate for white babies at 0.67 per 1,000 live births. For Asian babies, the infection rate is 0.85 per 1,000 live births, which is 28% higher than that for white babies. However, there is variation in infection rates within these broad categories; for example, babies from an Indian background have similar GBS infection rate to white babies.

How can the risk to my baby be reduced?

Most early-onset group B Strep infections (before the baby is seven days old) can be prevented with intravenous antibiotics, sometimes known as a 'drip'. These will be given to women during labour if their baby has a higher chance of developing an early-onset GBS infection.

If you opt to have the antibiotics during labour, the risk of your baby developing an early-onset GBS infection drops significantly to around 1 in 4,000.
You will be offered intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labour if...
you developed a urine infection during pregnancy caused by group B Strep (it should also have been treated with antibiotic tablets straight away).

you have tested positive for GBS after a swab from an NHS or other accredited laboratory (see www.gbss.org.uk/test).

you have previously had a baby who was diagnosed with a GBS infection.

you develop any signs of infection during labour (e.g. high temperature), even if you don't know whether you carry GBS. (You will be offered IV antibiotics to treat various infections, including GBS.)

your labour starts before 37 completed weeks of your pregnancy (premature labour), even if you don't know whether you carry GBS.

Other situations:

If you tested positive for GBS during a previous pregnancy and your baby was unaffected, you can be tested when you are 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. If the test result is positive, you will be offered antibiotics in labour. If the test result is negative at this point, the risk of your baby developing early-onset GBS infection is low, and you may choose not to have antibiotics.

If your waters break after 37 completed weeks of your pregnancy and you are known to carry GBS, you will be offered induction of labour straight away. This is to reduce the time that your baby is exposed to GBS before birth. You should also be offered IV antibiotics.

At present, there are no known methods to prevent late-onset GBS infection (those happening after the baby is seven days old). If you carry GBS, your baby will be monitored and receive treatment if they show signs of GBS infection.

Find out how your baby will be monitored after birth for signs of GBS infection.
If you are worried about your baby, you should urgently contact your healthcare professional and mention any history of GBS when you do. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
0330 120 0796

Or email us at info@gbss.org.uk

Related pages

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Group B Strep and pregnancy - Group B Strep Support

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Group B Streptococcus (GBS, group B Strep or Strep B) are common bacteria that usually cause no harm, but can cause serious infection, most often in young babies.

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| Maternity tours prior to Covid would be done in person, however due to current restrictions, we are only able to provide the link to the the Royal Free virtual hospital tour hosted by our consultant midwife. We have also attached a video of the Heath Birth Centre for you to refer to.

If we resume face to face tours, your named midwife will endeavor to let you know, but please check the link above for any updates to this provision

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| Having a baby is an important event for women and their families. We aim to ensure that the whole childbirth experience is comfortable and relaxed.

At Royal Free Trust, we have a few birth place options available to you and encourage you to have a conversation with your midwife regarding which one is best for you.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had to make some important changes to our maternity services to help keep you and our staff safe.
Please read our dedicated COVID-19 advice page which provides the latest information about our maternity services.
Having a baby is an important event for women and their families. We aim to ensure that the whole childbirth experience is comfortable and relaxed.

If you are healthy and your pregnancy is straightforward the evidence says you should give birth at home or in a birth centre. Giving birth at home or in a birth centre is as safe for your baby as giving birth in hospital. Giving birth at home or in a birth centre also has many benefits for you.

You're significantly less likely to have:

an emergency Caesarean section

ventouse or forceps delivery

an episiotomy

blood transfusion.

You're significantly more likely to have:

a normal birth

to be able to use water for labour and birth

have a better birth experience.

To find out more talk to our midwives or visit the Which? Birth Choice website.

Where can I have my baby?

Evidence says that if you are healthy and your pregnancy has been uncomplicated, you should plan to give birth at home or in a birth centre.

At the Royal Free London we have three birth centres, the Barnet Birth Centre, the Edgware Birth Centre and the Heath Birth Centre. If you are planning to give birth in a birth centre, you can discuss which birth centre is most appropriate with your midwife.

For further information, read our patient information leafet: Choosing where to have your baby.

Women or babies experiencing complications during pregnancy or labour, or women who have medical problems requiring specialist care, are advised to give birth in a consultant-led delivery suite. At the Royal Free London we have two consultant-led delivery suites, one at Barnet Hospital and one at the Royal Free Hospital. You can discuss which suite is most appropriate with your midwife.

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Please read our dedicated COVID-19 advice page which provides the latest information about our maternity services. Having a baby is an important event for women and their families. We aim to ensure that the whole childbirth experience is comfortable and relaxed.

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| Mill Hill Team Midwives and Homebirth team serves all families wishing to home birth under the RFL NHS Trust geographical area.

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During your pregnancy, your midwife will discuss with you your options for labour and birth.

Discussing a birth plan with your midwife gives you the chance to ask questions and find out more about what happens in labour.

It also gives your midwife the chance to get to know you better and understand your feelings and priorities - this will form part of your personalised care and support plan.

Be prepared to be flexible and to do things differently from your birth plan if complications arise. You can change your mind about your wishes for labour and birth at any time.

The information on this page outlines what you need to know if you go into labour naturally and what to expect if you need to have an induction of labour or you're having a planned caesarean section. You'll also find useful information about what to bring with you to the labour ward.

Everyone's labour is different, and how you'll feel in early labour depends on whether you've had a baby before and how you perceive and cope with labour.

In early labour, also called the latent phase, you may feel:

Persistent lower back or abdominal pain, often accompanied by a cramp pain similar to when you have a period.

A show (a brownish or blood-tinged sticky, mucus discharge). Labour may not be imminent, but it is a sign things are moving along. You should carry on as normal.

Painful contractions that occur at regular and increasingly shorter intervals and become longer in duration and stronger in intensity.

Broken waters (continually leaking fluid from your vagina that you're unable to control).

When should I contact my midwife?

You've probably talked with your midwife about what to do when you think you're in labour. If you're not sure whether or not the time has come, don't be embarrassed to call us.

We often receive calls from women who are uncertain if they're in labour and need guidance.

When you call triage, we'll listen to you and plan your care together. We'll also want to know how close together your contractions are, how long they last and any other symptoms or concerns you may have, including how much your baby is moving.

If you're planning to have your baby in the hospital, we may ask you to come in so that we can assess your progress or suggest you remain at home if we think you're still in early labour.

If, when you come in, you're still in early labour, we may encourage you to go home again until you're in active labour. This is because there's evidence to suggest that being at home is the best place to be during early labour - at home, you are calm and relaxed and therefore more likely to avoid unnecessary intervention.

You should contact us if:

your waters break, or if you suspect you're leaking amniotic fluid

your baby is moving less than usual

you have vaginal bleeding

you have fever, severe headaches, changes in your vision, or abdominal pain

* you're worried or concerned

Having a planned caesarean section

If you're having a planned caesarean section, you'll be asked to attend the maternity day assessment unit or antenatal clinic two working days before the date of your caesarean, and you will be seen by a midwife, a doctor and an anaesthetist.

They will assess you and your baby and complete all of the necessary checks to ensure you are prepared.

There will be time for any of your questions to be answered, so please do ask if you are not sure about something.

On the day of the procedure, at the Royal Free Hospital you'll be asked to attend the maternity day assessment unit, and at Barnet Hospital you'll be asked to report to triage. You'll wait in the unit until it's time for your caesarean section.

Enhanced recovery programme

We run an enhanced recovery programme for patients having planned caesarean sections in order to improve the experience for mothers and reduce medical complications.

The programme facilitates the early return of normal functions for those undergoing uncomplicated, planned caesarean sections.

The programme involves:

encouragement of early skin-to-skin contact

eating and drinking within two hours of your caesarean

getting out of bed and walking from six hours after your caesarean

removal of the urinary catheter once you are able to get out of bed

prioritising of postnatal baby checks

Most women feel ready to go home the day after their planned caesarean section and are allowed to do so if they wish. If you do go home early, there is additional community follow up available.

If you would like more information on the enhanced recovery programme, please speak to your midwife or another member of our team.

Giving birth: what to bring

When preparing to come to the birth centre or delivery suite for the birth of your baby, please bring sufficient clothes and personal items for the period following the birth of your baby. This could be anything from six hours to two days.

What to bring for you

your maternity notes

comfortable, loose clothing to wear while giving birth

night wear and slippers

comfortable, loose clothing to wear when you go home

toiletries

personal items which may include music, massage oils, a pillow, water spray, lip salve, phone charger, eye mask, a handheld fan

healthy snacks and isotonic drinks; a water bottle

breast pads and maternity pads; disposable underwear

support bra to wear while breastfeeding

What to bring for your baby

clothing (including vests, baby grows and hats)

nappies

cotton wool

baby blanket

car seat to go home in

snowsuit if the weather is cold

Page last reviewed: 27 October 2023
Next review due: 2 December 2024

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Skip to main content Skip to navigation Skip to accessibility tools During your pregnancy, your midwife will discuss with you your options for labour and birth. Discussing a birth plan with your midwife gives you the chance to ask questions and find out more about what happens in labour.

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| The Edgware Birth Centre is standalone centre located within Edgware Community Hospital. There are no obstetricians on site and should complications arise during labour you would be transferred to our nearest hospital by ambulance.

All women planning to give birth at Edgware Birth Centre will be cared for by a dedicated team of midwives who will care for you throughout your pregnancy, labour and after your baby is born. Please call the midwife on the number provided by the Edgware Birth Centre Team when you are in labour.

If you are unable to contact the midwife or for any other concerns about yourself or your baby please call Barnet Hospital Maternity Triage on 0208 216 4408.

Facilities
At the Edgware Birth Centre we have:

five ensuite birthing rooms
three birthing pools for you to labour/birth in
birth stools to help you with an upright birth as well as bean bags and birth balls.

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| The Heath Birth Centre is situated on the 5th floor of the Royal Free Hospital.

We have:
two birthing rooms with 'home from home' facilities, including a double bed
a birthing room with birthing pool
birthing equipment such as birthing balls, large floor mats, birthing stools and bean bags

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| Barnet Birth Centre is situated on the first floor of the maternity building at Barnet Hospital and offers a range of modern facilities for women and their families. We have:

five birthing suites with private ensuite facilities
three postnatal care rooms with shower and toilet
three birthing pools for you to labour/birth in
a kitchen area.

If complications occur in your labour or you require an epidural for pain relief, you will be transferred to our consultant-led labour ward on the floor below.

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Consultant-led delivery suites - RF and BGH site

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Consultant-led delivery suites - RF and BGH site

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| Our consultant-led delivery suites are for women or babies experiencing complications during pregnancy or labour, or for women who have medical problems requiring specialist care. We have delivery suites at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

We advise expectant mothers to give birth in a delivery suite if you:

go into labour before 37 weeks
require a Caesarean or an epidural
have had medical or obstetric complications during your current or previous pregnancy that make giving birth on the delivery suite safer for you and/or your baby

A team of healthcare professionals including midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists, paediatricians and healthcare assistants provide care, including a 24 hour epidural service if required. We also have student midwives and medical students on clinical placements working under the supervision.

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| Attached is a list that you can print to help you pack your bags for your stay in hospital. This is just an idea, to get you started! You may think of other things that will make the experience what you want it to be.

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| One of the first signs that labour may soon be starting is a “show”. This is a blood stained mucous plug which is passed out of the vagina when your cervix (the neck of the womb) begins to change. This is not a reliable sign and not all women see this. For those women who do see a “show” labour may be as much as two weeks away.

The most common indication that labour has begun is the start of contractions. These can range in intensity from mild irritation to strong pain and may be felt down in your back or like waves moving across your abdomen. It is important to time how often these come and for how long they last.

When contractions are regular (coming every 5-10 minutes), and lasting 45-60 seconds, we would advise you to call triage or your personal midwife before coming into hospital. Please bare in mind, it is possible for your labour to be quicker this time round if you have had a baby before.

If your waters break, this may also be a sign that you are going into labour. But it can often happen before your labour starts, when you are not having contractions. Sometimes this can be confused with a loss of urine. If your waters break you may need to be seen and assessed by a midwife. Always call your midwives, or triage, if you feel your waters may have broken.

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| It is completely normal, as an expectant parent, to have questions about the risks that come with some of these procedures you may need around the time of birth. At Labour Pains we aim to provide you with a variety of resources to help answer your questions. During your labour, you may be considering a number of different pain relief options to help cope with labour pains, including epidurals and spinals

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Togel Hongkong - Togel Singapore - Togel Sidney - Keluaran SDY - Pengeluaran SGP - Data HK Hari Ini

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Togel Hongkong - Togel Singapore - Togel Sidney - Keluaran SDY - Pengeluaran SGP - Data HK Hari Ini

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Togel Hongkong - Togel Singapore - Togel Sidney - Keluaran SDY - Pengeluaran SGP - Data HK Hari Ini

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| If you are having a planned caesarean section you will be asked to attend the maternity day assessment unit two working days before the date of your caesarean and you will be seen by a midwife, a doctor and an anaesthetist. They will assess you and your baby and complete all of the necessary procedures to ensure you are prepared.

There will be time for any of your questions to be answered so please do ask if you are not sure about something.

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Planned caesarean section | Maternity services | Services A-Z | Services | The Royal Free

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If you are having a planned caesarean section you will be asked to attend the maternity day assessment unit two working days before the date of your caesarean and you will be seen by a midwife, a doctor and an anaesthetist. They will assess you and your baby and complete all of the necessary procedu…

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There are a few things that you need to look out for after you have been discharged home. See the document below for a quick reference guide.

If you are concerned, please ring triage or if you feel that it is an emergency, dial 999.

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Every baby is offered newborn blood spot screening, also known as the heel prick test, ideally when they're 5 days old.

What is the blood spot test?

Newborn blood spot screening involves taking a blood sample to find out if your baby has 1 of 9 rare but serious health conditions.

Most babies won't have any of these conditions but, for the few who do, the benefits of screening are enormous.

Early treatment can improve their health, and prevent severe disability or even death.

What does the blood spot test involve?

When your baby is 5 days old, a healthcare professional will prick their heel and collect 4 drops of blood on a special card.

You can ease any distress for your baby by cuddling and feeding them, and making sure they're warm and comfortable.

Occasionally, the sample may need to be taken when your baby is 6, 7 or 8 days old.

Sometimes a second blood spot sample is needed. The reason for this will be explained to you. It doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your baby.

The test doesn't carry any known risks for your baby.

Which conditions is the blood spot test for?

The blood spot test screens for the following 9 rare but serious conditions.

If you, your partner or a family member already has one of these conditions (or a family history of it), tell your healthcare professional straight away.

Sickle cell disease

About 270 babies are born with sickle cell disease in the UK each year. This is a serious inherited blood disease.

Sickle cell disease affects haemoglobin, the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.

Babies who have this condition will need specialist care throughout their lives.

People with sickle cell disease can have attacks of severe pain and get serious, life-threatening infections. They're usually anaemic because their blood cells have difficulty carrying oxygen.

The blood spot screening test means that babies with sickle cell disease can receive early treatment to help them live healthier lives. This may include vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent serious illnesses.

Pregnant women are also routinely tested for sickle cell disease early in pregnancy.

Read more about sickle cell disease.
GOV.UK also has a factsheet about sickle cell disease
Cystic fibrosis

About 1 in 2,500 babies born in the UK has cystic fibrosis. This inherited condition affects the digestion and lungs.

Babies with cystic fibrosis may not gain weight well and are prone to chest infections.

Babies with the condition can be treated early with a high-energy diet, medicines and physiotherapy.

Although children with cystic fibrosis may still become very ill, early treatment can help them live longer, healthier lives.

Read more about cystic fibrosis.
GOV.UK also has a leaflet for parents whose baby has suspected cystic fibrosis
Congenital hypothyroidism

About 1 in every 2,000 to 3,000 babies born in the UK has congenital hypothyroidism. Babies with congenital hypothyroidism don't have enough of the hormone thyroxine.

Without thyroxine, babies don't grow properly and can develop learning disabilities.

Babies who have the condition can be treated early with thyroxine tablets, and this allows them to develop normally.
The British Thyroid Foundation has more information about congenital hypothyroidism
Inherited metabolic diseases

It's important to let your healthcare professional know if you have a family history of a metabolic disease (a disease that affects your metabolism).

Babies are screened for 6 inherited metabolic diseases. These are:

About 1 in 10,000 babies born in the UK has PKU or MCADD. The other conditions are rarer, occurring in 1 in 100,000 to 150,000 babies.

Without treatment, babies with inherited metabolic diseases can become suddenly and seriously ill. The diseases all have different symptoms.

Depending on which one affects your baby, the condition may be life threatening or cause severe developmental problems.

They can all be treated with a carefully managed diet and, in some cases, medicines as well.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

In some areas of England, screening for a condition called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is also being offered as part of the newborn blood spot test. This is to help the NHS decide if screening for SCID should be offered to all babies in England.

SCID causes problems with the immune system. It makes it very hard for a baby to fight off infections like meningitis and pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. About 14 babies born each year in England have SCID.

Ask your midwife if screening for SCID is being offered in your area.
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has more information on severe combined immunodeficiency

Does my baby have to have the blood spot test?

The blood spot test is not compulsory, but it's recommended because it could save your baby's life.

You can choose to have screening for sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or congenital hypothyroidism individually, but you can only choose to have screening for all 6 inherited metabolic diseases or none at all.

If you don't want your baby to be screened for any of these conditions, discuss it with your midwife.

You should be given information about the blood spot test and the diseases it screens for in advance so you can make an informed decision for your baby.

If you change your mind, babies can be screened up to the age of 12 months for all the conditions except cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis can only be screened for up to 8 weeks of age.

If you have any concerns about the tests, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.

When will we get the results?

You should receive the results either by letter or from a healthcare professional by the time your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old.

The results should be recorded in your baby's personal child health record (red book). It's important to keep this safe and take it with you to all your baby's appointments.

If you haven't received your baby's results, speak to your health visitor or GP.

You'll be contacted sooner if your baby screens positive. This means they're more likely to have one of the conditions tested for.

You'll be contacted:

the day the result is available, or the next working day, if your baby is thought to have congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) - you'll be given an appointment to see a specialist

before your baby's 4 weeks old if they're thought to have cystic fibrosis

before your baby's 6 weeks old if they're thought to have sickle cell disease

Screening for cystic fibrosis finds some babies who may be genetic carriers of the condition. These babies may need further testing.

Screening for sickle cell disease also finds babies who are carriers of this or other red blood cell diseases.

Carriers are healthy, although they can experience problems in situations where their bodies aren't getting much oxygen - for example, if they're having an anaesthetic.

Parents of babies who are found to be carriers should be told by the time they're 6 to 8 weeks old.

What do the results mean?

Most babies will have a normal result, which means it's unlikely that they have any of the conditions.

A small number of babies will screen positive for one of the conditions. This doesn't mean they have the condition, but they're more likely to have it. They'll be referred to a specialist for more tests.

It's important to know that screening isn't 100% certain. A baby with a negative screening result may later turn out to have the disease screened for. This is known as a false negative.

Babies with a positive result sometimes turn out not to have the disease - what's known as a false positive.

Occasionally, other medical conditions are picked up by blood spot test screening. For example, babies with beta thalassaemia major, a serious blood disease, will usually be detected. These babies also need to be referred for early treatment.

More information

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Your guide to the newborn blood spot (heel prick) test, including which diseases it screens for and when to expect the results

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ICON training provides information on how to cope when your baby cries and support to help you when you need it.

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Babies cry, you can cope When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. Latest news Testimonials

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Baby Check will help you decide whether your baby needs a doctor. Baby Check contains 19 simple checks which test for different symptoms or signs of illness. Each check has a score. Go through all the checks, then add up the score

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Jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

Below is a link to the NHS website providing further information on this condition.

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Find out more about jaundice, a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

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https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/

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The safest cot is a clear cot

The safest cot for a baby is a clear cot. That means removing anything that isn't essential. Babies need just two items in their cot:

It's important to remove anything that isn't essential because items such as toys, blankets and bumpers could cover their face and obstruct their breathing.

When preparing your baby's sleep space, remember:

No pillows or duvets

No cot bumpers

No soft toys or comforters

No weighted or bulky bedding

No products designed to keep your baby in one sleeping position, such as wedges or straps

No pods or nests, rolled up towels or anything soft placed on top of the mattress.

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Safer sleep overview - The Lullaby Trust

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An easy guide to practicing safer sleep for your baby and reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, or cot death).

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https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/08/Caring-for-your-baby-at-night-web.pdf

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It is recommended that you avoid travelling in cars with pre-term and young babies for long distances. Research into the link between car seats and SIDS found young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if they sleep in a seated position for too long.

If your trip involves driving for long periods of time, you should stop for frequent breaks. This will allow you to check on your baby, take them out of the car seat and let them stretch and move around.

Ideally, a second adult should travel in the back of the car with your baby, or if travelling alone use a mirror to keep an eye on your baby. If your baby changes their position and slumps forward, then you should immediately stop, take them out of the car seat and sit them upright before continuing on your journey.

It is essential for safety that babies travel in a rearward-facing baby seats. Rearward-facing seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats.

Babies should not sleep in car seats for long periods

Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, not as a main sleeping place. Car seats should only be used for transport and not as an alternative for cots or high chairs. It's OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling, but they should be taken out as soon as you get to your destination, and placed onto a firm, flat surface to sleep.

Overheating

Babies that get too hot are at a greater risk of SIDS. We advise removing any hats or outdoor clothing such as snowsuits and coats once your baby is in the car. The best way to check your baby isn't getting too hot is to feel their tummy or back of their neck. If their skin feels clammy or sweaty they are too hot, so remove a layer of clothing.

Make sure you have the right car seat for your baby's weight and it is fitted properly (many shops will help with this).

It is recommended that you do not buy or use a second-hand car seat as you cannot be certain of its history. It could have been involved in an accident and the damage may not be visible.

Car seats must conform to safety standards - United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 (or R 44.03) or to the new i-size regulation, R129. Look for the 'E' mark label on the seat.

Car seats and SIDS FAQs

Are babies at a greater risk of SIDS in a car seat?

Click here to open this question

Avoid travelling in cars with pre-term and young babies for long distances. Research published in 2016 by the University of Bristol looked at the health effects on babies of travelling in car seats. The study found pre-term and young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if travelling in an upright position in car seats for a long period of time.

You can read the findings of the research here: https://fn.bmj.com/content/102/2/F136

My baby often falls asleep in their car seat - can I leave them in there?

Click here to open this question

It's OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling, but they should be taken out of the car seat as soon as you get to your destination, and placed onto a firm, flat surface to sleep such as a cot or Moses basket.

For more information, download our car seats and SIDS fact sheet
Further safer sleep information available here

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It's OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling but research does show a link between car seats and SIDS

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Please visit the government's website for up to date information regarding birth registration.

Babies should be registered within 42 days of their birth to avoid the risk of a fine. Registering your baby is necessary in order for you to register them at your GP, obtain a passport and apply for tax credits.

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All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.

You should do this at the local register office for the area where the baby was born or at the hospital before the mother leaves. The hospital will tell you if you can register the birth there.

If you cannot register the birth in the area where the baby was born, you can go to another register office and they will send your details to the correct office.

Information you need when registering a birth

When registering the birth, you should know:

place and date of the birth

name, surname and sex of the baby

parents' names, surnames and address

places and dates of parents' birth

date of parents' marriage or civil partnership

parents' jobs

mother's maiden surname

You might not need to give all of this information, depending on who is registering the birth.

What you should take

You should take at least one form of identification when you go to the register office. You can use:

passport

birth certificate

deed poll

driving licence

proof of address (for example, a utility bill)

Council Tax bill

marriage or civil partnership certificate

You should also take your child's personal child health record or 'red book' as some registrars may ask to see it.

If you're going to the register office on your own, you may need proof of paternity from the other parent before you give their details.

After the birth is registered

Once you've registered the birth, you may be able to claim:

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Find out how to register a birth - who can register, birth certificates

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Health visitors are either registered nurses or midwives who have had additional training in public health. They provide support to all families and will support you from pregnancy until your child is 5 years old.
A health visitor will usually contact you around 10 days after you have had your baby and usually take over your care from a midwife.
If you have not heard from the health visitor by the team the midwives have discharged you from their care then please call this number
020 8200 2500

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If you’re worried your baby is unwell, our free Baby Check app helps you decide whether they need to see a health professional or not…