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Every labour and birth experience is different for each woman, baby, and birth partner. We want to help you to have as straightforward a birth as possible.

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Infographics for labour and birth choices

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Infographics for labour and birth choices

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Clear, evidence-based information to make decisions about your
treatment, and where to have your care

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We advise packing a bag well in advance of your due date. Ensure that your birth partner is aware of what is in the bag ahead of time. Here is a suggested list of items.

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Hospital bag checklist - Best Start in Life - NHS

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Find out what to pack in your bag ready for labour and birth, including essentials for you and the baby, plus suggestions for your birth partner, if you have one.

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Here at MTW we pride ourselves on doing everything we can to make your birthing experience the best it possibly can be, wherever you choose to have your baby.

We have fantastic facilities on our Delivery Suite at Tunbridge Wells Hospital to help support you and your birth preferences.

Here some of our team will show you around!

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MTW Maternity - Your Care on Delivery Suite at Tunbridge Wells Hospital

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We have two amazing birth centres, one at Maidstone Hospital and one at Crowborough Hospital. We have fantastic facilities at both our birth centres to help support you and your birth preferences.
In this video, Janine, our birth centre manager, will show you around

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This video explores what to expect when your labour starts. Early labour, or the 'getting ready stage', will be different for everyone.

We're hopeful that this video will provide you with some practical tips to help guide you through this stage
Early Labour - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (mtw.nhs.uk)

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MTW Maternity - Birth Preparation: The Start of Labour

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Your schedule of appointments will vary depending on your individual circumstances and this will be discussed with you, with your midwife, at the initial appointment.

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You'll be offered appointments, including scans and tests, as part of your NHS antenatal care. Your appointments might be in different places, such as hospitals, GP surgeries or community clinics.

How to start your antenatal care

To start your NHS antenatal (pregnancy) care, you need to tell NHS maternity services that you're pregnant. You can do this by referring yourself for NHS pregnancy care as soon as you know you're pregnant.

This is so you can get support from a midwife to help keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.
Find out how to refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care

When antenatal appointments happen

You'll be offered at least 10 antenatal appointments if this is your first baby, and 2 ultrasound scans.

You'll have at least 7 appointments if you've given birth before. This is because you usually do not need as many appointments as your first pregnancy.

If you have a partner, they can come to appointments if you would like them to.

You can contact maternity services at any time during your pregnancy if you're worried about your health or your baby's health. You do not have to wait until your next appointment.

If you've referred yourself for pregnancy care and have not been given an appointment, contact local maternity services to ask for an appointment.

First midwife appointment at 8 to 12 weeks

This is usually the first appointment you have with a midwife. It's sometimes called the booking appointment, and can take around 1 hour.

Questions about you

The midwife will ask questions about you and your health, so they can help plan your care based on your needs and preferences.

You can also ask questions and discuss any concerns.

The midwife will ask about:

the date of your last period

any pregnancies you've had before

any health conditions you have

your mental health

things like exercise, alcohol and smoking

your job if you have one

your home situation

your ethnic background

They may also ask questions to check if they can offer extra support. This can include asking about domestic abuse, sexual abuse and female genital mutilation (FGM).

The midwife will give you information about:

Health checks

The midwife will ask to check your blood pressure and test your pee (urine).

This is to check for high blood pressure in pregnancy, the pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia and urine infections. You'll also be offered a blood test to check your blood group.

Your maternity notes

Your midwife will give you your maternity notes in an app, book or folder, or on a secure website.

Your notes have your pregnancy appointments and test results, and useful phone numbers like the maternity unit and early pregnancy unit.

Keep your maternity notes with you at all times until you have your baby. This is so healthcare staff can read about your pregnancy health if you need urgent medical care.

11 to 14 week scan

You'll be offered an ultrasound scan to check when your baby is due, check their development and see if you're having more than one baby. It's sometimes called the dating scan.

Screening tests can also happen at this scan, to check your baby's chance of being born with certain health conditions. For example, you'll be offered screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome.

It's your choice whether to have this screening.

16 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and answer any questions you have. They'll also:

discuss the results of previous screening tests

give you information about the next scan you'll be offered

ask to check your blood pressure

ask to test your pee

18 to 21 week scan

You'll be offered an ultrasound scan to check your baby's development. It's sometimes called the   20-week screening scan.

Testing for gestational diabetes

If you have a higher chance of having gestational diabetes, you'll be offered testing for this between 24 and 28 weeks.

25 week appointment

You'll have an appointment at 25 weeks if this is your first baby.

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

28 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

give you information about labour and birth, including newborn screening

offer you an injection if your baby is at risk of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (rhesus disease), to protect your baby's health

ask to do a blood test to check your health, iron levels and blood group

ask to check your blood pressure

ask to test your pee

ask to measure your bump

discuss your baby's movements

ask about your mental health

discuss any screening results with you

31 week appointment

You'll be offered an appointment at 31 weeks if this is your first baby.

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

34 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

discuss preparing for the birth, your preferences for birth and knowing when you're in labour

ask to check your blood pressure

ask to test your pee

ask to measure your bump

discuss your baby's movements

ask about your mental health

36 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

38 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

40 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

41 week appointment

The midwife will ask about your health and wellbeing, and:

Find out about your options on the Best Start in Life website if you're 41 weeks pregnant or more.

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Find out about NHS antenatal (pregnancy) care, including how to get it, when you'll have appointments and what happens at them.

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You can contact the Maternity unit at Tunbridge Wells Hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01892 633500.

If you are 16 weeks pregnant or more, contact your maternity unit straight away if you have any of these symptoms:

- Bleeding from your vagina

- Watery fluid from your vagina

- Vaginal discharge which is coloured, smelly, or unusual for you

- A severe headache

- Severely swollen hands, ankles and face

- Constant abdominal pain

- Feeling very unwell

- Severe itching, particularly hands and feet

- Any changes in your baby’s movements

- You are not yet 37 weeks pregnant and have signs of labour

- Any other concerns

At any stage in pregnancy, contact your maternity unit if you have severe sickness and

- you have not kept down any food or drink for 24 hours

- you have severe dizziness or fainting

- you are losing weight

- you feel very unwell.

Please phone your GP if you experience bleeding in pregnancy before 16 weeks and have concerns. Your GP may refer you to the Early Pregnancy Unit depending on what is needed.

Maidstone Birth Centre - 01622 220161

Crowborough Birth Centre - 01892 654080/664643

For non-clinical queries: contact the Midwifery Liaison Office on 01892 638158. This line is available Monday to Friday 08:30-16:00.

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Pregnancy can be an exciting but daunting time, with many choices to make and questions to answer.

We aim to help you and your family to have the best possible experience at this special time.

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Pregnancy can be an exciting but daunting time, with many choices and questions. We aim to help you and your family have the best possible experience.

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Directions to Maternity Triage at Tunbridge Wells Hospital:

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Directions to Maternity Triage at Tunbridge Wells Hospital:

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Directions to Maternity Triage at Tunbridge Wells Hospital (out of hours):

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Directions to Maternity Triage at Tunbridge Wells Hospital (out of hours):

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Your body is amazing! This video will talk you through what's going on inside your body during birth.

Please talk to your midwife you have any questions about anything mentioned in this video.

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MTW Maternity - Birth Preparation: The Mechanics of Birth

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Labour can be an intense experience, and each labour will feel and be a bit different. Therefore, when it comes to your pain relief options, it's important to keep an open mind.

This will talk you through all of the options for pain relief in labour that do not include any medication.

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MTW Maternity - Birth Preparation: Pain Relief Options in Labour

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This video will talk you through the options for pain relief that do include medication.

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MTW Maternity - Birth Preparation: Pain Relief Options in Labour Part 2

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Monitoring Your Baby's Heartbeat In Labour

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Monitoring Your Baby's Heartbeat In Labour

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Listening into your baby’s heart rate during labour is one way that you and your healthcare professionals can be reassured that your baby is well.

This video explains the two main ways that we will offer to listen to your baby’s heart, the equipment we use and how each method affects you and your labour.

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MTW Maternity Birth Preparation - Fetal monitoring in labour

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The third stage of labour describes the period of time between the birth of your baby and the birth of your placenta. The placenta is an organ which your body makes at the beginning of pregnancy, supplying your baby with a plentiful supply of oxygen and nutrients from your blood stream.

This video will take you through the choices you have around the third stage of labour, including physiological or active management, delayed cord clamping and what happens if there are any delays or problems birthing your placenta.

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MTW Maternity Birth Preparation - Third stage of labour

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Assisted Vaginal Birth & Caesarean Section

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Assisted Vaginal Birth & Caesarean Section

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This video covers two topics which often conjure a wide variety of emotions in expectant parents- assisted vaginal birth and caesarean birth. Both methods of birth involve an obstetrician helping you to birth your baby safely, either with an instrument such as a ventouse or forceps to birth your baby vaginally, or by an operation to birth your baby via your abdomen.

This video will show you what to expect if an obstetrician recommends an assisted birth for you, including why assistance may be recommended, the process of giving consent and a sneak peek into our Delivery Suite theatres.

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MTW Maternity Birth Preparation - Assisted vaginal delivery and caesarean section

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If you are planning an elective Caesarean birth, this video details one couple’s elective Caesarean journey from beginning to end.

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Baby-friendly caesarean birth | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

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Induction of labour is the process by which labour is started artificially. Induction is usually only offered if we believe it would be safer for your baby to be born as soon as possible.

This video aims to demystify the process by showing you step by step what happens during an induction. We’ll show you exactly where you need to go on the day, what your options are and what to expect.

If you would like to discuss anything you’ve seen in this video, please ask your midwife or obstetrician.

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MTW Maternity Birth Preparation - Induction of labour

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Whether it’s your partner, daughter or friend due to give birth, it‘s an honour to be asked to be a birth partner. Yet this exciting role can also be daunting. Here we discuss some top tips to help you get ready.

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Tips for your birthing partner - Best Start in Life - NHS

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Find out how your birth partner can help during labour, such as reminding you of relaxation techniques, helping you change positions and making sure you keep your energy up with snacks.

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Looking after a new baby can be a daunting experience for many new parents! Babies don’t come with instruction manuals (although it would be much easier if they did!), so many first-time parents feel anxious about caring for their newborn.

This video will give you some handy tips to help you through those first few weeks of your baby’s life, including how to put your baby in their car seat, safe sleeping advice, caring for your baby’s umbilical cord and how to change a nappy.

If you have any questions, or are concerned about your new baby, then please contact your community midwife or Maternity Triage.

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MTW Maternity Birth Preparation - Baby Care

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Whether you have had your baby at home, a birth centre or hospital, we will discuss the best options for your postnatal care after your birth.

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Clear, evidence-based information to make decisions about your
treatment, and where to have your care

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Infant Feeding - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (mtw.nhs.uk)

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Whether you have had your baby at home, a birth centre or hospital, we will discuss the best options for your postnatal care after your birth.

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Colostrum collecting while still pregnant, or in labour, can help to make breastfeeding more successful. It is especially useful for women certain pregnancy and baby related conditions, such as Gestational Diabetes, raised BMI, premature babies and babies with increased risk of hypoglycaemia.

Watch our short video for information and a practical demonstration.

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Colostrum Collection in Pregnancy: When to start and how to do it

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Baby Umbrella's vision is for every family in West Kent to have access to skilled and compassionate support during their parenting journey. Baby Umbrella listens, supports and empowers parents and babies.

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Get free specialist support with breastfeeding and early parenting in West Kent. Face to face and zoom appointments available now.

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These videos are designed to be used during pregnancy and labour to aid relaxation.

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MTW Maternity - MTW Maternity - Pregnancy and Labour...

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These videos are designed to be used during pregnancy and labour to aid relaxation.

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After Birth Preparation - Early Days At Home | MTW Maternity posted a video to playlist Committed To You - Antenatal Education. | By MTW Maternity | Facebook

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0 views, 0 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from MTW Maternity: MTW Maternity posted a video to playlist Committed To You - Antenatal Education.

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Breastfeeding support in Kent and Medway

No matter what stage of the breastfeeding journey you’re in. Beside You is here to help every step of the way.

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Breastfeeding shouldn't leave you feeling sore. In the early days, you might feel a bit of discomfort while you and your baby are learning to breastfeed but this should go away.

A latch that isn't quite right can cause a lot of pain. With the right support with positioning and attaching from a local drop-in or health professional, you should find feeding much more comfortable. Find out more at about why breastfeeding might be hurting on our why I'm finding it painful page.

You're welcome to go along to a local breastfeeding drop-in for a chat if you do have any questions.

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The #BesideYou campaign supports breastfeeding families in Kent and Medway.

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It's recommended that all women and pregnant people have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're at. It's free for those who are pregnant.

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It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're at. It's free for pregnant women.

Why are pregnant women advised to have the flu vaccine?

A flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.

There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.

If you have flu while you're pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy?

Yes. Studies have shown that it's safe to have a flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy, from the first few weeks up to your expected due date.

Women who have had a flu vaccine while pregnant also pass some protection on to their babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.

It's safe for women who are breastfeeding to have a flu vaccine if they're eligible (for example, because of a long-term health condition).

When should I have the flu jab?

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, before flu starts circulating. If you've missed this time, you can be vaccinated later in the winter although it's best to get it earlier.

Do not worry if you find that you're pregnant later in the flu season - you can have the vaccine then if you have not already had it.

How do I get the flu vaccine?

Contact your midwife or GP surgery to find out where you can get a flu vaccine. It's a good idea to get vaccinated as soon as possible after the vaccine becomes available in September.

In some areas, you can get a flu vaccine at an antenatal clinic. In others, you'll need an appointment at a GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers the flu vaccine.

If I had the flu jab last year, do I need to have it again now?

Yes, because the viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the flu strains the vaccines are designed to prevent this year may be different from last year.

If you had the flu vaccine during the last flu season because you were pregnant (same pregnancy or a previous pregnancy), or because you're in a vulnerable group, you need to have it again this year.

Find out more about how the flu vaccine works.

Will the flu jab give me flu?

No. Flu jabs do not contain any live viruses, so cannot cause flu. Some people get a slightly raised temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, and you may feel sore at the injection site.

Find out more about flu vaccine side effects.

Can I have the flu jab at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine?

Yes, you can have a flu vaccine at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine, but do not delay your flu jab so you can have both at the same time.

Pregnant women are at risk of severe illness from flu at any stage of pregnancy, so you need to have a flu vaccine as soon as possible.

The best time to get vaccinated against whooping cough is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy.

If you miss having the vaccine for any reason, you can still have it up until you go into labour.

Find out more about the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy.

I'm pregnant and think I have flu. What should I do?

Talk to a GP as soon as possible. If you do have flu, there's a prescribed medicine you can take that might help, or reduce your risk of complications, but it needs to be taken very soon after symptoms appear.

More information

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It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're at. It's free for pregnant women. A flu jab will help protect both you and your baby. There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

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Building a strong relationship between you and your new baby will give them the best possible start in life and will help them to grow up happy and confident. This leaflet is helps develop that strong relationship, starting in pregnancy and continuing into the early days, weeks and months of a baby’s life.

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This leaflet offers advice and information for parents on getting to know their baby and setting up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

We now know that building a strong relationship between parents and their new baby will give them the best possible start in life and will help them to grow up happy and confident. This leaflet is free to download and helps parents to develop that strong relationship, starting in pregnancy and continuing into the early days, weeks and months of a baby's life.

Health professionals may want to use this leaflet in conjunction with the Baby Friendly guide to antenatal and postnatal conversations and accompanying signature sheets.

Printed copies cost £15 per pack (1-9 packs) or £11 per pack (10 or more packs). There are 50 leaflets per pack and this price includes P&P within UK. Order using the Baby Friendly Resources order form, which you can download from our Resources page.
Please note: Orders for UK delivery only, and include postage and packaging costs. Orders may take up to 7 working days to process. The Baby Friendly Initiative reserve the right to re-print items at any time. If you are looking to order audit tools or e-learning please use our digital resources order form. Our myth buster posters show the key Happy Baby messages in bright and colourful poster form - find out more.

Building a Happy Baby: A Guide for Parents

Baby Friendly standards

Support to build a close and loving relationship is a key element of the Baby Friendly standards. Find out more about embedding our standards in your service.

Find more relationship building resources

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Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet - Baby Friendly Initiative

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This leaflet helps parents to get to know their baby and to set up the foundations for a close and loving relationship.

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Our Infant Feeding Team run regular virtual breastfeeding information sessions. Discussions include – expectations around infant feeding, the changes in the body during pregnancy, skin to skin and the first feed, how to position and attach baby for a deep latch, normal new-born night-time feeding and sleep, hand-expressing, troubleshooting common problems, responsive breastfeeding and responsive parenting.

You can attended this session anytime during your pregnancy. There are a limited number of tickets available as we like to have a small discussion group and we recommend that birth partners attend as they will be your advocates and supporters after the baby is born.

Visit our Facebook Page for information on dates for these sessions.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity. We endeavour to fill practical and policy-relevant information gaps and provide resources for health workers supporting eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Our Mission

To influence policies which enable the safe, appropriate and optimal feeding of infants and young children in the UK, and to protect them from commercial interest.

To ensure that the importance of good nutrition from pre-conception to age five remains on everyone's agenda.

To provide conflict of interest-free information on infant milks marketed in the UK, and to promote better regulation and marketing of breastmilk substitutes.

To provide resources for health workers to support them in their work with pregnant women and young families.

Our Resources:

Are put together by nutrition experts and are regularly updated.

Can be used in Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative accredited settings.

Are available as free pdf downloads for use by anyone promoting better public health on a not-for profit basis.

Everyone who works at First Steps Nutrition Trust feels passionately about the need for better information and support for good nutrition - and good food - from pre-conception to five years.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is supported by generous individual donations and conflict of interest free grants. First Steps Nutrition Trust does not work with organisations or individuals that work with, or take funding from, the breastmilk substitute industry and we reserve the right not to sell them our subsidised resources.

First Steps works with and supports a number of organisations including Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative, the Baby Feeding Law Group, the Obesity Health Alliance, the Children's Food Campaign and the APPG on Infant Feeding and Inequalities.

First Steps Nutrition Trust host and regularly update their partner site infantmilkinfo.org which contains comprehensive information about infant milks (for 0-12 month olds) available on the UK market.

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is a charity which provides clear, evidence-based and independent information and support for good nutrition from pre-conception to five years of age.

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Your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Leave - what you get, how to claim, maternity rights and extra help

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DadSpace | Supporting Mens Mental Health

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DadSpace facilitates Brotherly Support Between Fathers by providing opportunities to talk, listen and share personal experiences of fatherhood.

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Breastfeeding information and support available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

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National Breastfeeding Helpline - Helpline

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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.

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* Each column is titled for ease of search

* Click on the website link or photograph to open the web page/document

* Scroll right to see all topics

* Scroll down each column to find additional links/information.

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Every labour and birth experience is different for each woman, baby, and birth partner. We want to help you to have as straightforward a birth as possible.