Telling your Midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences. You will need to register your pregnancy online and a midwife will contact you within 2 weeks to arrange an appointment.
It’s best to see them as early as possible to obtain the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy, and because some tests, such as screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia should be done before you’re 10 weeks’ pregnant.
Midwife
The Midwife works with the Doctor to give care to women having a baby, both before birth and for ten days after the baby is delivered. The midwife holds surgeries for pregnant women at Shiremoor Health Resource Centre and looks after new mothers and babies at home.
Contact: 0191 253 7892
The Role of the Midwife
A Midwife is a qualified nurse who has undertaken further training to provide and promote normal midwifery.
They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby by advising on the effects of drinking, smoking and good diet whilst you are pregnant.
The Midwife guides you through your pregnancy and endeavours to detect any problems and make relevant referrals if necessary.
Antenatal clinic visits in hospital and community
Your booking appointment
From the outset of pregnancy its a good idea to start planning. When you have registered your pregnancy, you will be offered a “booking” appointment with the midwife.
At your booking appointment you will receive your set of notes which you keep throughout your pregnancy and which contains a section for recording your progress, a Pregnancy Book of information specific to the RVI, and also the UK National Screening Committee leaflets on all antenatal screening tests.
