It is really important that you get the antenatal and postnatal midwifery care you need. This will help make sure you and your baby keep well during pregnancy and in the early days after they are born.
The midwifery team who will care for you during pregnancy and afterwards, are here to look after you.
If you have just found out you are pregnant you will need a booking appointment with your midwife. Depending on which is your local hospital the referral method may be different.
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital - self-referral through your GP practice or MEDICOM on 01603 481222.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital - self-referral through your GP practice or the maternity booking coordinator on 01945 469259.
James Paget University Hospital - please contact the booking helplines to arrange your first appointment with a midwife, which number to contact us on depends on your GP surgery:
Ideally, your booking appointment should take place by 10 weeks.
Pregnancy appointments are essential health care for the wellbeing of yourself and your baby.
You can keep up to date on local midwifery service plans by checking your local maternity unit’s social media pages.
What If I Have Covid-19 Symptoms?
If you have an appointment booked and you or someone you live with have any COVID-19 symptoms or you are self isolating you should phone your midwife. Your midwife will let you know what you should do next.
It is important that you follow their advice, there are specific plans in place to keep you and your baby as safe as possible.
If you go into labour and you or someone you live with has COVID -19 symptoms, or you are self isolating, you should contact delivery suite as usual and tell them this. They will tell you what to do next. You should not worry - the teams are prepared for this and will take good care of you.
If you are pregnant and have symptoms of COVID-19, let your midwife know. If at any point you feel like your symptoms are getting worse or you are struggling to breathe you must dial 111 or 999 if it is an emergency.
If you cannot make voice calls, you can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. Emergency SMS is part of the standard 999 service which has been designed specifically for people with hearing loss or difficulty with speech.
Screening Tests For You & Your Baby
This video shows which tests are available during pregnancy and after your baby has been born. Screening tests are always a choice. Find out which tests are right for you and your baby.
Subtitles are available in English, as well as Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali and Urdu. A British Sign Language version is also available.
Worried About Baby Movements?
If you are worried about your baby's movements call your midwife or maternity unit straight away using the contact details given at your booking appointment. You may feel your baby move as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy, but most women usually feel something between 18 and 24 weeks.
The care you will be given when you report a reduction or change in your baby’s movements depends on the stage of your pregnancy:
Less than 24 weeks pregnant: Most women first become aware of their baby moving when they are 18–20 weeks pregnant. If by 24 weeks you have never felt your baby move, you should contact your midwife or local maternity unit, who will check your baby’s heartbeat. An ultrasound scan may be arranged and you may be referred to a specialist fetal medicine centre to check your baby’s wellbeing.
Between 24 weeks and 28 weeks pregnant: You should contact your midwife or local maternity unit, who will check your baby’s heartbeat. You will have a full antenatal check-up that includes checking the size of your uterus, measuring your blood pressure and testing your urine for protein. If your uterus measures smaller than expected, an ultrasound scan may be arranged to check on your baby’s growth and development.
Over 28 weeks pregnant: You must contact your midwife or local maternity unit immediately. You must not wait until the next day to seek help. You will:
Call your midwife straight away if:
They'll need to check your baby's movements and heartbeat.
Don't wait until the next day – call straight away, even if it's the middle of the night.
If you feel worried and want more advice you can speak to your midwife.
You can contact the Healthy Child Programme by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you are 11-19 you can text Chathealth on 07480 635060 for confidential advice from one of the Healthy Child Programme team.
You can speak to other Norfolk parents and carers by clicking our online community forum below.
Around 9000 babies are born every year!
