Wye Valley NHS Trust

Wye Valley NHS Trust was recognised by UNICEF in 2019 for work with mothers and newborn babies and awarded Baby Friendly Status.  If your baby is admitted to the special care baby unit, you may feel a little overwhelmed at all the information that you receive with regard to feeding your baby. The staff on the special care baby unit will support you to establish your chosen method of feeding once your baby is able to start enteral feeding. Initially, your baby may require intravenous fluids until we are able to start giving them some milk feeds. If your baby…

Your midwife will talk to you about your choices for contraception when you are being discharged from the hospital. Contraception should ideally be commenced 21 days after giving birth. The most reliable form of contraceptive is the implant or the coil, this is because it doesn’t rely on the user to remember to take it. However, everyone has a different health history and therefore this may limit your options, for example if you have a personal or family history of bloods clots, cancer, diabetes, asthma or migraines. Your GP will also discuss contraception with you at your 8 week postnatal…

Systemic-Anti Cancer Pre-Treatment information and video for patients

If you have forgotten or were not able to take your Biologic drug at the right time, take it as soon as you remember. Your next dose of biologic will need to be taken with the usual time gap between injections for your type of biologic. This will mean that the day of the week you normally take your drug will change. For example, if you take weekly Etanercept, and inject on Tuesdays. You might forget to take your weekly injection on a Tuesday, but then remember on Wednesday and take it then; you would then need to change your…

What you choose to put in your body really affects how you feel and how healthy you are. Eating the right sort of foods in the right amount is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. Eating unhealthily can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. These conditions can increase the risk of heart and circulatory problems. There are lots of resources available to support you to understand a healthy approach to food and how to get into good eating habits that will help look after your heart health.…

When you have diabetes, you’re more at risk of heart and circulatory disease. And poor circulation makes other diabetes complications worse-like problems with your eyes and feet. That’s why it’s even more important to take good care of your heart when you have diabetes. If you have high blood sugar levels for a period of time, even slightly high, your arteries can start to get damaged, and make them more likely to develop fatty deposits (atheroma). If atheroma builds up in your coronary arteries, this can lead to a heart attack. To help protect yourself, get your HbA1c, blood pressure…

Being physically inactive is when you don’t move your body for long periods of time. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and being overweight all increase the risk of heart and circulatory problems. Being physically active regularly helps reduce these conditions. Being active is anything that raises your heart rate, this can be activities like hanging the washing out, walking outdoors or sports. You should be able to hold a conversation while you are active. Regular activity doesn’t just protect your heart, it can help improve your general health and wellbeing. The amount of physical activity you can…

If you had a planned caesarean section then you will need to stay in hospital for at least 24 hours after your baby is born. If you had an emergency caesarean then you will more likely stay in hospital for 48 hours. When you come out of theatre you will have a urinary catheter, this is a small flexible plastic tube which sits in your bladder and collects urine in a bag. This will usually be removed about 12 hours after the surgery, once you are able to mobilise to the toilet. Your midwife will ask to measure your first…

Do not attend hospital/clinic if you have COVID-19 symptoms High temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste   Visiting arrangements - updated 30/04/25  Visiting restrictions updated at the Trust's hospitals.  The latest information on visiting restrictions, including ward closures that may be in place are listed on our visiting page. Surgical face masks for staff, patients and visitors – updated 26/2/25 Staff - staff will be wearing a face mask on a case by case basis/or on personal preference. Patients and visitors - it is patient/visitor choice regarding wearing a face mask in our hospitals/clinics. …

Once baby is born, the midwife (or you!) will bring baby up to your abdomen or chest depending on the length of baby’s cord. Baby will be gently dried whilst on you and a warm layer will be placed over the top of you and your baby. We aim to keep baby skin to skin with you for at least an hour or as long as you like. Skin to skin has many benefits to you and baby: Calming for both baby and mother Helps to regulate baby’s temperature Enhances the bonding process Helps to regulate baby’s breathing and heart…