During labour various assessments can be used to ensure your labour is progressing normally and your baby is not experiencing difficulties.  One thing we recommend is listening to your baby’s heartbeat. During labour when the uterus (womb) contracts the maternal blood flow does not flow as freely through the placenta and your baby has reduced oxygen supply.  This is completely normal and babies are able to adjust to this without any problems.  Occasionally babies have difficulty in adjusting and this may be reflected in the pattern of the heartbeat. Methods of monitoring Before we start to monitor your baby the…

Hopefully you will experience a problem free pregnancy, but for some people pregnancy will involve complications, which will require extra monitoring and care. It is likely that your community midwife will have discussed important signs and symptoms with you at the beginning of your pregnancy. However, it is beneficial to remind yourself of these so you can seek medical help if you have concerns.   This section of the website includes information about: Pre-eclampsia Obstetric Cholestatis A breech baby Premature labour Hyperemesis Diabetes Fetal medicine Previous caesarean section    

Referrals are accepted from GPs  via eRS, Service name: Herefordshire Chronic Pain Self-Management Service – Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust RTE Other healthcare professionals by letter emailed to ghn-tr.PainMgtAdmin@nhs.net    Please include information about: any diagnosis, duration and location of pain, past or ongoing investigations and treatments, past medical history and drug history, any mental health problems, relevant beliefs or expectations and any other information which might be useful. Any communication issues such as need for an interpreter.  

The Ockenden Report was published in December 2020 and contained 7 immediate and Essential Actions for all Maternity Trusts. Information about the Ockenden Report is available on the NHS website. Take a look at some of the ways, outlined below, that we are implementing these actions at Wye Valley NHS Trust. Wye Valley NHS Trust is proud of the safe and kind service we provide to women and their families, but it’s important to always strive for improvement. Every member of staff has a part to play. Please contact our Matron for Quality and Safety if you have any ideas or…

If you decide to decline induction of labour?

Physiotherapists identify and maximise movement potential through health promotion, preventative healthcare, treatment and rehabilitation. Physiotherapy is an autonomous profession and practice is characterised by reflective behaviour and systematic clinical reasoning, both contributing to and underpinning a problem solving approach to patient centred care. Your Physiotherapist will: Assess current levels of function Identify treatment aims  Devise and offer a treatment plan  Liaise with and signpost to other professions where necessary Treat a wide spectrum of conditions including musculoskeletal, neurological, rheumatology, paediatrics, mental health, respiratory, palliative care and orthopaedic conditions, falls and vestibular Pre-op leaflets for patients  Pre-operative advice leaflet for elective…

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase your risk of developing a disease. The good news is many heart and circulatory diseases are caused by risk factors that can be controlled, treated or modified. There are several things you can do to help keep your heart healthy and reduce the risk of further problems. If you smoke, stop. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Keep physically active. Keep to a healthy weight and body shape. keep your cholesterol level and your blood pressure under control. It’s important to have these checked regularly at your GP surgery. If you have diabetes,…

Further reading  Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Induction of labour, information for patients https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/induction-of-labour---information-for-people-who-use-nhs-services/  NICE, Induction of Labour guideline   National Childbirth Trust https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Newburn%20Induction%20of%20labour%20pp12-13.pdf  Why Induction Matters by Rachel Reed (Book - 2018)  MidwifeThinking.com - Rachel Reed   Inducing labour, making informed decisions by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2018)  In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2021)  Your human rights during your birth  Obstetric Cholestasis  Appendix  Risks associated with having a caesarean section include:  Higher than normal blood loss – haemorrhage Infection Injury…

NRAS – National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society https://nras.org.uk/   ☏   01628 823524 VERSUS ARTHRITIS https://www.versusarthritis.org/   ☏   0300 790 0400 NASS – National Spondyloarthritis Society https://nass.co.uk/   ☏   020 8741 1515 PAPAA – Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance https://www.papaa.org/  ☏   020 8741 1515 Lupus UK https://www.lupusuk.org.uk/home   ☏   01708 731251 Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK https://www.sruk.co.uk/   ☏   01708 731251 Hypermobility https://www.hypermobility.org/ Vasculitis UK https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/   ☏   01629 650549 British Sjogren’s Syndrome Association https://www.bssa.uk.net/   ☏   0121 478 1133 Royal Osteoporosis Society https://theros.org.uk/   ☏   01761 471771 NEW2RA https://nras.org.uk/resource/new2ra/ WVT Pain Management Service https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/services/community-services/pain-management-service.aspx Pain UK https://painuk.org/ Live Well with Pain https://livewellwithpain.co.uk/ Flippin Pain https://www.flippinpain.co.uk/ How to Deal with Chronic…

  Service overview The Health Psychology and Neuropsychology Service provides specialist psychology services for people affected by Acquired Brain Injury, Stroke, Cancer, Palliative Care and Long-Term Physical Health Conditions. We provide psychological support through individual, couple or sometimes family sessions, through groups, and by advising and supporting other services. We use a range of psychological approaches, and are staffed by clinical psychologists, counsellors/psychological therapists, an assistant psychologist and administrators. All of the services aim to help people enjoy a better quality of life despite their physical health problems. This involves helping people with the difficult thoughts, feelings and choices that…