Wye Valley NHS Trust

Having a baby should be one of the most exciting times in your life. Sadly, we know that some babies die during pregnancy, or in the days following birth. We can only imagine this is an extremely difficult time for you and we are very sorry for your loss. All of our maternity staff are trained as part of their mandatory training to provide support and offer gold standard care to bereaved families. Our specialist bereavement midwife, Abbie Hughes, will guide you through some of the difficult choices, co-ordinate and provide individualised care throughout your journey, for as little or long as needed.  Please see below contact details for Abbie.…

At Wye Valley NHS Trust we provide the following diagnostic tests: 1. Multi-night overnight oximetry – This involves wearing a watch-like monitor on a finger during sleep and is done at home. It is collected from the sleep clinic, worn overnight over a minimum of two consecutive nights and then returned for a recording of your night's sleep to be downloaded. 2. Limited Channel Sleep study – This is a slightly more in-depth test. It involves attending the sleep clinic for a ‘fitting’ session and then the equipment. This is worn overnight at home and returned the next day. It…

The Recall action for Philips Respironics CPAP machines is ongoing. If you have not been contacted for a replacement machine, please get in touch with the Sleep Service to arrange this. Contact 07790981645 on Monday to Friday between 9am and 12am. Or send a text with your details and what is required Thank you for your patience.  Frequently asked questions about the recall  Should I carry on using my machine? Yes. CPAP treatment is the only treatment available for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS). The consequences associated with untreated OSAHS can include: higher risk of strokes…

Infant feeding and Baby Friendly Status We are proud to be the first NHS maternity service in the West Midlands to be awarded the prestigious UNICEF Gold Baby Friendly Award in 2026, which is the highest level of accreditation.  The award recognises the maternity team’s long-term excellence in providing infant feeding support to families to a high standard, helping to ensure a positive experience, and giving babies the best possible start in life. Since first achieving Baby Friendly Status in 2019, Wye Valley NHS Trust’s (WVT) maternity team has continued to strengthen and build on this to meet UNICEF’s evidence‑based Gold standard, which is…

Please ask your midwife about antenatal colostrum harvesting.  There are many reasons why you might choose to do this, regardless of your feeding goals. It is of particular benefit where your baby is at risk of having low blood sugars after birth for instance, if you are diabetic or taking certain medications.  Your midwife will give you a pack with all you need to get started and explain when it is safe to do so.  Colostrum is the first milk produced by your body.  This starts in pregnancy as your body prepares for the birth of your baby. It is…