Maternity

Continuation of Maternity Services during social distancing measures for COVID-19

For the latest advice for pregnant women and their families click on this link - The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have guidance which is being regularly updated  

Please see below visiting and birthing partner eased restrictions below dated 18/8/20.

Black, Asian or Minoritised Ethnicity information for pregnant women - 19/8/20 

Research produced during the COVID-19 outbreak has shown that pregnant women from Black, Asian and minoritised backgrounds (which we often refer to in the NHS as BAME backgrounds) have an increased chance of having severe symptoms of COVID-19 that require hospitalisation (4x the chance). Research is ongoing to explain the reasons for why this is the case so we can provide appropriate care.

In these uncertain times, we want to support you with any anxieties you might be experiencing about coming to or staying in hospital. We would like to know that we are here to help and support you.  Click here to access information leaflet.  

Updated 18 June 2020 -

We appreciate that this is a worrying time for you and your families. In Herefordshire the maternity services team has been working hard to plan how our services will continue to provide safe care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

We would like to assure you that we will continue to provide all our essential services, either face to-face, via telephone or if possible by video call (please see further information on video calls below). In line with the government recommendations, we are introducing measures to reduce the numbers of people attending the hospital and ensure social distancing occurs especially with pregnant women.

We recommend that you attend face to face appointments as advised by your midwife.

We are currently running a reduced face to face postnatal service to reduce risk to you and your family. In some cases we may carry some of your postnatal visits by phone or on video call. 

We will of course undertake to see you and your baby if at time if you have any concerns about well-being or feeding or if you have any additional clinical requirements. Your individual plan will be discussed prior to your discharge home.

There will be no parent education or breastfeeding support sessions during this time, in line with government advice. However, there is breastfeeding support still available - click here.  We would recommend you access reputable sites for guidance on these matters, or contact your community midwife for advice. 

Virtual tour of maternity unit - 3/6/20

We have created a virtual tour of the unit.  We hope this will help you to prepare for your birthing journey with us.  Click here to view the video.  

Updated 18/8/20 - important changes for partners attending/visiting

Please find below updated information regarding visiting/partners attending arrangements, which have recently been eased as follows.   

• Please find below updated information regarding visiting/partners attending arrangements, which have recently been eased as follows.   

  • 1 birth partner can attend delivery suite throughout the stay
  • 1 birth partner can attend triage for labour assessment
  • 1 birth partner can attend from 10-6 if you are undergoing an induction of labour in a side room. When in a bay visiting times are 10-12 or 4-6 pm. Please advise which slot you prefer. 
  • On the maternity ward - Antenatal women and postnatal women 1x partner can visit for 1x2hr session either between 10am-12pm, or  4pm-6pm (via appointment to ensure no more than 2 visitors per bay)

    If patient is being discharged home then partner can collect mum and baby from maternity ward once discharge is complete.

   

For elective C-Sections, partners will be able to attend these as normal. We practice enhanced recovery and expect that most women will be discharged within 24 hours of their surgery. 

After your discharge from hospital we will aim to complete all essential neonatal screening checks in the home or clinic setting with place of contact decided on an individual basis at the time. 

We hope you can understand that this has been a difficult decision, however our main priority is the safety of women and their babies at this time.

We completely understand how this can cause anxiety for you and your family. Please understand we have not taken this decision lightly. This decision has been made to protect all of the women we care for, their newborns, their families and our staff.

There will be plenty of support available from our midwives, maternity support workers and transitional care workers to help you in the early days should you need to stay on the ward.

Please note that those receiving bereavement care will not be affected by this rule, as all bereavement care takes place on delivery suite.

If you have any concerns regarding yourself or your baby please ensure you make telephone contact with the 24 hour Triage service, (telephone number 07990 986517) or through your Community Midwives Office (telephone number 01432 372965).

The action outlined above is being taken to reduce numbers attending the hospital; including antenatal clinics, and enable us to protect you and your family as best as we can

Further advice on social distancing measures can be found on the government internet page by clicking here.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have guidance which is being regularly updated and can be found: 

We will be reviewing and updating our information as changes in guidance occurs. This will be available through the Trust website and also from your community midwife. We would like to thank you for your support and cooperation during these challenging times.

Updated 28/4/20 - video calls are not permitted during scanning 

Video calls are not permitted during scanning for a number of reasons including women being required to lay in a neutral position for the scan which can be affected during a video call, confidential information is displayed on the scanning machine, and the sonographer must be allowed to concentrate fully throughout the scanning as the clinical aspect of the examination is a priority, as detailed below.

Patients undergoing antenatal scans are required to lay in a neutral positions to be able to obtain diagnostic imaging. Various positions have been trialled that patients would need to be in to be able to film the scan/themselves and it is apparent this causes undue twisting and tensing of the abdominal muscles making the scan near impossible.

· Confidential information is held on the scan machine screen and within the scan room and the inadvertent sharing of this cannot be mitigated against if filming is allowed.

· Sonographers fully appreciate the bonding that parents develop during ultrasound imaging but the clinical aspect of the examination is our priority in these difficult times. Sonographers must be allowed to concentrate on all of the important elements of the scanning and not distracted from this in any way.

· If the sonographer identifies any abnormalities during the scan, partners will be allowed to attend the unit to support women following the scan and receive support from our staff (this will not take place in the scanning room). 

Outline of the service

The Maternity service cares for low and high risk women across a large and diverse demographic area.

As a Maternity team we work together to ensure women and babies receive the best care possible and to ensure a healthy and positive birthing outcome for all. We believe in an equitable service for all women and ensure compliance with national directives and agenda’s and work to ensure patient safety at all times.

The Maternity service consists of Delivery suite (inclusive of Obstetric theatre and water birth facilities), Maternity ward (antenatal and postnatal care), Community midwifery service (including home births), Antenatal clinic and Day assessment facilities.

The Maternity service team consists of Head of Midwifery, Consultant Obstetricians, deputy head of midwifery, Senior Midwives, Midwives and Maternity support workers, health care assistants, housekeepers and ward clerks who supports the administration of these areas.

Caring and feeding your baby

We would like to offer you the opportunity to do some background reading regarding infant feeding, skin to skin contact with your baby and the importance of closeness and comfort for your baby's development.  Click here to find out more.

Infant feeding

Wye Valley NHS Trust was recognised by UNICEF in 2019 for work with mothers and newborn babies and awarded Baby Friendly Status.  There is a high level of support for all mothers with infant feeding choices. Click here to find out more about infant feeding and support.

Contact us

Contact details for the maternity ward are available in the contacts box on the top right of this page. View the maternity visiting times, Contact the delivery suite or women's health ward visiting times.

Friends and Family Test

As you progress through your pregnancy and access different services, you will be given the opportunity to answer the NHS Friends and Family Test.  The Friends and Family Test is a simple question that patients will be asked about the care they have received.  The test is part of a  way of gathering patient feedback and driving improvement in NHS hospital services across the country. To find out more about the Friends and Family Test click here.

Maternity healthcare information and online patient record information

We have introduced a new maternity electronic patient record system. This means that we no longer use paper forms for recording information about your maternity care.  It also means that general maternity healthcare information that you will require during pregnancy is now available on this website.

Bereavement suite

The bereavement suite at Hereford County Hospital opened on 27 July 2019 following a successful public fundraising campaign which totalled just over £100,000, including donations from local charities.

It provides bereaved parents and their families a private sanctuary to use as they come to terms with the loss of their baby.  To find out more about the bereavement suite please speak to your midwife and you can also follow this link. to find out about the background of the appeal.

Links with other Departments

Within our maternity service we have a maternity triage which is a 24 hour assessment area where women and their families can easily access and receive prompt care.  Click to find our more about maternity triage.

We work very closely with the Special Care Baby Unit, Accident and Emergency and medical teams and through these close links are able to ensure that women and babies receive the best possible care.

Other Information

The Maternity Service recently received a ‘better performing’ rating from the Healthcare Commission.

For more information on maternity and neonatal services across the county, and support available for families before, during and after birth, visit BirtHWays - the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Local Maternity System website.

Useful links

Lullaby Trust Safe Sleep      

Building a Happy Baby - UNICEF     

Useful resources from Baby Friendly organisation, on How to get breastfeeding off to a good start, responsive bottle feeding, Hand expressing, positioning and attachment