Midwives

Midwives are based at Cossham Hospital but see patients at Air Balloon Surgery to provide care and support during the antenatal and postnatal period.

Giving birth is one of the most intimate and life changing experiences.

The babycentre website gives excellent advice on preparing for pregnancy.  If you are diabetic, epileptic, suffer from heart disease or take long-term medication it is advisable to make an appointment to see your doctor before becoming pregnant.

It is important that you contact us as soon as you think you are pregnant so that we can arrange a “booking appointment”. Ideally we would like to see you between the 7th and 10th week of your pregnancy.

Booking appointments last about one hour.

At this first appointment:

• We discuss how we will monitor you and your babies progress through your pregnancy
• Discuss the schedule of appointments you will be offered
• Provide you with the information you need to plan your care
• Offer advice related to any aspect of pregnancy you wish to discuss
• Arrange appropriate tests and book a dating scan
• You will be offered delivery at either Southmead Hospital or Bristol Maternity Hospital but we can also support you if you wish to have a home birth

Monitoring appointments are in Midwives Clinics and appointments are 15 to 20 minutes.

You will be encouraged to attend Antenatal classes, and a breastfeeding workshop and breastfeeding support group are available.

A video is available online which will help ensure your baby is sleeping safely, and help prevent sudden deaths. It has been produced by The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, the UK's leading cot death and infant health charity, to bring parents the best advice on safe sleep for their baby. Click here to see the video.

The advice and information you receive throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period will be based on the best available research evidence.

Useful websites:

The Pregnancy hub page – all you need to know for a healthy pregnancy with NHS.  Includes a personalized Pregnancy planner.

Direct.gov advice on family entitlements in pregnancy and after your baby is born

The babycentre – an on-line resource for new and expectant parents

The National Childbirth Trust – offers families local support and reliable information as well as Antenatal classes and Postnatal support groups

Dad.info - useful information on pregnancy, birth, babies, statutory paternity leave, work, money and law from a father’s perspective.

Breastfeeding Network Advice - support on all aspects of breastfeeding.

The Association for Postnatal Illness - can provide helpful information for mothers who feel depressed or isolated. 

Mothers for Mothers  - a Bristol based organization, can also provide a “listening ear”.