Maternity & Parenting

 

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Local Support

Referral for Pregnancy Care

If you are pregnant and would like to be referred to local maternity services then you can do so either by visiting your GP or by referring yourself to the hospital of your choice online. Most of our expectant mums opt for either University College Hospital, Royal Free Hospital or St Mary's Hospital for their antenatal care. It is likely that you will need to see your GP at least once during or after your pregnancy and all of our doctors would be delighted to see you after you first find out that you are pregnant. Often pregnancy is the first time in a woman's life that she is regularly coming into contact with healthcare professionals and it can be opportunity to start developing a relationship with a GP who may well end up becoming the family doctor for your baby after he/she is born.

We would recommend that you contact your GP or the hospital of your choice soon after you find out that you are pregnant and certainly not much later than eight weeks after your last menstrual period. You can find out more about the normal schedule for NHS antenatal care.

Please note that the Abbey Medical Centre does not do routine urine pregnancy tests for the confirmation of pregnancy. If you think that you may be pregnant, please confirm that this is the case with a home pregnancy test before seeing your GP.

Online Referral Links

National Support

The National Childbirth Trust

Their mission is to support parents through the first 1,000 days, to have the best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

Visit the The National Childbirth Trust website

ICON

Baby crying is normal, you can cope. Please follow the ICON guidance for coping with crying.

Visit the ICON website

The Lullaby Trust

The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.

Visit the The Lullaby Trust website

TAMBA (Twins and Multiple Births Association)

Tamba is a UK based charity helping people around the world. They were set up by parents of multiples and interested professionals in 1978.

Visit the TAMBA website

Baby Centre

BabyCentre® reaches more than 45 million mums globally each month in nine different languages, including eight in 10 new and expecting mums online in the UK.

Visit the Baby Centre website