Antenatal Care
What is antenatal care?
Having a baby is a life-changing event that is different for everyone. It is important to get the right care for you and your baby. That means arranging referral to an antenatal clinic as soon as possible after you discover you're pregnant. It is important to be seen as soon as possible.
You can contact your local midwife direct, you don’t need to see your GP first. Information on Northern Lincolnshire and Goole (NLAG) NHS Hospitals Trust maternity services, including self referral, are available, HERE.
The NHS website provides additional information on maternity care, HERE.
My baby, my choice
There are several options for where you give birth to your baby. They include:
- Home birth.
- Freestanding birth centre (not directly attached to a hospital, one-to-one care from midwives and maternity support workers).
- Attached birth centre (a 'home from home' birth centre in a hospital, close to the main obstetric unit).
- Hospital labour ward or delivery suite.
The NHS is committed to providing choice to pregnant women. But do remember that not all these options are suitable for everyone, and not all are available in all areas. In particular, it would be very unwise to attempt a home delivery or deliver at a freestanding birth centre if your pregnancy is complicated in any way, because any transfer which needs to involve a journey by road will take a long time. Your midwife or GP will be able to discuss options for care during your pregnancy and delivery, including giving birth at home or in a midwife-led birth centre.
If you would like, we can can give you details of your local midwifery service and how to contact them directly.