It’s important you feel comfortable and you have all the right information you need for a healthy pregnancy, safe labour and support afterwards. This includes access to information on safe exercise in pregnancy and the screening options available to you.
Support during and after pregnancy
Maternal Mental Health
The birth of a newborn is a highly emotional time for all involved and with so many hormones in play, there is the potential for you to suffer from baby blues or post-natal depression.
In fact, more than 1 in 4 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during this time. Therefore there is nothing to feel ashamed of. The important thing is to speak to your GP about getting access to our Perinatal Mental Health Services:
Maternal Mental Health Service - The Lighthouse Service supports women, birthing people and supports partners in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin whose mental health has been adversely affected by their birth or maternity experience. They may be experiencing loss, grief or trauma, or have a fear of childbirth.
Mental Health Perinatal Community (Shropshire) - You can be referred to this service if you are pregnant or planning to be and experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions such as; schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders and/or have past experience of severe mental illness such as Postpartum Psychosis or Postnatal Depression
Birth Reflections Service - Birth Reflections is available for any service users from six weeks postnatal onwards in order to explore their birthing experience with a specially trained midwife.
Healthy Pregnancy
Promoting a healthy weight, diet and lifestyle during pregnancy is beneficial to both pregnant women and babies. As well as healthy lifestyles and smoking cessation in pregnancy, safe infant feeding, support with pelvic health and breastfeeding can also have a significant positive impact on both mother and baby.
We understand that anyone who smokes may struggle to stop. Therefore, we have a new Healthy Pregnancy Support Service in place to provide an enhanced level of assistance.
Community Support in Telford
Health and wellbeing are linked to the things that happen in families, in the places where we live and work, as well as how well services can be accessed, where they are based in communities and how they work together. For maternity, community-based care is associated with a significant decrease in preterm birth (especially for women with the highest level of social complexity) and can have a positive impact on low birth weight. Here are some services that you can access if you live in Telford.
Birth Reflections service - Birth Reflections is available for any service users from six weeks postnatal onwards in order to explore their maternity experience with a specially trained midwife.
Community Support in Shropshire
Health and wellbeing are linked to the things that happen in families, in the places where we live and work as well as how well services can be accessed, where they are based in communities and how they work together. For maternity, community-based care is associated with a significant decrease in preterm birth (especially for women with the highest level of social complexity) and can have a positive impact on low birth weight. Here are some services that you can access if you live in Shropshire.
Screening
When you’re pregnant, you’ll be offered several screening tests to try to find out whether you or your baby have any health problems. It can feel worrying and confusing but the potential benefits to you and baby of any screening tests offered should outweigh any possible risks from the test and allow for health professionals to provide you with support early on should they need to.
Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership
Your feedback matters! If you are a service user, the MNVP would love to hear your maternity and neonatal experience and we have a wide range of surveys to enable you to share this with us!
Please click on the below links to complete your chosen survey
Are you pregnant?
Whether planned or unplanned, pregnancy can bring on a range of emotions for you, your partner and your family.
Who we are
Your Local Maternity & Neonatal System (LMNS) team ensures everyone is working in collaboration to improve Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s Maternity Services and support people who are on or beginning their pregnancy and newborn journey.
Strategies and Policies
Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems (LMNS) have been set up nationally in response to NHS England’s ‘Better Births’ report which sets out a vision for safer, more personalised maternity care that reflects women’s choices and offers continuing joined-up care.
