🍼Pregnancy and Maternity Care in Leeds
If you’re pregnant, it’s important to speak to a midwife as soon as possible. This helps you get the right care throughout your pregnancy and when you give birth.
👉 Book your first midwife appointment here: My Pregnancy Notes – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
👩⚕️ What Does a Midwife Do?
A midwife is a trained NHS nurse who supports you during pregnancy and birth. They give advice about:
- Healthy eating 🥦
- Quitting smoking 🚭
- Your health during pregnancy 🧘♀️
- Tests and scans 🔬
In Leeds, midwives work at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital, which are part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
📅 Antenatal Appointments
Your first antenatal (before birth) appointment is usually around 8 weeks into your pregnancy. You’ll be invited to more appointments throughout your pregnancy. These check-ups are very important. They include:
- Checking your baby’s growth and health 🧒
- Looking after your own health
- Advice if you have medical conditions like diabetes
- Scans to see your baby and find out your due date 🖥️
- Creating a care plan for your pregnancy
🔗 Antenatal Appointment Schedule – NHS
🤰 Preparing for Birth
You’ll also be invited to antenatal classes. These help you get ready for birth and caring for your baby. You can attend with a partner or on your own.
🌍 Haamla – Special Support for Refugees & Asylum Seekers
Haamla classes are:
- For women only
- Run by staff who speak different languages
- Respectful of cultural needs
🔗 Haamla Service – Leeds Teaching Hospitals
📱 Helpful Support Tools
👶 Baby Buddy App
Free app with videos and tips for pregnancy and baby care (up to 6 months old). Available as an app or on a website.
🔗 Baby Buddy
🏠 Family Information Service
Leeds City Council’s website has lots of information about pregnancy and parenting.
🔗 Family Information Service
🏥 Where to Give Birth
You can choose to give birth:
🏡 At home – with support from a midwife
🏨 At hospital – choose one of these:
- Leeds General Infirmary
Clarendon Wing, Belmont Grove, Leeds LS2 9NS
- St James’s University Hospital
Gledhow Wing, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF
🔗 Tour the Maternity Facilities
👉 You can find out more about support for parents in Leeds in Caring for your Family.
🧾 Other Useful Information
🌐 Multilingual pregnancy resources:
🔗 Screening tests for you and your baby
👶 What it means if your baby is moving
💊 Pain relief options during labour
🍼 Breastfeeding and formula feeding
⚠️ Abortion or Termination
In England, it is your legal right to choose whether to continue or end a pregnancy. Ending a pregnancy is called a termination or abortion. It involves either:
- Taking medication 💊
- A small medical procedure 🏥
Abortions are:
- Safe ✅
- Legal ✅
- Confidential ✅
- Free on the NHS ✅
- Usually available up to 24 weeks of pregnancy
📞 How to Request an Abortion
You can speak to:
- Your GP 👩⚕️
- A sexual health clinic
- An abortion provider directly
👉 Contact: BPAS – British Pregnancy Advisory Service
🔒 All your information is kept private and confidential.
🔗 Find out more on the NHS website
