UHSussex Maternity Services

15/03/2026

🦋 We wish those of you who are celebrating today - a very happy and peaceful Mother’s Day.

We know today can be hard for a number of reasons and our thoughts are with those of you who are struggling or in difficult situations.

🌸🌺🌹🌷

08/03/2026

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2026

💜 Today we celebrate the strength, resilience, and incredible journeys of the women we support every day in our maternity units

🩵 From pregnancy to birth and beyond, it is a privilege to care for mothers and families during some of the most special moments of their lives

💛 Today we also recognise our amazing midwives, doctors, and maternity staff whose dedication helps empower and support women every step of the way.

🌷 Happy International Women’s Day to all the women in our community from all of us at UHSussexMaternityServices 🌸

05/03/2026

🌞 Saturday 7th March: Bumps and Buggies wellbeing walk with UHSussex Midwife Becky for PRH Haywards Heath area.

When?
👉 11:00am

Where?
👉 St John’s Park, next to the tennis courts - Burgess Hill

👀 Keep an eye out for more dates… coming soon!

🤰🏽 Bumps and Buggies Wellbeing Walks are led by UHSussex Midwives.

🚶🏼‍♀️ Walking, especially with a supportive group, is a fantastic mental health tool as well as improving physical wellbeing.

🌳 Join us for some fresh air and a chance to chat to a Midwife as well as other pregnant women and people and new parents.

👀 Please do keep an eye on our social media in case of any last minute cancellations or changes.

[Image description: pregnant and birthing people and parents pushing a baby in a buggy outside in a park on a clear day, the sky is blue and there are clouds in the sky]

haywardsheath beechhurst pregnantinsussex bumpsandbuggies

03/03/2026

❤️ UHSussex Birth Stories

A fantastic story shared with us thank you and congratulations! This family preferred to keep birth and baby photos private. We are always happy to share your stories anonymously 🥰

Email: uhsussex.mybirthstory@nhs.net

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“I’ve been meaning to take the time to properly reflect on and put into words my birth story from January 2026.

As a first-time mum, I was very much in denial and had no real idea what to expect. From the very beginning of my pregnancy, the team at Princess Royal Hospital maternity unit (PRH) were absolutely outstanding - kind, patient, reassuring, and always generous with their time.

When I went into labour, the first person I spoke to at PRH was on the triage line. The midwife who answered was incredible - calm, steady and so reassuring, especially when we realised our baby had decided to do their first (of many since!) poo inside me. She encouraged me to come straight in and immediately made me feel safe.

From the moment I arrived, I was seen quickly and everything was communicated clearly and thoroughly. At no point did I feel confused or left in the dark about what was happening - which, for a slightly overwhelmed first-time mum, meant everything.

I had a long 20-hour labour, and I want to make special mention of Shauna, Desiree, Claire and Jennje, who saw me through it. They accepted my terrible jokes, supported me endlessly, and even graciously received a bit of sick to the face without missing a beat! Their warmth, calmness and humour carried me through more than they probably realise.

Even the anaesthetists (Ben 1 and Ben 2!) were fantastic. Despite eventually needing forceps to deliver our 9lb 13oz chunk, I never once felt frightened. I felt informed, supported, and completely cared for throughout.

I truly look back at my time at PRH with such fondness, and think of everyone there with genuine gratitude and admiration. You made what could have been overwhelming feel empowering and safe.

Thank you - always.

With love and thanks,

Hannah, Dave and Baby Barry (now proudly known as Leni)”

03/03/2026

❤️ UHSussex Birth Stories

A fantastic story shared with us thank you and congratulations! This family preferred to keep birth and baby photos private. We are always happy to share your stories anonymously 🥰

Email: uhsussex.mybirthstory@nhs.net

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

“I’ve been meaning to take the time to properly reflect on and put into words my birth story from January 2026.
 
As a first-time mum, I was very much in denial and had no real idea what to expect. From the very beginning of my pregnancy, the team at Princess Royal Hospital maternity unit (PRH) were absolutely outstanding - kind, patient, reassuring, and always generous with their time.
 
When I went into labour, the first person I spoke to at PRH was on the triage line. The midwife who answered was incredible - calm, steady and so reassuring, especially when we realised our baby had decided to do their first (of many since!) poo inside me. She encouraged me to come straight in and immediately made me feel safe.
 
From the moment I arrived, I was seen quickly and everything was communicated clearly and thoroughly. At no point did I feel confused or left in the dark about what was happening - which, for a slightly overwhelmed first-time mum, meant everything.
 
I had a long 20-hour labour, and I want to make special mention of Shauna, Desiree, Claire and Jennje, who saw me through it. They accepted my terrible jokes, supported me endlessly, and even graciously received a bit of sick to the face without missing a beat! Their warmth, calmness and humour carried me through more than they probably realise.
 
Even the anaesthetists (Ben 1 and Ben 2!) were fantastic. Despite eventually needing forceps to deliver our 9lb 13oz chunk, I never once felt frightened. I felt informed, supported, and completely cared for throughout.
 
I truly look back at my time at PRH with such fondness, and think of everyone there with genuine gratitude and admiration. You made what could have been overwhelming feel empowering and safe.
 
Thank you - always.
 
With love and thanks,
 
Hannah, Dave and Baby Barry (now proudly known as Leni)”

02/03/2026

🥰

Worthing Hospital had double the reason to celebrate last week. As new parents Nadia and Mohammed welcomed their daughter Sofia into the world, our maternity service was rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – a milestone that reflects recent years of focused improvement. 🎉

Mum Nadia said: “It’s been a really great experience; everyone has been very supportive and very helpful. Especially the midwives, they are all amazing women.”

The CQC praised our teams for “going above and beyond to support women”, providing care that is “effective and responsive”, and ensuring families feel “involved in decisions about their care”.

Key improvements include:
✅ Strengthened staffing, with 40 additional qualified midwives recruited.
✅ A centralised telephone triage service led by highly experienced midwives.
✅ Better access to specialist mental health midwives and enhanced safeguarding support.
✅ Calming, modernised birthing environments.

More than 90% of women consistently rate their experience positively in the ‘Friends and Family Test’ – something the CQC highlighted as a real strength.

We’re proud of the progress made, and it’s encouraging to see this recognised by the CQC. Our teams work incredibly hard to provide safe, compassionate care every day, and we hope local families feel encouraged that the service they rely on is working to such a high level.

We also know the work is never finished. We never lose sight of when things don't go well, and we remain committed to continual improvement, listening to families, and shaping future changes around their needs.

A huge well done to our teams, and our very best wishes to Nadia, Mohammed and baby Sofia as they begin their journey together as a family. 💙

UHSussex Maternity Services

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

🗣️ Call out for your birth and feeding stories…

🔹 We would love to hear from you if you’re keen to share your story of birthing under the care of one of our 4 UHSussex Maternity Sites. These stories can be shared with your consent on our social media platforms and with maternity staff.

👉 Email us: uhsussex.mybirthstory@nhs.net

🌿 Every birth is unique, and each story has the power to inspire, comfort, and connect.

💙 Whether your experience was planned or unexpected, joyful or challenging, your story matters and we would love to share it.

✨ By sharing, you can help create a supportive space where others can learn, feel seen, and know they are not alone in their journey.

📍 We are also keen to hear about your experiences of induction of labour.

📸 Please also include any photos you are happy to share

# please note that this email is not for medical advice.

Nor is it related to the birth afterthoughts or birth stories service. Please contact your GP, Midwife or health visitor for a birth debrief or counselling referral.

Please call the maternity assessment unit (MAU) for urgent care advice: 01903 285 269

02/03/2026

❤️ UHSussex Birth Stories

What an incredible birth photo! Look at that lovely chunky umbilical cord! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

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“I have received the best care through all 3 of my pregnancies at The Princess Royal Hospital in 2012, 2013 & 2023. Each birth was very different but with the same amazing outcome: my babies.

Orla was my trickiest baby and at a whopping 8lbs 15 ounces she was by far my biggest. I had the best team of people looking out for me throughout my pregnancy as I have diabetes & Crohn’s disease. I had regular phone calls and there was always someone at the end of the telephone if I had any concerns. Orla was a lump to carry (she still is ) she unfortunately never got the concept of “head down” and she was in a transverse lie (sideways) position when she was delivered by caesarean section, which totally explained why I felt so uncomfortable most of the time during the latter part of my pregnancy. My eldest daughter in 2012 was a wriggler too and I had to have a ventouse delivery with her. My little cone head.

When I went into the delivery room to have my caesarean with Orla I was over the moon to see that the Doctor who would be carrying out the operation and delivering my baby was the lovely Mr Wong, he was also the doctor who carried out the Ventouse delivery with my eldest daughter who turns 14 next week.

To have both of my girls delivered by the same doctor all those years apart was just so lovely. I had a different surgeon with my son in 2013, but the care was still outstanding. When Orla came out I didn’t know what shocked me more, her amazing head of hair or the biggest umbilical cord I’d ever seen.

She spent a few day in the SCBU as she had a bit of a crackle on her chest and again the staff were amazing. After a couple of nights she was on the mend and back on the ward with me. She is turning 3 this summer and she is thriving in so many ways.

Thank you to the amazing staff at PRH. I couldn’t have done any of this without your help.

Here are a few photos of Orla.X”

01/03/2026

Whether you’re due, find out you’re pregnant, celebrating a birthday or anything in between…. we hope March is kind to you 💛

🖊️ Let us know if you are due or have your baby this month….

Here are some March facts:

🗓️ March was once considered the first month of the year (until 1752!)

🌷 March is the first month of Spring

❤️‍🔥 March is named after Mars - the Roman god of war

💎 The birthstone for March is Aquamarine - but also bloodstone

🌼 The birth flower for March is a daffodil

♓️ ♈️ The star signs for March (until 20th) is Pisces and then it switches to Aries

🍀 St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17th March

👩🏻 Internetional Women’s Day is celebrated in March

☀️ Daylight savings (clocks go forward) happens on the last Sunday of March

💖 This year Mothering Sunday is on 15th March

postnatal chichester worthing brighton haywardsheath pregnantinsussex

23/02/2026

2025 UHSussex Wrapped is (finally!) here!

🌟 2025 across our 4 Maternity Units was a busy one

(All data was correct at the time of collation)

20/02/2026

❤️UHSussex birth stories

“I currently work at Worthing Hospital as a maternity assistant & have done for 11 years.

I’ve had all my 5 babies born at the hospital: 4 girls & 1 boy. All the girls were inductions & my middle one (the boy) I went into labour naturally with. I’ve had 5 amazing vaginal deliveries. One of the girls (number 4) was actually born on the postnatal ward - Bramber - as I didn’t make it round to delivery suite in time!

My first Mariah was born in October 2008 in room 6.
Induction for post dates had gas & air. I had a lovely midwife called Mary who has retired now. Mariah sadly passed away aged 13 months old due to having meningitis type B.

My second Freya born in May 2011 in room 6.
I was labouring at home but wanted to deliver at the hospital so came in birthed in the pool. Midwife Linda. Really lovely birth just gas & air, but a worry as needed a bit of help from the paediatricians.

My third Joey born in June 2013 room 7. Water birth, really lovely, no pain relief and it was incredible. I felt in control of my body & giving birth. Midwife Hannah.

My fourth Mia in September 2018. Induction for post dates. I gave birth in room H on Bramber. A lovely midwife called Rachel. I had Lottie & vic throughout my pregnancy appointments.

My fifth & final baby Laila in February 2021. COVID times! Again delivered in room 6. Really lovely induction but it took some time. Really amazing midwives Laura and then Vic to assist at the end.

I have had amazing experiences with my births & would of course recommend the unit to friends and families for their births. I am also enjoying my role as maternity assistant, I find it rewarding helping mothers and babies bond, breast feed any help and support needed I’m happy to assist. I enjoy working with the team. We have some good and challenging shifts, but we work well as a team and always have done.

Some of the photos are of me working on shift holding my cousin & friends’ baby.

I wanted to email to share my experiences and to say how amazing Worthing maternity staff are. We are an incredible team who go above and beyond to care for the women and their babies!

Thank you
Jodie”

This out a huge smile on our faces. 5 babies!

All at our Worthing maternity unit and one of our own very wonderful maternity care assistants who works there.

Thank you for sharing your story and these gorgeous photos with us 😍🙏✨

Thank you so much for trusting us to share your story of Mariah, your sweet firstborn. We are truly sorry that she passed away at such a young age. 🩷