Hull Women and Children's Hospital

20/11/2025

This week's Thank You Thursday comes from Kazia, talking about her positive homebirth experience 🏠🤱

"I’d like to thank the Driffield community team for their amazing support and care throughout my antenatal/ birth and early postpartum journey. In particular, Jane, Pam and Emily.
I had the most amazing home birth back in March. I welcomed a little boy into the world, in my living room with best women around me, including my mum and partner, on international women’s day!

After loosing my grandmother and saying my goodbyes eleven days before I gave birth, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and has taken me a while to process the joy and grief that I have been experiencing, side by side.

Ultimately, my birth choice was something that I prepared for and focussed on to get me through the hard days.
I advocated for myself and educated myself as much as I possibly could, so I felt confident in all my decision making during labour, which definitely became useful.
Pam and Emily respected all my choices, my privacy and they always gave me the information I needed to make an informed decision.

After 31 hours of a steady build up to welcoming my boy, he was born at home, in the water, minutes after the midwives arrived. They had been to see me earlier that day to do their observations, and we agreed I’d be better left alone, with my partner, to progress.
I used hypnobirthing and the birth pool and my son’s head was out before the midwives arrived. He was then born and I pulled him up out of the water, onto my chest. We had delayed cord clamping, which was done by my mum and my son wore the hat which was knitted by my late Nanna ❤️‍🩹

This day will forever be one of my biggest achievements and I am grateful to have had these amazing women, cheering me on.
Thank you again 💕 💫"

Thank you Kazia for your kind words 🌸
If you would like to submit your story or feedback for Thank You Thursday regarding any members of staff involved in your care, please message the page or email hny.lms@nhs.net
Any feedback you wish to formally submit can be sent here: https://www.hey.nhs.uk/feedback/

19/11/2025

The latest period of industrial action by resident doctors has now come to an end.
Our hospitals remain incredibly busy; please bear with us as we work to recover from the impact of the strike. We thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.

19/11/2025

🦠Cold and Flu🦠

It’s that time of year when we are all suffering with colds, flu, bugs and viruses

We recommend the flu vaccination in pregnancy. Speak to your midwife or GP to book yours now to protect you and your baby.

🤒 When you are pregnant you are more likely to pick up virus's and become more poorly than usual 🤒

💊 If you do become ill, we suggest simple remedies such as;
• home-made hot honey and lemon drink
• paracetamol
• simple linctus (a syrupy liquid) or lozenges containing honey or glycerol to coat your throat.
• steam inhalations for a blocked, stuffy nose

🥬 We would also recommend increasing Vitamin C in your diet which can help boost your immune system 🥬
Foods rich in Vit C include;
• citrus fruits
• tomatoes
• peppers
• dark green leafy vegetables (Kale, broccoli)

⚠ Ibuprofen is not recommended in pregnancy, but you can still take paracetamol- the adult dose is 2 tablets (1G) every 4-6 hours (adult weight over 50kg) not exceeding 4G in 24 hours.

⚠ Cold/flu tablets or drinks are also not recommended as they contain decongestants such as phenylephrine and sometimes caffeine.

💧 Make sure you drink plenty of fluids,
😴 Get lots of rest
🍽 Eat little and often

If you are concerned about you or your baby please contact your maternity triage to get more advice

18/11/2025

The Fatima Allam Birth Centre - our alongside midwifery unit (AMLU) - had 34 babies born there within the month of October.

Congratulations to all of the new families included in this infographic 💚

18/11/2025

Is it an emergency? We’re here for you if you need us, but during the resident doctor’s strike you may need to wait longer than usual. Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk if you need urgent medical attention but it’s not an emergency

18/11/2025

18/11/2025

🌟Pain relief options in labour 🌟

❤It is really important to know your options before you got into labour and to remember everyone is different - what works for one may not work for another ❤

🔵Birth partners can make a huge difference to how you manage pain. Having someone you trust to support you and give reassurance really does make a difference.

🟢Movement, upright positions, and massage can help.

🟡Breathing and relaxation techniques ease your tension and muscles.

🟠Paracetamol +/- dihydrocodeine tablets can be beneficial for early labour.

🔴Complimentary therapies such as hypnobirthing, aromatherapy, acupuncture, reflexology may help

⚪️Water by being in a birthing pool/bath/shower and having the water over your bump

⚫️A TENS machine transmits mild electrical impulses onto pads placed on your back. This helps your body to produce endorphins helping with pain relief controlled by yourself.

🟣Entonox/Gas and air is a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide. You breathe in using a mouthpiece when you start to feel the contraction and carry on until the contraction has gone.

🟢Pethidine/Meptid/diamorphine are opioid injections that are administered into your muscle. The injection can make you feel drowsy. The injection can last 4-6 hours but crosses the placenta to baby and can cause your baby to be affected if they are born shortly after the injection is given.

🔵Epidural is a local anaesthetic that is injected into the space between two vertebrae in your back, it usually removes all pain from your waist down. There are risks and benefits for an epidural.

For more information see the links below or message the Ask A Midwife team

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/pain-relief

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/pain-relief-in-labour/

Click on the link tree above for more information on pain relief options ☝️

17/11/2025

On the 24th November it is Midwifery Support Worker and Midwifery Care Assistant Celebration Day👶🏽

We are incredibly thankful for the hard work and support our MSW's provide to both their colleagues within the Maternity department, but also to our patients across the Humber Health Partnership. They work in the hospital and in the community, wearing either a pale grey or blue striped uniform.

If you have any feedback you'd like to share about a MSW/MA/MCA who has been involved in your care, you can do so here: https://tinyurl.com/2ew2nwtk

17/11/2025

👶World Premature Day 👶

Did you know your baby is premature if born under 37 weeks gestation. World premature day is a global movement to raise awareness of premature birth.

In the UK Around 90,000 babies are born sick or premature every year. Each neonatal experience will affect families differently, but we know how important it is to feel connected with people who have a similar journey.

🌸Late preterm: Born between 34 and 36 weeks

🌸Moderately preterm: Born between 32 and 34 weeks

🌸Very preterm: Born between 28 and 32 weeks

🌸Extremely preterm: Born before 28 weeks

Premature birth can be planned or unexpected. Sometimes we are unaware why premature birth occurs spontaneously. We do know that some people might be more at risk of premature birth than others. This might be because of your medical history, previous pregnancy, previous preterm birth or your baby's health in this pregnancy.

Things you can do to reduce your risk of premature birth include making healthy choices, not smoking and not drinking alcohol. It is also really important to attend all your midwife and consultant appointments to get the appropriate care and support you need.

Bliss

I need someone to talk to
Bliss are there to help you with emotional and practical support.

Get in touch at hello@bliss.org.uk

www.support.bliss.org.uk

If you need to talk to somebody about how your feel, please reach out to your Ask a Midwife team for non-urgent care

‼️If you think you are in preterm labour it is important to reach out to your local maternity unit as a matter of urgency 📲

bringing together a wide range of experiences from people who’ve been affected by a NICU experience. From parents to grandparents, siblings, nurses, and volunteers, Bliss charity will be showcasing a huge variety of voices of those who have navigated neonatal care.

17/11/2025

During the resident doctor strike GPs and pharmacies are open as usual. You can also call 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk if you need medical advice but it’s not an emergency

17/11/2025

More than 4,000 people have signed up to a long-term family health study in Hull and the East Riding.

Our research team working on the Born and Bred In (BaBi) study for Hull and East Yorkshire has celebrated the incredible recruitment milestone after launching just 21 months ago.

Over 4,000 people, comprising 2,462 women and 1,579 babies, are now registered to take part; not only does that work out at an average of 6 sign-ups every single day since the project began in Hull, but it’s also ten times the original year one recruitment target which stood at just 400 people!

The BaBi project looks at maternal health as well as children’s health in their early years. It seeks to connect up all the information that health, education, social care and other organisations hold about young children and families to try and identify patterns that could drive improvements in the lives of the next generation and beyond.

The BaBi project began in Bradford in 2019, and routine data collected there helped to drive changes such as bus route diversions in areas known to be hotspots for pollution and childhood asthma. The BaBi study findings also helped to increase green spaces across the city, as study data showed that those with access to grass and parks had better mental health overall.

Huge thanks to everyone who has supported our team and signed up to the study so far.
If you would like to know more about the BaBi study in Hull and East Yorkshire, including who’s eligible to take part, visit https://www.hull.nhs.uk/maternity/babi/