Hull Women and Children's Hospital

28/03/2026

28/03/2026

🤰Early/ Latent phase labour 🤰

The latent phase of labour is when you start getting some tightening’s, but they are not coming in a regular pattern. Once the tightening’s/ contractions start coming at least every five minutes and lasting around 30-45 seconds then you should call labour ward 📞

Please do not hesitate to call for advice. You should always call if:

🤰You are under 37 weeks pregnant

🤰You think your waters may have broken (spontaneous rupture of membranes)

🤰You are experiencing vaginal bleeding

🤰You have had previous quick births before

🤰You have a planned caesarean section

🤰You are feeling unwell

🤰You need pain relief or coping mechanisms

🤰You are concerned about your baby's movements

🤰You have constant pain which doesn't come and go in waves/ contractions

🤰If the tightening’s have been regular and coming for longer than 24 hours and you feel they are not changing in strength, length or frequency.

If the tightening's are still irregular and you are getting a bit of break, then this is normal. This is just the next physiological step before you meet your baby.

What you can do to get yourself into active labour:

💕Watch something on the TV that makes you laugh

💕Surround yourself with things you love

💕Try rest and sleep if you can, even if this is intermittent you will feel the benefit

💕If your body is feeling well rested then try a walk or bounce on a birthing ball

💕Have a relaxing bath or shower the water can be soothing

💕Eat nice foods in particular carbohydrates to fuel your body

💕Drink nice drinks to keep yourself hydrated (drink to thirst), keeping your body hydrated is beneficial so you don't become dehydrated which can hinder labour

💕Massage is a great way to relax and increase endorphins (good for pain relief) and oxytocin (love hormone), both very beneficial for enhancing contractions

27/03/2026

27/03/2026

Breastfeeding 🤱

Get help and support from your midwife, health visiting team or infant feeding specialist ❤

26/03/2026

🌸Student Midwives Thank you 🌸

Across the LMNS (Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems) we welcome student midwives on their journey to become midwives.

Student midwives require certain proficiencies to be signed off during their 3 years of training. Their proficiencies cover all elements of midwifery care and supporting families.
Student midwives are always under supervision of experience midwives and doctors to ensure high quality and safe care.

You may encounter student midwives throughout your journey through maternity care we want to support their learning and career development. They wouldn't be able to do this without your consent, so thank you!

If you have any messages or comments to highlight positive care or stories from a student midwife please do share or comment below (please ensure identifiable information is not shared, if you are sharing images ensure consent has been obtained by all individuals)

26/03/2026

A double Thank You Thursday this week!

This week's Thank You Thursday comes from Liam, about the care received during the birth of his son, Jax 🩵

"We would just like to say thank you following the birth of our baby boy Jax (30/01/2026).

All the staff at Hull Women and Children's Hospital were unreal. Supported us every step of the way from listening to our concerns and fighting our corner to being absolutely right on it when it mattered. Everyone was unbelievable. Julie, Gemma, Sandy, Ashleigh, Katie and so many more people (sorry I cant remember all your names, especially amongst the chaos!) but Beth and Zoe were truly brilliant from start to finish, utterly awesome at what they do. Calm and reassuring but when under pressure they, quite literally, delivered! A real credit to the NHS and themselves. Truly forever grateful 💙"

Thank you Liam for your kind words ❤
If you would like to submit your story or feedback for 'Thank You Thursday', 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/

26/03/2026

This week's Thank You Thursday comes from Sophie on the birth of her baby girl, Maisie 🌸

"I would like to send a massive thank you to our midwives that we had over the 3 days we were in the hospital. Cat, Abi and Beth were so calming, informative and just incredible people to spend time with!
We started our labour journey with my waters breaking at 1:30am at home and from the minute we arrived we felt listened to, cared for and they took the time to get to know us and our families instead of just focusing on the medical side of our labour.
We had some issues through our induction and I felt like they genuinely listened to our concerns and my pain and never once did I feel that they ignored or dismissed my feelings.
Abi and Beth didn’t get to see us through to our baby being born and they showed genuine upset about not meeting our baby girl.
Cat was in our c-section with us on her second shift and she was amazing, talked me through everything that was happening and got to meet our gorgeous baby girl, Maisie.
Thank you 💗

Thank you to all the other midwives, doctors, nurses, specialists and anyone else that was involved in our care and Maisie’s care.

Here is our beautiful Maisie, born 26/01/26 weighing 7lb 14oz💗"

Thank you Sophie for your kind words ❤

If you would like to submit your story or feedback for 'Thank You Thursday', 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/

25/03/2026

💥Meningitis 💥 www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

"Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges)"

It can affect anyone - (most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults).

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly

If you have symptoms of meningitis, call 999 or go to A&E straight away.

Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:

💥a high temperature (fever)
💥being sick
💥a headache
💥a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
💥a stiff neck
💥a dislike of bright lights
💥drowsiness or unresponsiveness
💥seizures (fits)

These symptoms can appear in any order. You do not always get all the symptoms.

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.

The viruses and bacteria that cause meningitis can be spread through close contact with a person who has them.

‼contact with the person's spit, such as kissing, sharing drinks or vapes
‼being in close contact with the person for a lot of time, such as living in the same home
‼Meningitis is usually caught from people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not ill themselves.

It can also be caught from someone with meningitis, but this is less common.

25/03/2026

25/03/2026

🤱Your baby 👶🏼

When I cry, I want you ❤
Your love and attention, your warm cuddles and soft voice is familiar ❤
I sometimes feel sad and even though I keep crying I feel comfort in your arms ❤
You won’t make me 'clingy' if you cuddle me too much - you will make me feel more secure, connected and independent. I feel safe with you ❤
Please don't shout at me or get cross I am sorry I do not understand the big wide world yet ❤
I sometimes just want to know you are there ❤
Please don't leave me to 'cry it out' I will feel scared and distressed ❤
If it does feel a little too much then please put me somewhere safe and then come back to me when you have calmed down ❤
I know I disturb your sleep and keep you up through the dark, its normal for me to wake up as my sleep cycles are different to yours ❤
I know you won’t be able to comfort me all the time but please smile at me, hug me, sing to me to fill me with reassurance and love ❤

Adapting to motherhood can be hard, if you need more support or need someone to talk to then please do reach out to a health professional for additional help.

The ask a midwife team is always here for you ✉

24/03/2026

Are you child's vaccinations up to date? 💉

Reach out to your GP or health visiting team now

https://youtu.be/CfckY5HfcNY?si=72qR6DSY9hgfiMfQ

24/03/2026

💥Migraine awareness week 💥

💥Mild headaches are common in pregnancy. They are often caused by hormones or dehydration. Headaches normally ease or resolve with:

💛Rest or sleep
💛Fluids such as water for hydration
💛Paracetamol if required (500g x2 tablets)

💥Migraines can improve during pregnancy or may get worse. If you experience a migraine for the first time in pregnancy consult your GP who can assess and refer if necessary.

💥Due to the hormonal changes in pregnancy you might find your migraine symptoms improve if you are prone to migraines pre pregnancy

💥DO NOT take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen in pregnancy as this can impact baby's growth and development (unless you have consulted a doctor)

💥Consult a doctor before taking codeine tablets as this also might impact baby when they are born (withdrawal of the medication)

💥Other less common causes are low iron or high blood pressure. This tends to happen later in pregnancy from 20 weeks. Your midwife can check your blood pressure, urine sample and take a blood sample if needed.

💥It is important to look out for signs of pre-eclampsia from 20 weeks of pregnancy concerning symptoms include severe headaches, vision problems, blurred vision, seeing flashing lights, pain just below your ribs, vomiting, epigastric pain, a sudden increase in swelling of your face, hands, feet or ankles.

💥If you are experiencing any of the above or below symptoms, we would advise you to contact maternity triage or your GP

💥Sudden onset of headache or migraine
💥Significant changes in headaches
💥Worsening headache with fever
💥Headache triggered by cough or sneezing
💥Headache associated to neck or head trauma
💥Headache with impaired consciousness or personality changes
💥Headache which doesn't ease with rest, hydration and pain relief
💥Visual disturbances