Leeds Maternity E-Midwife

20/11/2025

"I just wanted to massively thank the midwife and student midwife who helped me deliver my baby boy on 29th September at St James hospital. My waters broke at home just before 6am and contractions came fast with my baby being born at 9.02am, they both got me through labour without any pain relief, as it all happened so fast I didn't catch their names but I just want to say a massive thank you to them both."

To share your story or a thank you for our team, please send us a direct message with a photo of your baby and a few paragraphs about your experience. Your story can be anonymous and you don't have to show your baby's face if you'd prefer. We share a post every Thursday on our e-Midwife Facebook and Instagram pages!

18/11/2025

Flu is circulating earlier and more widely this year, and you are more vulnerable during pregnancy. The free flu vaccine is your best defence - it's safe, effective, and available now.

💬 Speak to your midwife today about getting vaccinated.

👶 Flu can be serious during pregnancy for you and your baby. It can lead to serious complications and there is a higher chance of you needing to spend time in hospital and needing intensive care.
💉 The flu vaccine reduces the risk of catching severe illnesses such as pneumonia and it also reduces the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.
🛡️ Having the flu vaccination during pregnancy also passes on some protection to your baby, which lasts for the first few months of their lives when they are more at risk from flu.
✅ The flu vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy, but it is best to get it as soon as possible to provide protection throughout the whole of your pregnancy.

Find out more on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/flu-jab/

17/11/2025

World Prematurity Day takes place today, and we wanted to shine a light on the Immune Boost campaign, led by our specialist preterm midwives.

The campaign aims to increase access to maternal breastmilk for preterm babies, as we know just how much colostrum makes a real difference in the early days of their life.

The campaign is a collaboration with the Leeds Children's Hospital Neonatal teams and it has been nominated for a number of awards and adopted in other hospitals across the country – last year it won the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Gopi Menon Award for Best Local Project!

Find out more on our website: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients/resources/immune-boost/

16/11/2025

Baby Week UK is back in Leeds for its 10th year! 🎉

This year’s theme is “Healthy Parent, Healthy Baby”💕

Here are just a few of the amazing events happening across the week:

👶 Tuesday 18 November
Baby & Toddler Takeover – Thackray Museum of Medicine
A fun, free day out for expectant parents, parents, and carers with under 5s! Drop in anytime between 10am–3pm.

🩹 Wednesday 19 November
Introduction to Baby First Aid (Online)
Join this free national session from 5:30–6pm, perfect for parents, carers, professionals, and students who want to learn essential baby first aid skills.

🌍 Thursday 20 November
Child Friendly Leeds – 10th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate World Children’s Day at this free national conference for professionals, focusing on health, wellbeing, early years, and best practice, with inspiring local and national speakers.

✨ Plus! ✨
Leeds Children’s Centres, Family Hubs, and Libraries are hosting 50+ sessions, and Active Leeds is offering 25+ sessions across the city - all for expectant parents and families with under 5s. Most sessions are free or just 50p!

📅 Don’t miss out — explore the full programme and booking details here:
👉 https://babyweek.co.uk/leeds/

14/11/2025

Today is World Diabetes Day. Gestational diabetes is a condition that increases your long-term risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and today we’re sharing some of the support available:

👶 If you’ve had gestational diabetes, you can sign up to the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme - a FREE 9-month programme to help you stay healthy and reduce your risk by up to 37%.

🧘‍♀️ Join Bump & Baby Fit - free yoga classes in Leeds during and after pregnancy following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

💬 Jenny Roddy, Consultant Midwife said: “Making small, positive changes during and after pregnancy can make a real difference to longer-term health.”

🔗 Visit our website to find out more.

This video gives healthy living information about how to reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes after having gestational diabetes in pregnancy. It...

14/11/2025

Our Maternity Assessment Centres (MAC) are open 24/7 and this includes the weekend.

If you have any of the attached symptoms or any other urgent concerns about your pregnancy, or after you've had your baby, please call MAC at your booked hospital to speak to a midwife.

Our midwives will give you advice over the telephone and invite you in to MAC if you need to seen.

Call MAC at any time 📞: LGI - 0113 3926731 or St James's - 0113 2065781.

If you have any non-urgent questions please direct message this page. The E-Midwife will be back to answer any questions on Monday ☺️🤰

13/11/2025

Resident Doctors will strike from 7am on 14th - 7am on 19th November. Please do not delay contacting Maternity Services if you have any concerns about yourself or your baby.

If you need to speak to speak to a midwife urgently, you can call MAC 24/7: LGI - 0113 3926731 or St James's - 0113 2065781.

If you have any non-urgent queries please contact our Community Triage Line.

Our Community Triage Line is 0113 206 7111.
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
⏰ 8:15 AM – 12:15 PM
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:45 PM

This line is for non-urgent questions that can be answered by our Community Midwives, whether you're pregnant or have recently given birth.

Ahead of five days of industrial action by resident doctors, beginning this Friday, we are asking patients to choose services appropriately and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and only using 999 if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency.

13/11/2025

Today our Thankyou Thursday is about the birth of baby Hunter!

"I cannot thank the midwife’s at LGI enough especially those on the transitional care ward.

I was in labour for two days and by the time I got to the MAC unit at LGI I was 3cm dilated. My midwife at the time Caitlin was absolutely amazing, she helped keep me calm and collected throughout the whole thing even when the emergency buzzer had to be pressed.

Hunter was born weighing 5lb 10oz. My son was born not breathing and it took 6 minutes to establish respiration and 30 minutes for him to cry and I cannot thank Caitlin enough for supporting me through it all.

A massive thank you to Erin on the transitional care ward for making my 10 days stay memorable and supporting me through my little boy having a feeding tube fitted etc. He’s now almost 2 and absolutely thriving and it’s thanks to those amazing ladies!!"

To share your story please send us a direct message with a photo of your baby and a few paragraphs about your experience. Your story can be anonymous and you don't have to show your baby's face if you'd prefer. We share a post every Thursday on our e-Midwife Facebook and Instagram pages!

12/11/2025

🎉 Baby & Toddler Takeover Day! 🧸
📅 Tuesday 18 November 2025
🕙 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds

This Baby Week Leeds, under-5s and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy a FREE day of fun, learning, and play.

👶 What’s happening:
✨ Baby First Aid Course
🧩 Sparks Soft Play Area
📚 Story & Rhyme Time Sessions
🍰 25% off a hot drink & cake in the café

Whether you're looking to explore, play, or just relax with a cuppa, there’s something for everyone. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking is highly recommended!

🎟️ Find out more and book here:

Get stuck into a free day of family activities at Thackray! We are hosting a Baby and Toddler Takeover Day...

11/11/2025

Here is a fantastic animation for expectant and new parents about what to expect if your baby is admitted to a neonatal unit.

🎥 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVhZUpRvRyY

This short animation follows four families through a 24-hour journey in a neonatal unit, offering information about:
💙 What a neonatal unit is
🩺 The different levels of care
🤱 How you can be involved in your baby’s care
👩‍⚕️ The team of professionals supporting you and your baby

A parent resource for expectant and new parents about what to expect if their baby is admitted to a neonatal unit. The animation follows four families throug...

10/11/2025

🍼 FREE Baby First Aid Webinar – For Parents, Carers & Professionals
📅 Wednesday 19 November 2025
🕠 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM GMT
📍 Online via Microsoft Teams

Take a look at this fantastic Baby Week event, offering a free online introduction to baby first aid – covering essential topics like CPR, choking, and basic emergency response skills.

💬 The webinar includes:
45 minutes of expert-led guidance
15 minute Q&A

📲 Reserve your spot now:

Introduction to Baby First Aid for Parents / Professionals - Free Online Session – Teams, Wed 19 Nov 2025 - Here at Baby Week we want every parent / carer to feel confident. Basic baby first aid skills are key. We're doing what we can to try and set-up as many classes in person and will soon laun...