Saint Mary's Hospital Maternity

18/08/2025

10/08/2025

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own sleep space (such as a cot or moses basket) however many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they plan to or they fall asleep with baby unintentionally. Whether you plan to co-sleep or not, its recommended that you make your bed as safe as possible.

The Lullaby Trust offers advice and guidance on how to create a safe sleep space and information about co-sleeping including important advice about when to avoid co-sleeping. 💤

Sleeping together with your baby is known as co-sleeping. Our advice helps reduce the risks of co-sleeping, keeping your baby safer.

09/08/2025

🌡️The recommended room temperature for babies is 16 – 20°C 👶🏻

It’s important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. Using a room thermometer and sleeping in the same room as your baby for the first six months will help keep your baby safe and comfortable while they sleep. Read more about room temperatures at The Lullaby Trust.

We talk all about the safest baby room temperature for your baby, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, cot death).

07/08/2025

☕️It’s best to limit caffeine as much as possible during pregnancy. High levels have been linked to pregnancy complications. Find out your daily caffeine intake with Tommy’s caffeine calculator🫖

It is best to limit your caffeine intake as much as possible during pregnancy, as high levels have been linked to pregnancy complications.

03/08/2025

Join Jenny for baby massage over the summer!
- promote bonding
- improve sleep
- reduce stress

03/08/2025

Your baby loves cuddles, but did you know the science behind cuddling and babies' development? Learn more in this short animation.

01/08/2025

Every pregnancy is different and everyone will experience different symptoms. These symptoms can often be uncomfortable or worrying - for more information on common pregnancy symptoms and how to manage these, visit the NHS page below.

Remember, if you are ever concerned about yours or your baby's wellbeing please contact your local triage, our midwives are available 24/7 📞

Find out about common symptoms in pregnancy and what to do about them.

31/07/2025

💻📲 Follow these links to our Saint Mary’s padlets, they contain essential information to support you in pregnancy and once your baby has arrived. They can also be translated into many languages🧑🏼‍🍼🤰🏾🤱🏻

🤰🏾Antenatal information: https://padlet.com/kyliewatson2/saint-mary-s-hospital-including-oxford-road-campus-north-man-poj9532u3qwmlprq

👶🏻Postnatal information: https://padlet.com/kyliewatson2/saint-mary-s-hospital-oxford-road-north-manchester-and-wythe-nantbny8m2gly46p

Information leaflets and other useful links to support you during your pregnancy

30/07/2025

Did you know that after 28 weeks , the safest position to sleep in is on your side? This supports the flow of blood and oxygen to your baby. If you wake up on your back, turn onto your side before falling back to sleep 💤

29/07/2025

DADS!

Looking for a chance to meet other dads, get out with the buggy, and chat about new fatherhood? 🚶‍♂️👶

We’re running a Walk 'n' Talk at Heaton Park on Saturday 16th August at 10am - just for dads-to-be and dads with children under 2.

Bring the pram, bring your questions, or just bring yourself. It’s free, it’s friendly, and it’s for you.

📅 Saturday 16th August
📍 Heaton Park
🕙 10am
🎟️ Book here: https://shorturl.at/iOxmZ

Let’s support each other — one step at a time 💙

29/07/2025

Week 3 of summer ⬇️

29/07/2025

Please do not use a home doppler. Here are just a few reasons why -

The Presence of a heartbeat doesn't mean the baby is well: Parents may be falsely reassured when they hear a heartbeat, when actually their baby could be in distress. This could lead to life-threatening delays in seeking medical assistance. The best indicator of fetal wellbeing is always the baby’s movements

Home dopplers are not microphones: They are not amplifying the sound of your baby’s heartbeat. They are sending ultrasound waves into your body that reflects off moving blood vessels and SIMULATE a sound. There are a lot of blood vessels in a pregnant woman's abdomen, the baby’s heart beating being just one. The placenta also pulses at the same rate as the heart and the mother’s main artery runs across the abdomen and that can also be picked up on a doppler. There are so many vessels that can simulate the same sound as a fetal heart.

Not recommended for professionals, NICE guidelines even highlight the risks to professionals - “Do not rely solely on the CTG trace for fetal wellbeing. Be aware of limitations and artefacts i.e. doubling of the maternal pulse being recorded as the fetal heart.”

Users say they offer bonding, but there are other ways to bond. If siblings or partners want to hear the fetal heart ask your midwife to record it at your next appointment. The risk of using them for ‘fun’ or bonding is the same – hearing a heartbeat is subconsciously reassuring, however much we tell ourselves they won’t be used for reassurance.

The NHS, The Royal College of Midwives and even the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in America) all warn of their dangers. The NHS choices website says home foetal heart monitors “are potentially dangerous to the mother and baby’s health”, The RCM website says: “Expectant mothers have been warned against the use of home fetal Doppler devices over fears that they may give false reassurances to mothers about the health of their baby.”

Please help us raise awareness of the importance of Baby's movements and discourage the use of home dopplers