Royal Berkshire Maternity and Neonatal Voices

29/01/2026

⚠️ Danone is recalling one specific batch of Aptamil First Infant Formula (800g) sold between May and July 2025, due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus.

Cereulide is a highly heat-stable toxin, meaning standard formula preparation via heating may not destroy it. If consumed, it can cause rapid-onset symptoms, including:
⚠️Nausea
⚠️Vomiting
⚠️Abdominal cramps

Product: Aptamil First Infant Formula (800g)
Batch number: EXP 31-10-2026

Parents and carers can return the affected product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. No receipt is required.

☎️ If you have any questions or worries regarding this, you can contact our Health Visiting team on our ChatHealth text service: 07312 263283.

If parents are concerned about their baby’s health, they should contact their GP or NHS 111 and explain that their baby may have been fed a recalled Aptamil product.

24/01/2026

Denise and Selfine are in Hexham Road today at the Utulivu Fundraising Event.

We will be speaking to families about experiences of care with Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity and Neonatal services and the work we do as an MNVP.

Come and see us

22/01/2026

Congratulations to all families welcoming babies this week. What an amazing thing to wake up to for that baby’s big sisters. I think Lara’s smile says it all 😍

Get • ✨️ Homebirth happened! ✨️

This week the team supported 2 homebirths on the same morning! 🏠🏠

This family were cared for overnight by homebirth midwife Anita, community midwife Cindy and maternity support worker Anna. Their baby girl was born in the pool in the early hours of the morning, and her sisters woke up early to meet her.

This photo was taken the next day when their named midwife Lara visited them at home to perform baby’s Newborn Physical Examination (NIPE). We aim to do this screening test for you at home within 72 hours rather than in hospital so that parents can enjoy undisturbed time at home with baby.

Huge congratulations from all of the team!! 🎉🎉🎉

22/01/2026

An important message for all our followers this Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

Get • This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 💙

Here’s some important information about cervical screening:

💙 Anyone with a cervix, aged 25–64, should have regular cervical screening (smear tests).

💙 You need to be registered with a GP to receive screening invitations. Invitations are automatically sent to those registered as female.

💙 If you are not registered with a GP, you can still request cervical screening if you are eligible.

💙 You can still have a cervical smear test while breastfeeding.

💙 You should wait 12 weeks after giving birth before having cervical screening.

It’s completely understandable to feel nervous about cervical screening. If you have concerns, it may help to speak with your GP or screening clinic before your appointment.

You can find more helpful information on the website.

💙Please share — it could help someone book their screening 💙

[ID: Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Background image of a teal ribbon. Anyone with a cervix, age 25 to 64, should have cervical screening. You can still have a cervical smear test, even if you’re breastfeeding. You need to wait until 12 weeks after giving birth before you have a smear test.]

21/01/2026

If you feel something is not right, maybe your babies movements have changed, or you are just not sure that things are OK... Call.

Our Maternity Triage Line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are more than 16 weeks pregnant and have any concerns or worries please call 0118 322 7304 to speak to one of our midwives who will listen to you and be able to assess you on the phone and give advice. If needed they will arrange for you to be seen in the Maternity Assessment Unit 💜

14/01/2026

We welcomed 419 bundles of joy this December! 💜 Let us know if you had a special Christmas delivery with us! 🎄

14/01/2026

We know so many of our followers are talented, skilled and generally fabulous - do you have spare time to share that fabulousness with BiBs?

💜 Could you share something with other BIBS families? 💜

We’re looking for members of our wonderful BIBS community who’d be happy to share a skill, interest or activity at our family support groups.

This could be something creative, calming or practical - for example crafts, baby massage, mindfulness, photography, gentle exercise, or simply something you enjoy and feel comfortable sharing 🎨🧶🧁📸🧘‍♀️

Our family support groups run on Tuesday mornings from 10–12 in Tilehurst and Earley and it doesn’t need to be formal or polished - just something from one family to another 🤗

Drop us a message or email info@bibs.org.uk if you have something you could share 💜

09/01/2026

If you’re early on in your pregnancy(or not!) and want to find out more about Homebirth these sessions are a great way to meet the team and find out about the experience from others under their care or along for a coffee and a catch up with little ones in tow!

Get • Some of our upcoming coffee morning dates for your new 2026 diaries! Including a new venue! 🍰☕✨️

Don’t forget anyone interested in homebirth, currently being cared for by us, or if you were previously looked after by the team, then these mornings are for you! 🏡

08/01/2026

We love getting to meet you all at these events - looking forward to opening the doors alongside our Rushey friends next week

• We’re excited to open our Rushey Ward doors again for a tour and talk in our midwife led unit on the following dates:

* Tuesday 13 January 2026
* Friday 13 February 2026

Please book your space online. Due to demand we can only allow one birthing partner to join you on the tour and they will also need to have a ticket.

Book here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rushey-ward-open-event-tickets-1978882805742?aff=oddtdtcreator (link in our stories!)

08/01/2026

A great group to attend, learn valuable skills and find your tribe!

Our postnatal group starts again next week!

We can’t wait to welcome new parents and their babies back into our friendly, supportive space.

This free group for Wokingham residents explores key early parenting topics, including sleep, feeding and learning through play.

08/01/2026

Such amazing words that show the impact improvements have to families at Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity - what an amazing legacy to leave behind.

“I could hold her while she was being
treated. That changed everything.”

When a newborn baby develops jaundice, treatment
needs to start quickly. But for new parents, those early
days are already overwhelming — and seeing your
baby under bright lights, unsettled and distressed, can
be heartbreaking.

In the past, gifts left in Wills helped maternity teams at the Royal Berkshire Hospital purchase three Bilicocoon systems — offering a gentle way to treat jaundice while keeping babies close to the people who matter most. As equipment like this needs regular replacement and upgrading, your gift could help fund future Bilicocoon systems for new parents and babies.

Unlike traditional overhead lights, Bilicocoons allow
babies to receive treatment while being held, fed,
changed and cuddled.

That means:

💙 Parents can care for their baby more easily
💙 Treatment continues without interruption
💙 Breastfeeding is better supported
💙 Babies can settle more comfortably
💙 Anxiety is reduced for both baby and parents
💙 Hospital stays can be shorter

“It meant I could cuddle her when she needed me
most,” one mum said.
“I wasn’t watching from the side — I was part of her
care.”

A legacy gift doesn’t just fund equipment —
it keeps families together during those precious first
days.

Your legacy could help a newborn receive gentle
treatment while wrapped in love, warmth and
reassurance.

Learn more ➜ www.royalberkscharity.co.uk/legacy

06/01/2026

More on the alert for Nestlé SMA Formula from First Steps Nutrition.

❗️All info needed to identify specific batch numbers and what to do next can be found in the post and associated links ❗️

Nestlé has taken the precautionary step of recalling several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula because they may contain cereulide toxin.