UHS Maternity & Neonatal Service

15/05/2026

Exciting news! The Infant Feeding Health Visiting Team are starting a new group and we will often have our peer supporter volunteers there too.

The Infant Feeding Support Group is a warm, friendly space for parents and babies. It will run every week 10am - to 11.30am on Wednesdays, starting 3rd June at Haskins Garden Centre Café, Gaters Mill, Mansbridge Rd, West End, Southampton SO18 3HW Haskins Garden Centre, West End

Café setting - Feel free to purchase food and drinks from the café but there is no expectation to buy anything - just come as you are.

WHO IS IT FOR?
•Parents
•Carers
•Babies of all ages
•Expectant parents also welcome!

Come along for:

🌿Breastfeeding, bottle feeding and support with expressing

🌿Friendly advice from the Health Visiting Infant Feeding Team

🌿A relaxed space to meet other parents

🌿Help with feeding questions, worries, or just a chat

No booking needed - just drop in!

Image description: Text as above, photo of a soft toy rabbit, cup of coffee and a slice of flapjack, flowers, leaves, cup and hearts and a cartoon line drawing of a pregnant person. Logos of NHS Hants and IOW, the Southampton Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme and Breastfeeding Network Southampton.

09/05/2026

Yesterday was the launch of the ‘My Wellbeing Care Plan’ across Hampshire & IOW. The Wellbeing Care Plan is designed to support individuals to inform staff of their needs and preferences, as well as strategies that help them feel safe, supported and empowered during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

Please see the QR code (or link below) to the Healthier Together website and short video clip detailing more information and how to complete a plan if required.

https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/your-personalised-journey-through-pregnancy-what-is-important-to-you?lang=en

06/05/2026

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

This is a week-long National campaign and this year’s theme, “A Decade of Voices”, is all about raising public and professional awareness of maternal mental health difficulties and helping to advocate for women, birthing people and their families impacted. Alongside, changing attitudes and helping people access the information and care they need.

Please speak to your Midwife, GP or Health Visitor if you are experiencing mental health difficulties as there is lots of support available. Support is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through NHS 111.

This week is also the launch of the Coping with Trauma during Pregnancy and Birth’ page on Healthier Together across Hampshire & IOW (link below). The content of this page has been made in collaboration with service users. The page is designed to provide people with additional support and resources on the following topics:

▫️Perinatal trauma
▫️Childhood Trauma
▫️Sexual Trauma
▫️Discrimination

Hopefully you find this page a useful resource that will support you during your pregnancy and birth.

https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/coping-with-trauma-during-pregnancy-and-birth?lang=en

05/05/2026

05/05/2026

Today we celebrate our wonderful Midwives and student midwives on 🫶🏼

We know that there is a spotlight on maternity care issues at present and these conversations absolutely matter to ensure we are providing the safest, most compassionate care possible.

But we also want to recognise that there is kindness, courage and great care happening within our service.

If you’re preparing to become pregnant or give birth please read some of the feedback our midwives have received to help you feel reassured you will be supported during your care.

Thank you to you for trusting us to be your care providers in your most vulnerable times and for allowing us to play a part in such a beautiful journey.

If you know a fabulous midwife please feel free to comment, like and share 💙

30/04/2026

Celebrating UHS March 2026 Babies! ❤️

Apologies for the delay; we are a team member down as they prepare to welcome their own little one into the world so your patience is appreciated 😊

22/04/2026

Today is National Administrative Professionals day during which we recognise and celebrate those who work hard behind the scenes to help run our maternity and neonatal service.

To them we say, thank you!

13/04/2026

Meet the Maternity Staff Monday! 👋🏽

This week we say hello to our Maternal Medicine team who work to improve outcomes for those with medical conditions detected before, during and after pregnancy.

Follow the link for more info:
https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/maternal-medicine-network

10/04/2026

✨ Positive Birth Story - Elective C/S✨

I am sharing my story so that it gives hope to people who have been recommended to have an elective caesarean that in can be a beautiful experience!

My pregnancy was pretty straightforward, I had some first trimester sickness but aside from that baby was moving well, I stayed active walking 3 miles with the dog everyday (despite the PGP!) and worked up until 36 weeks.

When I envisioned my birth I pictured hypnobirthing in a pool but at the anomaly scan I was told that my placenta was low-lying and blocking the babies exit! We were told not to worry at this stage as I would be rescanned at 32 weeks and most placentas move up and out the way by then (approx 95%) but to keep a close eye on any bleeding in the meantime. So I went to my pregnancy Pilates and Hypnobirthing classes and began to felt more empowered in my body.

However, at my 32 week scan I was told my placenta hadn’t moved and therefore a canal birth would not be safe. I met with the obstetric team and recommended an elective caesarean-section at 37 weeks due to the risks of going into labour. To say I was upset was an understatement - I felt like all the prep for a beautiful, calm, vaginal delivery had been ripped away from me. It took me around a week to get to grips with this and a lot of research bluntly I felt more comfortable to alter my birth plan and take the things that were still important to me into my elective caesarean, planning for it to be as calm and gentle as possible.

The day of the surgery came and it felt very strange leaving the house knowing we’d be returning home with out baby! We arrived and were taken to the recovery area where I was prepped for the birth, questions answered and procedure explained. of the day of the op, it felt surreal leaving the house knowing we’d be coming home with our baby girl. We were nervous but so excited. We met the anaesthetist, midwife and consultant who all read and truly considered our birth preferences.

At 10.15 we walked down to theatre (trying not to expose my bottom completely out the back of the gown!). We met the numerous staff who worked in theatre which was a bit overwhelming at first but they were very friendly and smiley and the way in which they just went about their job chatting away and signing to the radio made me feel so at ease.

The spinal was administered which gave me the shakes and I felt nauseous but the anaesthetist who stayed by my head the whole time, gave me some medication to sort that. I also practised my Hypnobirthing breathing techniques which really helped me to stay calm. And then with a bit of pulling and tugging our beautiful baby girl Tallulah was born at 11:22 to ‘Troublemaker’ by Olly Murs (I’m hoping that wasn’t a sign of things to come!)

The team lifted her up to show us as soon as she was born, and the midwife took some photos of her coming out of my tummy too (I will keep those private). We requested delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin which was facilitated. We couldn’t have the lights dimmed as it was explained the lights were needed to ensure the procedure was performed with as much visibility as possible.

In total I lost 1.2 Litres of blood which wasn’t bad considering the placenta praevia and I didn’t require a blood transfusion. We stayed in hospital for a couple of days as Tallulah had some troubles breathing (which can be quite common with elective births as babies lungs aren’t being prepped for breathing like they are during contractions of labour) and we also got some much appreciated feeding support. Now we have a 4 month old who is thriving, my wound is healing well (apart from the occasional ‘pulling’ sensation and numbness) and I’m so thankful our birth preferences were listened to and we never felt like we were being forced into anything.

My advice for any parents due to give birth is to use your BRAINS acronym for any care recommended, put in the prep work (people don’t just turn up to run a marathon so birth shouldn’t be treated any differently!) and enjoy meeting and becoming a team with the wonderful people who surround you on the most important day of your life.

04/04/2026

How many Easter babies will be hatching with us this weekend?! 🐣

Thank you to all those working across the NHS over the Easter bank holiday, especially to our staff and volunteers at UHS 💙

And to the public, if you need medical help, please use 111, or for a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999.

27/03/2026

The Generation Study is a research study that tests newborn babies for 200+ genetic conditions. The conditions can all be treated through the NHS in England and can be improved if caught early. The test is free, safe, and optional. It takes place just after birth.

If you are interested in taking part, our hospital study team can sign you up in person or over the phone while you are pregnant.

Visit the website at www.generationstudy.co.uk for more information and to register your interest.