Good Hope Hospital Maternity Unit

19/10/2025

14/10/2025

It’s safest if your dog is happy around your new baby. So here are some tips for a good introduction:

🐶 Ask a family member to walk the dog before you bring the baby home, so they’re relaxed
🐶 Say hello to your dog first. Then introduce the baby in a quiet room
🐶 Give your dog lots of treats for good behaviour

For more top tips on preparing your dog for your new baby download our free fact sheet: https://capt.org.uk/.../your-dog-and-your-baby-fact-sheet/

14/10/2025

📣Have you experienced, or planning on having, an Induction of Labour at Good Hope or Heartlands? Please join us for an evening listening session around IOL.

Please get your free ticket on our Event Brite.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iol-listening-session-tickets-1765942043189?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you can't access Event Brite please message or email bsolmnvp@gatewayfs.org for attendance 🫱🏼‍🫲🏿

25/09/2025

MNVP Co-Production

The BSOL MNVP continue to work with our local Trusts to provide insight and feedback about how to improve people's Maternity and Neonatal experiences that can provide better outcomes for families.

One of our current projects is gaining feedback around accessing care early in pregnancy, specifically having bloods taken before 10 weeks!

Did you find accessing an appointment before 12 weeks difficult? Or face any other personal challenges around this?

We'd love to hear anything that maybe relevant about your experience.

Please email bsolmnvp@gatewayfs.org

22/09/2025

27/08/2025

A change in movement can be a warning sign that your baby is unwell. It doesn't mean something is ALWAYS wrong. But by reporting all cases of change in movement we have the best chance of saving the babies at risk.

Of course there are people who had reduced movement and everything was fine. It doesn't mean everyone will have the same experience.

In 1982, the year before car seats became a legal requirement there were 2443 road deaths, by 2016 that was 816. Seatbelts saved lives. That didn't mean everyone that didn't wear a seatbelt died. I was born in 1980, I was driven around without a seatbelt. I'm still alive. Do you think I wear a seatbelt every time I get in the car? You bet I do!

Survivor Bias means there are a lot of people who did something and 'were fine' but those that weren't aren't here to comment.

If someone tells you their baby slowed down and they were fine, congratulate them and continue to report all your cases of reduced movement to your midwife or maternity unit.

Stillbirth rates have improved greatly over the last 100 years, but more babies are still stillborn than die from SIDS, Road deaths, meningitis, cancer and drowning COMBINED!

Please continue to raise awareness and report any change in your baby's movements, this could be a reduction, a rapid increase, a change in intensity or type of movements.

Kicks Count

26/08/2025

BSOL MNVP will be hosting our third quarterly meeting with a focus on UHB in 2 weeks time!

🤝Service Users are welcome from 10am, to share, listen and support change. Equally if you are not ready to share, it may be an opportunity to hear our conversations. Our aim is to improve experiences within Maternity and Neonatal services in Birmingham and Solihull, champion good practice and working in collaboration with Service Users, Community Partners and our NHS Trusts.

📣For our Community Partners or any other third party organisations, please do share this post within your own networks, as all voices are important for representation.

💌If you would like to attend and have not already received an invite, please email bsolmnvp@gatewayfs.org to RSVP. Please see location address in the post above.

🥐Refreshments and a safe space will be provided.

04/08/2025

5 facts for mothers:
1⃣ Your body is ready to breastfeed from the moment your baby is
born
2⃣ Breastfeeding lowers stress & anxiety.
3⃣ It sets up a baby’s immune system for life.
4⃣ It helps babies fight infections.
5⃣ The more you breastfeed in the early days, the faster your body
makes milk.

01/08/2025

To those who don’t feel like celebrating World Breastfeeding Week — this is for you 💜

Maybe you're in pain. Maybe you're overwhelmed. Maybe you stopped breastfeeding - not because you wanted to, but because you weren't given the support you needed.

You’re not alone.

💔 80% of women who want to breastfeed stop before they’re ready.
Not because they failed — but because they weren’t supported.

This week isn’t just about celebration.
It’s about you.

If you’re finding it hard, if you have questions, or if you just need a listening ear — the National Breastfeeding Helpline is here for you.

No pressure. No judgement. Just real, human support - 24/7

Call 0300 100 0212 or send us a DM on social media anytime💜

Our trusted service is provided by The Breastfeeding Network (UK), with Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

🌟Please share to help us reach more mums and families who need us🌟

[ID: Close-up of child breastfeeding. National Breastfeeding Helpline. 0300 100 0212. World Breastfeeding Week 2025 logo.]