MTW Maternity

30/04/2026

Could free data help you during your pregnancy?

If you are 18+ and struggling to afford internet access, talk to your community midwife about the support available. Staying connected helps you access information, appointments and support when you need it.

29/04/2026

🔬 Research Wednesday 🔬

Did you know we’re a research-active Trust?

MTW Maternity is working with the PIONEER team to help reduce pre-term birth and improve outcomes for babies and families.

Find out more about the PIONEER programme here:
➡️ www.bristol.ac.uk/pioneer

If you’d like more information about this study or how to get involved in maternity research at MTW, please get in touch:
📧 mtw-tr.maternity-research@nhs.net

28/04/2026

🌼 Our Crowborough Newborn Café is open every Thursday! 🌼

Our Crowborough Newborn Café runs every Thursday from 9am–12pm (last entry 11:30am) at the Day Centre, Crowborough War Memorial Hospital.

Join us for a cuppa ☕ and relaxed, one-to-one infant feeding support for babies up to 12 weeks old, older children are welcome too! 💛

No need to book, just drop in and enjoy some friendly support from the Crowborough Birth Centre team.

📍 Southview Close, Crowborough, TN6 1HB
📞 01892 654080

💬 We’re also looking for volunteers!
We’re currently recruiting volunteers to support our cafés at both Crowborough and Maidstone Birth Centres. If you’re passionate about supporting new parents and creating a welcoming space for families, we’d love to hear from you!

For more information or to express your interest, please contact the infant feeding team on mtw-tr.infant-feeding-specialists@nhs.net

27/04/2026

It's important to see a midwife as early as possible to get the antenatal (pregnancy) care and information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

You do not need to tell a GP you're pregnant unless you're taking medicine or have a long-term health condition.

Your first midwife appointment should happen before you're 10 weeks pregnant. If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant, you should still refer yourself to start your pregnancy care as soon as possible.

You can refer yourself for pregnancy care from 5 weeks pregnant on our website https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/service/maternity/

If you cannot refer yourself online please contact: 01892 638158 or 01892 633488

26/04/2026

We know capturing special moments during your pregnancy and with your baby is something many families treasure. 💙

If you’d like to take photos or videos while you’re in our clinical areas, please have a quick chat with our team first. This helps make sure everyone is comfortable and has given consent to appear in any images or recordings, including our healthcare professionals.

Thank you for helping us keep a safe and comfortable environment for everyone while still celebrating these important moments. ✨

26/04/2026

24/04/2026

🌸 Feedback Friday 🌸

We love hearing from the amazing families we’ve had the privilege to support during their journey 💕

Thank you to Megan who sent this lovely feedback, congratulations on the birth of baby Zara on such a special day.

"I just wanted to share what a great experience we had having our second daughter over the weekend.

From the moment I was admitted on Saturday every staff member we interacted with were absolutely lovely - both June and Julie in the antenatal ward made me feel so at ease.

On Sunday morning we were moved to the delivery suite and met the wonderful midwife Fi who delivered our daughter. From the moment we met Fi my husband and I felt in good hands. I had a very traumatic first birth during Covid which put me off having another baby for years, Fi listened to my past experiences and made it her mission to give me a more positive one.

My second daughter Zara was born on Mothers Day at 14:38pm and with Fi in the room I felt in control of all of my medical decisions and it felt like we had a friend in the room delivering our baby.

We'd also like to thank Amber, she came in to cover Fi's lunch break and we didn't realise it could be a pleasure to talk to someone during labour! Fi and Amber clearly have a lovely working relationship and their love for midwifery shows in how they interacted with each other and us.

All three wards we stayed in (pre, birthing & post) were busy and staffing is clearly stretched, but the staff we interacted with treated us with respect, care, kindness and dignity.

Thank you so much for an experience I can feel proud of - after my first birth trauma I didn't know if I'd ever be able to revisit but I'm so happy I did and now my Zoey has a sibling and I have an empowered birth story thanks to your amazing midwives.

From Megan & Conor"

💌 Have you recently experienced our maternity services? Share your story with us - mtw-tr.positivebirths@nhs.net

23/04/2026

We offer a range of classes, workshops and sessions to support you with different stages of your pregnancy and birth, including hypnobirthing, parent education and newborn feeding support.

Visit our website to see what on offer, times, locations and how to book.
www.mtw.nhs.uk/parent-education-classes-and-information/

21/04/2026

20/04/2026

This week marks the 7th annual Black Maternal Health Awareness Week in the UK, led by Five X More , recognising an important milestone in the ongoing work to improve outcomes for Black mothers.

Despite continued efforts, Black mothers sadly remain 2.3 times more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 6 weeks after birth in the UK (MBRRACE, 2025).

We’re proud to support this important week and throughout this week, we will be sharing posts and information from Five X More CIC.

This year’s campaign is centred on the theme “Leading with Solutions, Not Trauma”, with a focus on the following daily themes:
Monday: Sepsis
Tuesday: Day of Action
Wednesday: Sickle Cell
Thursday: Reduced Fetal Movements
Friday: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Weekend: Positive stories & Day of Rest

💬 Share your voice

If you have feedback or would like to share your experience of Black maternal health within MTW, please email:
📧 mtw-tr.positivebirths@nhs.net or mtw.mvp@gmail.com
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Maternity Voices Partnership brings together parents, families, and maternity services to ensure that the experiences and voices of women and families help shape and improve local maternity and neonatal care.

Together, by listening, learning, and taking action, we can help create safer, more equitable maternity care for all.
🔗 Learn more: www.fivexmore.org

20/04/2026

Stopping smoking during pregnancy can feel tough – but you don’t have to do it alone 💜

We offer free, personalised support to help you quit in a way that works for you, including ni****ne replacement, mental wellbeing support and access to our Swap to Stop v**e scheme.

Quitting at any stage of pregnancy improves your baby’s health – and stopping before 16 weeks can reduce risks to the same level as a non‑smoker.

💬 Get in touch to find out what support is available for you:
📧 mtw-tr.smokefreematernity@nhs.net

We’re here to help, every step of the way 🤍

17/04/2026

🌸 Feedback Friday 🌸

We love hearing from the amazing families we’ve had the privilege to support during their journey 💕

Thank you to Holly who sent this lovely feedback and, congratulations on the birth of baby Ronnie. Our Maternity Support Workers really are the backbone of our service.

"I am just emailing as I wanted to share our positive experience of the care received by one of your maternity assistants at Pembury Hospital named Bryony.

We first met Bryony a few days before Christmas back in 2021, following the birth of our first son, Alfie. He was two weeks overdue, and following a long labour, arrived via emergency c-section. We arrived on the postnatal ward and I still remember the innate kindness and care shown by Bryony to both myself and our baby. Even though she was probably very busy, nothing was too much trouble and she was very efficient in her work.

Throughout my pregnancy, labour and postnatal stay, we encountered multiple healthcare professionals who were all very lovely and helpful, but Bryony went above and beyond and so we remembered her. We were therefore delighted when last July, after giving birth to our second son, Ronnie, Bryony was working on the postnatal ward again. Like several years prior, she again was so kind and thoughtful in all that she did to look after us, and we feel she truly deserves recognition for what a brilliant job she does. She is an asset to your NHS trust and we will always be grateful and remember the great care we received from her. I’ve attached some photos of both baby Alfie and baby Ronnie!

Many thanks,

Holly"

💌 Have you recently experienced our maternity services? Share your story with us - mtw-tr.positivebirths@nhs.net