Leeds Maternity E-Midwife

18/12/2025

If you are pregnant, you are eligible for free flu, RSV, and whooping cough vaccines.

Why are you advised to have the flu vaccine?
• A flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.
• Pregnancy changes how the body responds to infections such as flu. There is good evidence that you have a higher chance of developing complications if you get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.
• Young babies also have a higher risk of getting seriously ill if they get flu. Having flu increases the chances of you and your baby needing intensive care.
• One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.
• If you have flu while you’re pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

Things you need to know about vaccines:
Vaccines do
• Help to protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
• Protect other people in your family and community - by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines, such as babies too young to be vaccinated and those who are too ill to be vaccinated
• Undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced - they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
• Sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long - you may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days
• Reduce or even get rid of some diseases - if enough people are vaccinated

Vaccines do not:
• Overload or weaken the immune system - it’s safe to give children and adults several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections needed
• Do not contain mercury (thiomersal)
• Do not contain any ingredients that cause harm - only ingredients essential to making them safer and more effective and only in very small amounts
• Do not cause autism - studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism

If you’re pregnant, it’s best to get vaccinated against flu, RSV and whooping cough as soon as you can. Vaccination for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Find out more here: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vaccinations/

18/12/2025

"Our lovely son Tristan was born on 1st July at LGI. I had a high risk pregnancy after a difficult first birth in a different hospital and other subsequent health issues but felt very well looked after both in community and my appointments at LGI.

I had a caesarean section booked if I didn't labour naturally but started labouring on my due date! Unfortunately early labour dragged on for 4 days and we had to pop into MAC twice for checks but all was well and I was well looked after both times.

When my little boy finally decided to get moving we went into LGI and had a lovely midwife on delivery suite who was very calm and kind. Unfortunately I became unwell and baby was really struggling so we got whisked through for an emergency caesarean but the team were wonderful throughout and we were very thankful they acted quickly as it turned out Tristan had contracted strep b.

Theatre was a bit scary but the doctors were fantastically thorough and started us both on precautionary antibiotics which it turned out were very much needed. We stayed on postnatal ward for 6 days which was difficult with an older child at home but the staff were all so kind and compassionate, especially when Tristan was going through a lot of testing and we were very well supported.

The fantastic breastfeeding support we received was the plus of a longer stay. We saw so many great midwives during our stay and have forgotten many names by now but we do remember the amazing kindness and support from Fatma, Elle and Anna in particular on postnatal, as well as Kelly who eventually discharged us once Tristan was given the all clear!

Whilst it wasn't the birth experience we hoped for, we are so grateful to everyone who looked after us at LGI with such professionalism and expertise to help us come through the birth safely. You are all doing an incredible job, thank you so much! Catherine and Jon"

To share your story please send us a direct message!

17/12/2025

Are you pregnant, over 16, and currently smoking or recently quit?

We’d love for you to join the PRAMS Study (Peer-support to Reduce Antenatal Maternal Smoking)!

💬 We’re testing whether an online peer support group can help pregnant women who smoke (or have recently quit) by offering:
✨ Support & encouragement
✨ Advice in a safe, judgement-free space
✨ The chance to connect with other women who’ve had similar experiences

🖥️ Don’t feel confident online? Don’t worry—we can provide training and support!

📅 The support group runs for 8 weeks
💷 Participants receive £10 to join + £20 for follow-up questionnaires
🗣️ You’ll also have the chance to share your experiences and help improve support for other women in the future.

📩 Interested?
Email PRAMS@kcl.ac.uk
WhatsApp: 07385 558 991

Or simply scan the QR code or follow this link for more info ⬇️
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=FM9wg_MWFky4PHJAcWVDVl93m8G6FGNLn6aLwK3uD-pUMUVNMUM5VVFRMTBJTVFBSzVRVkE4ODhTTC4u

17/12/2025

A reminder that our Maternity Assessment Centres are open 24 hours every day including Christmas and New Year.

If you have any urgent concerns please call the number of the hospital you are booked at to speak to a midwife at any time.

Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) - 0113 392 6731
St James's Hospital - 0113 206 5781

16/12/2025

Resident Doctors will strike from 7am tomorrow. Please do not delay contacting Maternity Services if you have any concerns about yourself or your baby.

If you need to speak to speak to a midwife urgently, you can call MAC 24/7: LGI - 0113 3926731 or St James's - 0113 2065781.

If you have any non-urgent queries please contact our Community Triage Line.
Our Community Triage Line is 0113 206 7111.
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
⏰ 8:15 AM – 12:15 PM
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:45 PM
This line is for non-urgent questions that can be answered by our Community Midwives, whether you're pregnant or have recently given birth.

16/12/2025

Emily is a midwife in our Lotus Team, which supports families to give birth either at home or in the Lotus Midwifery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. She will be working on Christmas Day this year, helping to deliver any Christmas babies that arrive.

She says: “It’s a nice atmosphere, everyone makes an extra effort to be festive and there are plenty of treats and Christmas hats. There’s always a good buffet or Christmas lunch to look forward to.

“I think most people would prefer not to have a baby on Christmas Day but they come when they want to. Some years there might just be one or two, but other years we’ve had lots. Families appreciate the extra effort – we have presents and little keepsakes for the Christmas babies.

“I’ve got two little girls at home, aged one and four, so we’ll make Christmas Eve special with lots of baking and fun, then they’ll be off to family with their dad for Christmas dinner, and we’ve got plans to spend Boxing Day with family.”

Emily is one of the '12 Faces of Christmas’ - each day in the run-up to Christmas Leeds Teaching Hospitals will be shining a light on our fantastic staff members who are working over the festive period to take care of our patients and keep our hospitals running smoothly.

15/12/2025

Here is some lovely feedback we've received from a grateful patient!

"I experienced excellent care throughout my induction at St James hospital. All staff were kind and caring. Luckily there was not a long wait and went to delivery suite very quickly. All midwives and doctors made sure I was informed at every stage and went the extra mile to make the delivery room feel like a calm environment: dimmed lights, quiet voices and even a twinkly light. Pain relief was arranged as soon as I needed it.

On ward round all of the team introduced themselves and I felt incredibly safe both when they came in to review and with the midwives caring for me. The delivery was calm and a beautiful experience, made better by support and encouragement from the midwives/ student midwife.

On the postnatal ward I was welcomed and orientated, offered pain relief straight away and hot drinks kept being offered which is exactly what I needed post birth. I feel incredibly grateful to everyone involved in our care and hope this feedback can go some way in recognising the hard work by all staff at St James"

If you receive a text or card inviting you to share your feedback please fill this in and we’ll do our best to pass on your message to those involved in your care. You can also share your feedback via https://linktr.ee/leedsmaternity or by sending us a DM. 🩷

14/12/2025

If you need infant feeding support, a friendly, reassuring chat, or just a reminder that you’re doing an amazing job, National Breastfeeding Helpline UK are here for you - 24/7!

📞 0300 100 0212
💌 Send a DM

Whatever the season, you’re not alone💜

Support provided by The Breastfeeding Network (UK) with Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.

12/12/2025

Our Maternity Assessment Centres (MAC) are open 24/7 and this includes the weekend.

If you have any of the attached symptoms or any other urgent concerns about your pregnancy, or after you've had your baby, please call MAC at your booked hospital to speak to a midwife.

Our midwives will give you advice over the telephone and invite you in to MAC if you need to seen.

Call MAC at any time 📞: LGI - 0113 3926731 or St James's - 0113 2065781.

If you have any non-urgent questions please direct message this page. The E-Midwife will be back to answer any questions on Monday ☺️🤰

11/12/2025

"Our baby boy Robin was born at St James in September. I had an elective Caesarean following a previous emergency.

Big thanks to all theatre staff especially the anaesthetists who kept me very calm and a special thanks to Dr Andrei Klein who brought baby Robin into the world.

And not forgetting the amazing midwives and staff in the post op bay who looked after us. It was a beautiful experience! ❤️ Thank you"

To share your story please send us a direct message with a photo of your baby and a few paragraphs about your experience. Your story can be anonymous and you don't have to show your baby's face if you'd prefer. We share a post every Thursday on our e-Midwife Facebook and Instagram pages!

10/12/2025

RSV vaccination appointments are available in Leeds from 28 weeks pregnant.

Please call 0113 39 26792 to book your appointment. Phone lines are open between 8am and 4pm Monday-Friday.

https://youtu.be/T9w3iIqz0gE

If you have any questions, please take a look at the RSV information leaflet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-maternal-vaccination/a-guide-to-rsv-vaccination-for-pregnant-women

https://youtu.be/T9w3iIqz0gE

This video gives information on how to protect your baby from RSV through vaccination in pregnancy.The RSV vaccine helps reduce the risk of a common infectio...