If you need urgent help during your pregnancy, call our pregnancy assessment unit on 0191 607 2815.

Click here to find out more information about registering your pregnancy
Click here to view the Northumbria Healthcare Maternity Facebook page
A graphic advertising antenatal education sessions
Click here to view the Northumbria Maternity Voices Partnership Facebook page

Having your baby…the Northumbria way

This is such a special time in your life and we want you to have the best possible experience. We’re here to offer you lots of support throughout pregnancy, during birth and after the birth of your baby.

What is an MNVP?

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships were set up after the Better Births report published in 2016. There are MNVPs across the country and the Northumbria MVP covers all of Northumberland and North Tyneside. The MNVP works with health professionals and families using maternity services to ensure that service provision is what families want and that people are listened to.

So what does an MNVP actually DO?

The MNVP works with NHS maternity departments to make sure that the services provided are what pregnant people and their families actually want. We help plan service provision, we help develop leaflets and communication and we provide feedback.

Some of the things we have worked on include updating the way pregnant people with diabetes are looked after, making sure that the voices from more vulnerable communities are heard and planning care during Covid (including supporting birth partners at ALL births and antenatal appointments). We are currently looking at how parents are supported to make a decision about being induced as feedback is that women and pregnant people often feel they didn’t have any choice or it wasn’t properly explained.

Is it just for pregnant women?

The MNVP is for anyone involved in maternity care – so pregnant women and pregnant people and also their families. It is multidisciplinary so we also have representatives from midwifery, obstetrics, gynaecology, physiotherapy and SCBU (and more!). If you are pregnant or have had a baby recently, it would be great to have your support.

How can I find out more or get involved?

We currently have a Facebook page that is public and a closed group that is just for service users (so no professionals unless they are using maternity services). We are working on a website so will let you know once it is up and running.

Northumbria MNVP Facebook page

A closed Facebook group for service users

northumbria@matvoices.uk

About Rae – the Chair of the MNVP

I am mum to four boys and have experienced four very different births: a planned home birth with transfer to hospital, a textbook home water birth, a very emergency caesarean section with a baby in NICU and then an induction. However, all four were positive and empowering because of the care I received and the way my decisions were supported.

Personalised Care - North East and North Cumbria Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS)

As a birth partner, there are lots of practical things you can do to support  during labour, whatever kind of birth you and you partner are planning for.

This includes:

  • keeping your partner company and helping to pass the time during the early stages
  • holding her hand, wiping her face and giving sips of water
  • massaging her back and shoulders, and helping her move about or change position
  • comforting her as labour progresses and contractions get stronger
  • reminding her how to use relaxation and breathing techniques – ask the Midwife to show you how if you are unsure
  • supporting her decisions, such as pain relief choices, even if they’re different from what’s in the birth plan
  • helping to explain to the midwife or doctor what she needs – and help them communicate with your partner – which can help you both feel more in control of the situation
  • telling her what’s happening as your baby is being born if she wants you to

Useful link for further information:

Your feelings

Just because your partner is the one carrying the baby, it does not mean their pregnancy has no impact on you. Whether the pregnancy has been planned for months or years, or is unexpected, you’ll probably feel a range of emotions.

A baby means new responsibilities that you may not feel ready for, whatever your age. You and the mum-to-be may have mixed feelings about the pregnancy. It’s normal for both of you to feel like this.

The first pregnancy will change your life and change can be frightening, even if it’s something you’ve been looking forward to.

A message from our health psychology team

Everyone has different strategies for coping with difficulty. We believe that anyone can encounter emotional distress at any time in their life and that the issues related to fertility, conception, pregnancy and gynaecological difficulties can be especially hard. Our obstetrics and gynaecology health psychology service offers psychological assessment and therapy for women and couples who are experiencing emotional difficulties arising in pregnancy or as a result of childbirth, or associated with a gynaecological condition.

Useful external links for more support

If you need urgent help with your mental health, please call the NHS 24 hr phone line for urgent assistance:  0303 123 1146

 

Other advice

  • Babies can hear within the womb from around 18 weeks. So, however silly it might feel, take time every day to speak, sing and read to your baby in the womb. This is the beginning of a life long bonding process which promotes brain development even before your baby is born
  • Make sure that you get that crucial skin-to-skin contact as soon after birth as you can. Tell the midwife that you’d like to do this so it isn’t forgotten. Skin-to-skin is a great way for dads to continue to get close to their baby in the coming months.
  • Skin-to-skin cuddles let your baby hear your heartbeat and learn your smell, just like they do with mum if she’s breastfeeding. Take every opportunity you can to let them snuggle up on your chest. It’s a lovely way to feel close and can help you both relax too. (NCT, 2020)

It is important that when the time comes, you bring a ‘hospital bag’ for yourself and please be aware that if your partner is having labour induced, you should be prepared for a stay of at least 3 days.

Useful items could include:

  • Sandwiches and snacks (including pot noodles/pasta pots for which we can provide hot water)
  • Treats for you and your partner – chocolate/sweets etc
  • Books/puzzles to keep occupied prior to active labour
  • iPad/tablet with downloaded films/series
  • Toiletries for yourself
  • Changes of clothing

Smoking

A smoke free environment is recommended for you and your new family.  Your partner’s midwife can refer you to the stop smoking service, which is a free service available to you.  Ask your partner’s midwife to refer you, or your partner can ask on your behalf if you are not able to attend.  

Alternatively you can visit here for further support to help you quit and give your baby a healthier start in life.

There is also a new Smoke Free App to support you to give up smoking.

Alcohol

It is advised that women don’t drink alcohol during pregnancy due to the affects this can have on the unborn baby, you can support your partner by also stopping or cutting down.  There’s a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, hangovers can make you feel anxious and low.  If you already feel anxious or sad, drinking can make this worse, so cutting down can make you feel in a better mood.

Drinking can also affect your sleep, it can help you fall to sleep quickly but with a new baby to care for during the night, drinking alcohol could make you less supportive and also poses a danger to your new baby.

For support with cutting down or stopping completely, click here.

  • Pregnancy assesment unit, Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital 0191 607 2815
  • Birthing unit, Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital 0191 607 2318
  • Hillcrest midwife-led unit 01665 626 732
  • Berwick midwife-led unit 01289 356 622
  • Hexham midwife-led unit 01434 655 352

Patient support groups

  • Tamba (Twins) 01483 304442
  • National Breast Feeding Helpline 0300 100 0212
  • Newcastle Women’s Aid 0191 275 2148
  • North Tyneside Woman’s Aid 0191 251 3305 / Out of hours 07946 753638
  • Sexual Health Services 0344 728 0554
  • Parentline Plus 24 hour parent advice line 0808 800222

Maternity research is important as it helps improve experiences and outcomes for women and babies. 

We regularly participate in research studies that have been approved by the National Institute for Hwalth Research (NIHR). You may be contacted by the maternity research team to ask if you would like to participate in a research study. You will always have the opportunity to discuss any study with your healthcare team and are under no obligation to participate. 

See below the stuides that are currently being delivered within Northumbria Maternity: 

INGR1D2

Investigating Genetic Risk for type 1 Diabetes (2) - is an important study that aims to identify children with genetic markers that put them at increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Find out more about this study The INGR1D 2 study

MiNESS 20-28 

This study will look at medical factors associated with healthy birth and those associated with early stillbirth but also environmental, lifestyle and healthcare factors that can affect pregnancy and the wellbeing of the baby. Find our more about this study Research & Innovation

iGBS3 

Northumbria maternity is participating in a research study of women’s natural immunity against GBS. We want to find out how much antibody a woman needs in her blood to protect her baby from getting GBS. This will help in developing a vaccine. Find out more about this study. 

OBSUK Study 

This research is part of a study called OBS UK aiming to improve care for women who bleed during childbirth. Find out more about this study. 

Our services