As soon as you know you are pregnant, please get in touch with us to book your first appointment, booking your first appointment is quick and easy via our self-referral form.
There is no need to see your GP before getting in touch with us, just follow the instructions on the form and submit.
If you need help to complete the self-referral form or want to talk to someone about it, please contact our maternity team directly – tel: 0300 131 5344, they are always happy to help.
If you live locally but would like to give birth at another hospital, we advise that you make contact with your hospital of choice directly.
Once you have submitted your self-referral, you will receive an email confirmation, which also contains details about when you will be contacted by a member of the maternity team. Please don’t forget to come back to our website to access lots of health, lifestyle and pregnancy related information for you and your birth supporter.
Your first appointment will take place with a member of our friendly maternity team. This is called your ‘pre-booking appointment’. During this appointment we will:
- Ask you some health and lifestyle questions.
- Provide access to your electronic maternity notes via the Badgernet App. This is where all pregnancy related information, appointments and consultations will be recorded. Details of your birth and postnatal care will also be recorded here.
- Give you some pregnancy and health-related advice which can also be accessed via the Badgernet app. Please let us know if you need a paper copy of your notes or any of the pregnancy related information. Please also let us know if you need the information in a different language or easy to read format.
We will also arrange two further appointments for you. Ideally these will take place before you reach 10 weeks. If your pregnancy is more than 10 weeks when you contact us, we will aim to offer you these appointments within two weeks of receiving your referral.
The first appointment (booking) will be with one of our midwives either at Conquest Hospital in Hastings, or the midwifery led unit at Eastbourne DGH. It may also take place in a local clinic, eg children’s centre, GP practice or health centre, or at home.
There is lots to talk about during the booking appointment. Reading the information provided in your BadgerNotes, will help you make decisions about your care. If you need this information in a different language, reading format or need help to understand it, please let your midwife know.
Your midwife will ask lots of questions, some of which you may feel are quite personal and difficult to talk about. These questions are important, so please remember that we are here to help you in any way we can. Our aim is to identify anything that may affect your health and wellbeing, or that of your baby, and to provide you with the support you need to ensure you have a happy, healthy pregnancy, labour and birth experience. If you need extra support or want to speak to the midwife privately, please don’t be afraid to ask.