Maternity self-referral confirmation

Thank you for completing your Maternity Self-Referral with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust's Maternity services

Thank you for your maternity self-referral. You have asked for maternity care with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

What happens next?

  1. We will send you a scan appointment. This will be a letter to your postal address. The appointment will be for when you are about 12 weeks pregnant. If you are unsure of your dates, you will get an earlier appointment.
  2. We will contact you by phone to arrange your first appointment with a midwife.

What you need to know

Less than eight weeks pregnant when you completed this form?
You will hear from us by time you are nine weeks pregnant.

More than eight weeks pregnant when you completed this form?
You will hear from us within two weeks.

If you have not heard from us as indicated above, please contact us by email. Contact the team nearest to where you live:

What to do if you have any concerns

In early pregnancy – up to 14 weeks:
Contact Murray Ward Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) if you have any worries, such as:

  • Severe sickness
  • Bleeding (pink, brown or red discharge)
  • Pain or cramping in your abdomen, back or pelvic pain
  • If you suspect you are having a miscarriage
  • If you suspect you have an ectopic pregnancy

Call EPU – Tel: 0300 131 4480 or 0300 131 5676
ESHT switchboard: 0300 131 4500 Ext: 772576

After 14 weeks of pregnancy:
For urgent concerns such as bleeding, pain or worries about your baby’s movements, call our Maternity Triage – Tel: 0300 131 5341

For non-urgent concerns, such as blood results, appointment details or referrals, contact our maternity liaison team:

Folic acid

We recommend everyone takes folic acid until they are 12 weeks pregnant. This helps prevent neural tube defects. You can buy a folic acid supplement over the counter. Multivitamin supplements also contain folic acid. For more information visit this website: Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy.

We recommend a higher dose of folic acid if any of the following apply to you:

  • if you have a BMI of over 30
  • you or the baby’s biological father has a neural tube defect
  • you or the baby’s biological father has a family history of neural tube defects
  • you have had a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect
  • you have diabetes
  • you take anti-epilepsy medicine
  • you take anti-retroviral medicine for HIV

If any of these apply to you, talk to a GP. They can prescribe the higher dose of folic acid.

Vitamin D

We also recommend everyone takes Vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This can be taken as a supplement on its own or in a pregnancy multivitamin. If you have dark skin or cover your skin a lot, you may be at particular risk of not having enough vitamin D.

For more information visit this website: Vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy.

Foods to avoid in pregnancy

There are some foods to avoid when you are pregnant. For more information vist this website: Foods to avoid in pregnancy.

Useful information

For information on pregnancy and birth go to:

or

Also visit the links below:

Advice on common Infections in pregnancy such as exposure to chicken pox
Baby Friendly Resources – Baby Friendly Initiative
Blood clot risk-assessment questionnaire – to be used by anyone in early pregancy
BMI calculator
Diabetic Eye screening in pregnancy (for women with type 1 or 2 diabetes)
My choices for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
NHS pregnancy and baby guide
NHS Smoking cessation advice and support
NHS website for general information/advice
PAPP-A (Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A)
Public Health England leaflet on Flu and Whooping cough
Screening tests for you and your baby

Overseas visitor?

Maternity care is very important for the health of you and your baby. It will not be refused or delayed if you are an overseas visitor.

Need financial help or advice?

Ask for advice from the citizen advice centre: Citizens Advice

Concerns about your care?

If you have concerns about your care please talk to your midwife. Or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)