When a mother-to-be smokes her baby may not grow healthily.  Smoking in pregnancy increases the chances of miscarriage, baby being born prematurely, sudden infant death and other health complications.   Women who smoke are more likely to have life-threatening complications during pregnancy and labour than non-smokers.

All pregnant women regardless of whether they smoke or not will be offered Carbon Monoxide (CO) testing at every antenatal appointment as part of their routine care.  Smokers and women who have high CO readings are offered a referral to the Barnsley Maternity Stop Smoking Team.  Women are encouraged to refer themselves if they wish, consenting partners and/or family members will be supported as well.

The service offers free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and behavioural support therapy delivered by the Specialist-trained Barnsley Maternity Stop Smoking Team.  Contact our Barnsley Maternity Stop Smoking Team today Tel: 01226 432193 9am-5pm Monday to Friday or email maternity.stopsmoking@nhs.net

Are you using or considering using an e cigarette? For further information on the safety of e cigarettes view Tommys or contact our team for support.

• Yorkshire Smoke Free Website

• Pregnant and using alcohol or drugs

• Having a healthy diet in pregnancy
• How to ensure you get lots of iron in your diet
• Healthy Start– Are you eligible?
• What vitamins do you and your baby need? Healthy Start Vitamins contain the recommended amounts of Folic Acid, Vitamin D and Vitamin C for you throughout your pregnancy and when breast feeding. You will be offered a free 2 month supply of Healthy Start Vitamins at your first appointment with your Midwife. Your midwife and the antenatal clinic at the hospital has further supplies if you are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme or you can buy them for just £1 from the antenatal clinic reception at the hospital or alternatively at some of the local Barnsley family centres (please telephone the family centre to check).
• Anaemia in pregnancy – advice for taking oral iron:
  Women should be given advice on how to take oral iron supplements correctly. Ideally Iron supplements should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals with a source of vitamin C to maximise absorption. Dairy, other medications or antacids should not be taken at the same time. However gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea and epigastric discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea) affects 35-59% of women and can lead to non-compliance with treatment. Therefore, in order to increase compliance with treatment women are advised to take oral iron with food.
• Healthy tips and advice for pregnant women, new mums, dads-to-be, and friends and family
• Change 4 Life – eat 4 you not for 2
• Why your weight matters during pregnancy and after birth

Find out more about the local Health Referral Scheme – supported physical activity sessions

Barnsley IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)

• You can self – refer to IAPT Visit their website
• Managing Mental Wellbeing During Pregnancy Workshops

Best Beginnings

Best Beginnings is a website to engage, equip, educate and empower parents, from conception. Visit their website

• Seat belt safety in pregnancy
• Seat belt safety for your baby

41 per cent of women during pregnancy can have some form of stress incontinence (leakage of urine from the bladder when coughing, sneezing, exercising etc). Find out more about your pelvic floor hereIf you need help identifying your pelvic floor muscles or you are suffering with stress incontinence before or after the birth of your baby we have specialist help available. Please discuss with your midwife and ask to be referred to our physiotherapists.

Remember pelvic floor exercises are for life not just for Christmas!

Useful downloads:

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
• Exercise and Advice After Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain For mothers to be and new mothers
• Pelvic girdle pain and pregnancy

Video guides:

Other useful information

• You’d do anything to protect your family – free home safety check
• Healthy child programme– step-by-step care pathway

• Looking after your teeth and gums during pregnancy
• Immunisations and rashes in pregnancy
  Flu (Influenza), Whooping cough (Pertussis), and German measles (Rubella)
• Group B Streptococcus GBS infection in newborn babies
• MRSA Information for patients
• Air travel and pregnancy
• Chicken Pox and pregnancy

Click to download

Please note: This programme is delivered by midwives in partnership with other agencies who work in the Barnsley area. As most of the information is specific to the services offered in Barnsley it is not be suitable for women who do not live in Barnsley.

Our programme includes

• Baby’s development throughout pregnancy
• Keeping both you and your baby healthy in pregnancy
• What makes a good parent?
• Active Birth
• Top tips for labour
• Coping skills for labour
• Practical tips for life with a new baby including bathing, nappy changing, handling your baby
• Infant feeding
• Baby’s brain development
• Safe sleeping
• Tips for coping with a crying baby and what to expect in the early weeks

The sessions are suitable for any mum or partner-to-be and are run in community bases (family centres and local schools) by Midwives, Health Visitors, Family Centre staff and the Infant Feeding Service.

The programme is four 2 hour sessions. Session 1 in early pregnancy and sessions 3, 4 and 5 take place in late pregnancy. The information discussed in each session is appropriate for that stage of pregnancy. Sessions are held at various times including in the evening and at weekends.

If you live within the Barnsley borough and would like to book a place, email the details below to havingababy@barnsley.gov.uk or phone the Lundwood Children Centre and ask to speak to the ‘Having a Baby’ team on 01226 248564

We need to know:

• Your name
• Your date of birth
• Your telephone number
• Your email address (If you use this)
• Your address and postcode
• The date your baby is due

Once this information is received we will send you an invitation to the ‘Having a Baby’ programme in your area, either by return email (if used) or by post. If you have not had a reply within 2 weeks, please contact us. Early booking essential.

These sessions are provided for women and their birthing partners planning to give birth either in the Birthing Centre at Barnsley or at home.

Most women find these sessions useful from approximately 34 weeks pregnant

Here are some of the topics we cover in this session:

• What is active birth?
• Preparation and top tips for labour and birth
• Choosing a water birth
• What is a birth plan and how do I make one?
• Breathing and relaxation techniques
• How to care for your body

A tour of the Maternity Unit is also included. The Birthing Centre is a very busy area and occasionally it may not be possible for you to view.

At these sessions you also have the option of purchasing certain items which may help you with your labour and birth.

Gym ball, ensuring optimal fetal positioning £17 – £21 each (depending on size) Pump £2

And

Relaxation CD – Belightful Music which can be used pre and post birth (locally sourced)

If you would like to purchase any of these items (only available at your active birth session) please be aware we are only able to accept cash.

Venue: Physiotherapy Department, Ground floor (next to Accident and Emergency Entrance) Red Zone. Entrance C5 (see map below) Barnsley Hospital. Please wait in the waiting room.

Day and Time: Every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays) 5-7pm

Booking: Due to high demand and limited availability you will need to book on these sessions. Please call the Birthing Centre on 01226 432249 from 8am on the Monday you intend to attend to check availability and to reserve a place.

If the virtual tour is not for you and you would like to attend the Maternity Unit in person to familiarize yourself with the surroundings please see below.

Please be aware this is a tour only. For active birth information and discussion please join us either on the Having a Baby programme or at an active birth session.

We have tours every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays) from 7-730pm at Barnsley Hospital Birthing Centre, Women’s and Children’s Department, First floor. Please wait for the session to start on the first floor landing.

Due to high demand and limited availability you will need to book on these sessions. Please call the Birthing Centre on: 01226 432249 from 8am on the Monday you intend to attend to check availability and to reserve a place.

The Birthing Centre is a very busy area and occasionally it may not be possible for you to view.

Are you having twins or triplets? Would you like to meet other parents having more than one baby? Would you like to talk to a midwife specialising in multiple births? We have a class designed to meet your needs. Each session Includes: Labour and birth, pre-birth and special care, caesarean birth, feeding, and top tips for baby care.

To make an enquiry or book a place please contact Michelle Young on m.young10@nhs.net