Maternity

Important update regarding Smoked Fish in Pregnancy

The NHS has updated it's list of foods to avoid in pregnancy to now include smoked fish.

Due to a listeria outbreak linked to smoked fish, people at higher risk of serious infection (including people who are pregnant) should only eat smoked fish products that have been thoroughly cooked.

When cooking smoked fish products at home, make sure they are steaming hot all the way through.

Find out more about the listeria outbreak in smoked fish from the Food Standards Agency

Finding out that you're pregnant

So you've just found out that you're pregnant? What next? 

Contact your local midwifery base as soon as you find out you're pregnant. It's important to see a midwife or GP as early as possible to get the pregnancy (antenatal) care and information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

Your pregnancy can be treated confidentially, even if you are under 16. A GP or midwife can tell you about your choices for pregnancy (antenatal) care in your local area. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current illness or conditions you have or later develop.

Your local community midwifery bases are:

Queens Park Leisure Centre: 01246 206161

Inkersall Family Health Centre: 01246 470684

Knowing that you're pregnant

When you find out you're pregnant, you may feel happy and excited, or shocked, confused and upset. Everybody is different.

Some of this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels, which can make you feel more emotional.

If you are feeling anxious or worried it will help to talk to someone, read about mental health in pregnancy.

Partners

Partners may also have mixed feelings when they find out you are pregnant. They may find it hard to talk about their feelings because they do not want to upset you. Both of you should encourage each other to talk about your feelings and any worries or concerns.

However you're feeling, contact an NHS professional (such as a midwife, GP or practice nurse) so you can start getting antenatal (pregnancy) care. This is the care that you'll receive leading up to the birth of your baby.

Find out about your schedule of antenatal appointments.

Telling people that you're pregnant

You may want to tell your family and friends immediately, or wait a while until you know how you feel. Or you may want to wait until you have had your first ultrasound scan, when you're around 12 weeks pregnant, before you tell people.

Some of your family or friends may have mixed feelings or react in unexpected ways to your news. You may wish to discuss this with a midwife.

Read about dealing with feelings and relationships in pregnancy.

Flu and pregnancy

The seasonal flu vaccine is offered if you are pregnant and at any stage of pregnancy. If you are pregnant and catch the flu virus, you are at an increased risk of complications and flu-related hospital admissions.

Find out about the flu jab and pregnancy.

Talk to a GP or midwife if you're unsure about which vaccinations you should have.