Registering your Pregnancy

Introduction

This form, for all expectant mothers who have had a positive pregnancy test living the Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Easington and Peterlee region, will take approximately ten minutes to complete.

The form will give us vital information to help to allocate you to the correct midwife, who will contact you by letter within two weeks with a pre-booking appointment. At this group appointment (with other mums-to-be), you will be provided with relevant health education information and advice. You will then be booked in for a 90 minute one-to-one appointment with your named midwife who will be with you throughout your pregnancy journey.

Please make sure you answer ALL of the questions fully. If there is missing information we will have to take more of your time contacting you to fill in any gaps.

It might be a good idea to remind yourself of your height, weight and when you had your last period – if you don’t include this, we’ll have to call to ask you anyway.

Are you getting your Healthy Start?

“Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs do that it can work properly. Even though you can get lots of vitamins from a healthy balanced diet, you might not always get everything you need. The NHS recommends specific vitamins for pregnant women. Your local council is working with local community pharmacies to provide Healthy Start vitamins free for you throughout your pregnancy.”

Healthy Start vitamin tablets for women contain

Folic Acid – To reduce the chance of your baby having spina bifida, a birth defect where the spine does not form properly
Vitamin D – To help your body absorb calcium to keep your bones strong and help your baby’s bones to develop properly
Vitamin C – To help maintain healthy tissue in the body

Most local pharmacies are offering this service, but if you visit one that does not, they will be able to tell you the nearest pharmacy that does. For more information visit the Healthy Start Website

Smoking during pregnancy

“Every cigarette you smoke contains over 5,000 chemicals, so smoking when you are pregnant harms your unborn baby. Cigarettes can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby. As a result, the baby’s heart must beat harder every time you smoke. Stopping smoking will help both you and your baby immediately. When you stop smoking: “- You reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth – You are more likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby – You reduce the risk of still birth – Your baby is less likely to be born too early and have to face the breathing, feeding and health problems that often go with being premature – Your baby is less likely to be born with a low birth weight. Babies of smokers are, on average, 200g (about 8oz) lighter than other babies, which can cause problems during and after labour. Lower birth weight babies does not mean an easier birth. They are move likely to have problems keeping warm and are more likely to get infections, which can result in trips back to the hospital – You will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as ‘cot death’. The information collected in this form is confidential and will be used by the midwives of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust in order to allocate you to the correct health professional and form part of your pregnancy record. The information will be stored in accordance with the Department of Health Guidance.

You will need to know your height and weight before filling in this form.