SEND Services Pre-birth

What is ante-natal screening and what may happen after one is completed?
The hospital you are registered to give birth at, should offer a range of test, to screen you and your baby for certain conditions that may affect either you or your baby, or both.

Screening information
If you are registered at an NHS hospital (e.g. Homerton), all tests are free, and it is your choice if you want to be tested. Either your GP or your midwife will give you an NHS information booklet called ‘Screening tests for you and your baby’ during your first appointment, which will help you decide.

The Homerton Hospital has a number of information booklets which you can download here (this includes a link to translations into 17 languages). Your midwife or GP will explain each test to you and will be able to answer any questions you may have. Your midwife will ask you to sign a consent form if you wish to be tested.

For more information about antenatal screening, click here.

If you will be giving birth at another hospital, please ask them for these information.

  • Blood tests
    At Homerton, at your booking appointment (usually when you are 10-12 weeks pregnant) we can take a blood sample to check the following:
  • iron levels
  • blood group and rhesus factor
  • haemoglobinopathies (e.g. sickle cell trait, thalassaemia trait)
  • raised blood sugar
  • HIV infection
  • syphilis infection
  • hepatitis B infection

At this appointment you will also be asked for a urine sample which will be checked for protein and tested for infection.

Normally another blood sample will be taken at both your 26-week and 34-week antenatal appointments, these tests will check:

  • iron levels
  • blood sugar levels

Test results will normally be given to you during your next antenatal visit; your midwife can answer any questions you may have at this point.

  • Ultrasound scans
    At Homerton we offer two ultrasound scans as standard:
  • Booking/dating scan (between 11-14 weeks)- At this scan, we will measure the baby’s size and based on this we will estimate the date your baby is due to be born (estimated date of delivery or EDD). The scan will also check the baby’s well-being and whether you are carrying more than one baby
  • Testing for Down’s syndrome – combined test
    At Homerton we also offer the combined test (a combination of ultrasound scan and a blood test), to determine your baby’s chance of having a chromosomal abnormality such as Down’s, Edwards or Patau’s syndrome. At your booking scan, we can measure the amount of fluid behind your baby’s neck (the nuchal translucency) which can be an indicator of the chance that your baby has a chromosomal abnormality. We also take a blood sample to test for certain hormones or proteins in your circulation which can indicate an increased risk of a chromosomal abnormality.
    The combined test will not tell you for certain if your baby has a chromosomal abnormality or not but gives an indication of the chance or probability. If your chance is higher than 1 in 150, you will be offered further tests that can give a definite diagnosis. If you are concerned about the result of your combined test you can discuss this with your midwife or GP, who may refer you to the fetal medicine department for further help.
    If it was not possible to obtain a nuchal translucency measurement, or you're more than 14 weeks into your pregnancy, you'll be offered a test called the quadruple screening test between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. This only screens for Down's syndrome and is not quite as accurate as the combined test
  • Anomaly scan (between 20-22 weeks)
    At this scan we will check the baby for any abnormalities or health problems, and we will also check the position of the placenta. If the placenta is low (as happens in about 10% of pregnancies) a repeat scan will be arranged at 32-36 weeks. If there are any other concerns, you will be referred to see one of our obstetricians.

It may be possible to see the gender of your baby at this scan, although we can’t guarantee the correct diagnosis of any baby’s gender. Please tell the ultrasonographer at the start of your appointment if you’d like to know your baby’s gender.

Every family wants a healthy baby. However, some babies will be born with a congenital disorder. In most of the cases, the reason for the occurrence of birth defects is genetic or unknown.

Please remember that diagnosis can only be confirmed after the birth (post-natally).

“Congenital disorders often referred to as the birth defects, occur by birth and due to genetic, developmental or environmental factors.”

If you continue with your pregnancy after screening has detected a possible issue, you might need extra care.

The care you and your baby need depends on the condition they may be born with. You may need to:

  • go for extra scans or appointments
  • see specialist doctors (obstetricians or paediatricians)
  • travel further to a specialist hospital for appointments

You can bring your partner, a family member or friend with you. It might help to write down any questions you have before you go:

  • Will we need extra support during the birth?
  • Will my baby need treatment straight after birth?
  • Where will this treatment take place?
  • Will my baby need to stay in hospital?
  • If they do, how long will that be for?
  • How will my baby develop?

However, support is available first from the neo-natal unit, for any condition your baby may have.

Giving birth
You may have a higher chance of going into labour early. Or your baby may need more support when they're born.

This may mean you'll need to:

  • give birth at a specialist hospital with intensive and special care baby units
  • give birth at hospital in a unit led by a doctor (obstetrician)
  • have a caesarean instead of a vaginal birth
  • have your baby earlier than your due date (by being induced or having a caesarean)

Speak to a doctor or midwife to find out your options.

After your baby is born
What happens after your baby is born depends on their condition and how severe it is. Your baby may need to:

  • stay in hospital for a while after they're born
  • have further treatment from a specialist doctor
  • have further tests and checks as they get older
  • A doctor or midwife will explain the next steps for your baby's care.

The team are there to make sure you and your baby have all the support you need.

At the Homerton Hospital, maternity counselling is available.

The maternity services understand that, for some people, pregnancy and childbirth can create emotional difficulties.
Therefore, they have a specialist counselling service to support women and couples who may be experiencing psychological problems during pregnancy or after the birth.
If you think this might be useful for you, please ask a member of staff to refer you, or you can refer yourself.

The Homerton counsellor is Yifat Hollander and her direct line, for appointments, is 020 8510 7198. She is in the hospital on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

There are leaflets about this service in antenatal, womens outpatients, EPAU and Priestley ward. Please ask a member of staff to give you one.

The Local Maternity and Neonatal System at NHS North East London works with all the maternity units in our region to improve maternity services for all pregnant people and their families.

We want to make sure that all pregnant people experience the best possible care during their pregnancy, and their babies have the best possible start in life.

There are five maternity services run by three trust across North East London.

For more information please see the website here.

The units care and support each baby / babies and their family in an individualised way. Their teams work in partnership with parents to ensure they support your baby, your family and deliver the highest possible standard of care.

They aim to create a safe, family-centred environment that promotes bonding between babies and their families.

Infants are cared for according to agreed protocols where constant review is encouraged. Their care is tailored to the individual needs of babies and parents, respecting their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

For babies returning to their local hospital follow-up is usually best co-ordinated locally and links will be made with the original referring unit to help co-ordinate this as needed.

Maternity services | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Neonatal unit (NICU) | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust  

We provide maternity care for nearly 6000 women and their babies each year during pregnancy, labour, birth and up until one month after birth.

During and after pregnancy, we offer both midwifery-led and consultant-led care and our teams are multidisciplinary, which means all the care you need is provided within the maternity wards.

Our midwives look after women at the hospital antenatal clinic, local GP surgeries and children’s centres.

We provide a home birth service and hospital-based care during labour and birth. In addition, Homerton is a leading regional neonatal centre and we will be able to provide the highest quality specialist care for your baby after birth if needed.

Please note, we are a teaching hospital and as such, students work alongside qualified practitioners in providing your care. You will be asked for your consent for the student to be present or participate in your care.

We appreciate that this is challenging time and that you may be anxious about attending Homerton or about the care you will receive when you are with us. Whether you are attending for antenatal appointments, scans, during labour, birth or the early postnatal period, you will be met with dedicated professionals who will have the skills, resources and equipment, to provide a safe and caring environment for you and your baby.

Maternity care is essential and has been developed over many years to reduce complications in pregnant women and babies. We follow Public Health England infection prevention and control guidance stringently, use appropriate PPE and have made significant changes to both the environment of the hospital and visiting arrangements promote social distancing. It is therefore vital that you continue to see us for all planned care.

It is particularly important that you do not delay seeking help if you notice any emergency signs, such as significant changes in the baby’s movement, pain, swelling, redness, ache or tenderness in one leg, fluid leakage or bleeding, significant itching, heart palpitations, persistent headache, blurred vision, flashing lights or pain under the ribs. If anything listed occur, please call Delivery suite immediately on 0208 510 7351/7352 .

You can contact a midwife for advice or support via the Homerton Maternity Helpline;

0208 510 5955 from 10am - 6pm each day

or via email on huh-tr.maternityhelpline@nhs.net

Welcome to our maternity service at Newham Hospital. We help to deliver around 5,500 babies a year, making us one of the busiest maternity units in the country. We are very proud of our service and we are committed to providing high quality maternity care.

We provide care at Newham Hospital and in the community, primarily to women who live in the London boroughs of Newham, Barking, Havering and Redbridge. However, we also welcome women from outside these boroughs to come and give birth at our hospital.

All of the staff you meet during your care with us should introduce themselves and carry an identification badge. Please do not be afraid to ask for a person’s name or role if you do not know who they are.

Having your baby at Newham Hospital - Barts Health NHS Trust

Information about prenatal, postnatal and antenatal care | BHR Hospitals

We provide maternity care to around 8,000 women each year, making it one of the largest maternity services in the country. We recognise that pregnancy and birth are really important times for women and their families and we will support your individual birth choices with up-to-date facilities, information, and highly trained staff treating you with compassion and respect.

Philosophy of care

Our philosophy of care is based on the belief that every woman/birthing person and family that we care for is unique.

We believe that:

  • Pregnancy and birth are significant life events for women/birthing people and their families.
  • Women/birthing people have a right to good quality evidence-based information to help them make informed decisions about their care and the care of their baby.
  • Everyone has a right to be treated with kindness, compassion, understanding and dignity and we will respect the privacy, religious and cultural beliefs of everyone we care for.

We are London’s leading maternity hospital and care for over 5,000 women and babies a year. In 2019 our services we were rated as 'Good' by our health regulators.

We offer a wide range of services throughout your pregnancy starting from before you get pregnant (pre-conception), during your pregnancy (antenatal), right through to after you have given birth (post-natal). If you chose to have your baby with us our expert team of midwives and doctors will work with you to plan a safe and comfortable birth.

Depending on what happens during your pregnancy you have the option of having your baby at home, in our Lotus Birth Centre, our Barkintine Birth Centre or the delivery suite at The Royal London Hospital.

You will be safe, treated with respect and dignity and supported in every way possible if you chose to have your baby with us.

Having your baby at The Royal London Hospital - Barts Health NHS Trust

Having your baby at Whipps Cross Hospital - Barts Health NHS Trust

We recently underwent a £9 million refurbishment of some of our maternity and neonatal services, including a new research centre dedicated to Women’s Health.

If you choose to have your baby with us, we have an expert team of midwives and doctors who will work with you to plan a safe and comfortable pregnancy and delivery.

Our services are safe, you will be treated with respect, inclusivity and dignity. You and your family will be supported in every way possible if you choose to have your baby with us.

Following a 2019 and 2022 inspection by our healthcare regulator, our services were rated 'Good'.

Maternity services : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (uclh.nhs.uk)

We understand that having a baby is one of the most important experiences of your life.

You will have particular expectations of your birth that are important to you: where you want your baby to be born, who will be with you and the type of care you get.

For some, engaging with maternity services can be a little daunting and you will want access to appropriate information and safe guidance to help you make informed choices and decisions about your pregnancy.

The maternity team at UCLH will listen to your hopes and concerns and can suggest helpful and practical ideas to help you.

The Homerton Health Visiting team work with parents who have new babies, offering support and informed advice from the ante-natal period until the child starts school at 5 years. They are usually based in children’s centres, GP surgeries, community or health centres. Health visitors visit parents through a minimum of 6 universal contacts from late pregnancy through to a pre-school assessment at 3 and a half years. These visits are usually in the home, but the health visitor may invite you to your local clinic.

Families from all walks of life may need support for specific issues that affect their children’s health and development, so the actual service provided to each particular family will vary according to a personalised assessment of their own needs and evidence of what will work for them.

For more information, visit: Homerton Health Visiting – Information for parent and carers living in Hackney and The City of London for health visiting services including; feeding your baby and toddler, becoming a parent, growth and development of your child. (hackneyandcityhealthvisiting.nhs.uk)

Parents: You can contact the Health Visiting Team on: 0207 683 4151

Professionals: You can contact us on :huh-tr.hvrapidresponse@nhs.net

All of Homerton's Health Visiting Team are trained to the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Standards and are here to provide you with help and support.

Their new Infant Feeding Team are on hand to offer help and support to all mothers and their babies. They provide the opportunity for parents with babies to receive support with breastfeeding, formula feeding or a mixture of both. There will be an Infant Feeding Specialist at each of our sessions to offer you tailored help and support. You may wish to attend for reassurance regarding positioning and attachment or responsive bottle feeding. They are also able to support with more complex feeding needs.

You can request additional help from the infant feeding team via the Enhanced Health Visiting Service HUB: 0207 683 4151

For more information, please visit: Infant feeding | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Or explore the Infant Feeding padlet: Homerton Infant Feeding (padlet.com)

For City of London based breastfeeding support groups visit: Maternal health - City of London Family Information Service

https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/in-hospital/about-neonatal-care/how-does-neonatal-care-work

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/

Who we are:
We are the charity that supports people as they become parents. We're here for you through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

What we do:
We connect, inform and support parents through our antenatal and postnatal courses, bringing people together to share information and experiences of pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby. Our peer support programmes are there for parents who may be under-served by society or who are experiencing challenges with mental health, social isolation, or other unmet needs.

We host thousands of community-based events across the UK. If you’re a new or expectant parent, chances are you’ve joined one of our Bumps & Babies Groups or visited a Baby Café to access infant feeding support. Many of these activities are run by our volunteers, who give more than 70,000 hours of outstanding community service each year.

We support parents to make informed decisions that feel right for them. We provide access to evidence-based information through our website, Parent Hub and free Infant Feeding Support Line 365-days a year.

More information:
For more information, please visit the NCT website: About us | The National Childbirth Trust | NCT