If you want to have a baby

Book in with a midwife

Book early and directly with your midwife and be sure to keep your antenatal appointments. Seeing your midwife in early pregnancy helps to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby.

Bradford midwives

To book with a midwife, you can ask your GP to arrange this or call 01274 364502 (available 3 days per week)

For all other midwifery enquiries please call Bradford Royal Infirmary switchboard 01274 542200 and ask for the maternity department you require for example, the labour ward, antenatal clinic, or early pregnancy unit.

Airedale midwives

Telephone 01535 292120

Relationships matter - since pregnancy

The quality of relationships in a family during pregnancy, infancy and childhood influence the future mental health of a child.

Children’s brains develop fastest and are at their most ‘plastic’ or adaptable during pregnancy and early years of life. During this time, millions of neural connections are made and then pruned. This builds the architecture of the brain. All other forms of development will rest upon the early brain’s development.

Nurturing relationships begin before birth. The development of the foetal brain is influenced by the physical environment of the mothers’ womb, and the social environment beyond it.

Babies can experience adversity in the womb. For example, where domestic abuse is occurring, research shows that babies’ stress regulation systems adapt accordingly, leaving them more responsive to threat but consequently more irritable and difficult to settle once they are born. Building Babies' Brains - Parent-Infant Foundation.

Find information and advice about relationships on the Bradford FYI website.

Can I get support to stop smoking?

Smoking can increase your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Passive smoking is also harmful, so it is important to encourage other family members to stop smoking and ensure your home is smoke free.

Stopping smoking is more successful with support. There are lots of options to get help to quit smoking, from GP surgeries, pharmacies and also our Living Well Advisors. They all offer a free, personal service with 12 weeks support including prescribed stop smoking medications.

Find out how you can be supported to stop smoking at the Living Well website.

Support is also available from the NHS Better Health website.

Bradford Doulas

Bradford Doulas offer practical and emotional support to pregnant mums six weeks before the birth, during labour and six weeks after the birth, through trained volunteers.

Doula is the Greek word for wise-woman. Acting as a 'professional friend' the volunteer doulas support women to make the best choices for themselves and their babies, helping them to achieve a positive birth experience and building their knowledge to enable them to make informed decisions about childbirth, nutrition and breastfeeding. Support from volunteer doulas can also connect families into network of other support services

Bradford Doulas Project support all women across Bradford City Wards and Better Start Bradford.

Call to refer 01274 223232 or email bradford.doulas@carlislebusinesscentre.co.uk.

What is the link between cousin marriage and genetic disorders?

Families tell us they want better information around the issues of cousin marriage, and other close blood relationships, and genetic risk when having a baby. These leaflets aims to answer some common questions based on the facts in Bradford:

• Cousin marriage and genetic disorders (2017) (1 Mb)
• Every Baby Matters - Inherited Conditions (2013) (612 Kb)

Planning in advance

The Preconception Starting Well Service offers advice to women who are registered with Bevan healthcare, in particular new arrivals, refugees and asylum seekers, those in unstable accommodation, those experiencing substance misuse and sex workers.

• Bevan: advice and support centre for the homeless and asylum seekers: 01274 322400

Other useful contact numbers

Finances, housing and employment

• Job Centre Plus Benefits Enquiry line: 0345 604 3719
• Citizens Advice Bureau: 0844 111 444. To find your local advice centre go to www.divabradford.org.uk
• Working tax credit: for families with low income; 0845 300 3900
• Home safety equipment: 01274 437979
• Housing advice: The Housing Options Service - housing advice: 01274 435999
• Housing standards: help and advice on home improvements for tenants living in private rented accommodation: 01274 433531

Emotional and relationships support

• Lone parent support: 0808 802 0925
• PALS: NHS patient advice and liaison service: 01274 364021 for Bradford Royal Infirmary or 01274 365853 for Airedale General Hospital
• Relate: relationship and individual counselling:
  01274 726096
• National domestic violence helpline: 0800 200 0247
• NSPCC: 01274 769800
• Police: for non-emergencies telephone 101
• Samaritans: 24-hour helpline for the depressed, distressed and suicidal: 08457 909090
• Bradford Council's children's services: 0800 953 0966 (members of the public), 01274 433999 (practitioners)