Services and resources

There are a number of maternity services across mid and south Essex designed to help women through their pregnancy, including apps, counselling support and advice of eating better and staying well during your pregnancy.

If you think you may be pregnant visit the NHS website for information on signs and symptoms of pregnancy.  If you are pregnant then make an appointment at your GP or maternity unit as soon as possible (see below), where a midwife or GP will discuss your care choices.

Maternity services in Essex

Our hospitals deliver thousands of babies every year in modern, well-equipped maternity units. Our maternity staff across our mid and south Essex hospitals are committed to providing high quality maternity care for women and their families during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of their baby.

If you have a positive pregnancy test and wish to have your baby under the care of Mid and South Essex Maternity Services, you can contact us directly by completing the antenatal self-referral form without the need to see your GP first.

For more information and to access the self-referral form visit the maternity service page.

Maternity Voices Partnership

Maternity Voices Partnerships are a way for mothers, fathers and partners to share their experience, knowledge and skills to build improvements to maternity services.

If you have any questions about the Maternity Voices Partnership, or would like to join, please contact the Maternity Voices Partnership Chair, Lynsey K McCarthy-Calvert:

Email: lynsey@motheringmatters.co.uk
Mobile: 07854822979

Perinatal Mental Health Service

The Perinatal Mental Health Service provides community-based treatment and support for mums, mums-to-be and their families. The service is available to women during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and up to baby’s first birthday) who are experiencing, or are likely to experience mental health difficulties. Our team aims to help Mums and their families to have safe, healthy pregnancies, and supportive postnatal experiences by promoting well-being and preventing relapse.

For more information about this service visit Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Maternity Direct App

A new app, Maternity Direct, will mean mums-to-be across Mid and South Essex will have greater peace of mind in between their scheduled midwife appointments.

Basildon Hospital has launched Maternity Direct+, a free, secure, web-based app that connects mums-to-be with an NHS midwife. This is the first app to interactively connect registered NHS midwives with pregnant women for secure instant messaging chats.

Information on care for a child and yourself

For information about looking after you and your family, visit the Thurrock Council website

Eating well in pregnancy

Visit our pages eating well and getting active for information on diet and exercise

Mental health during pregnancy

Visit our page on looking after your mental health during pregnancy