This information leaflet has been produced by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Unit to provide information to pregnant women and people who may benefit from a birth reflections conversation.
Birth Reflection Service
This confidential midwifery-led service is available to any woman who has given birth at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Maternity Unit in Gateshead.
The service provides women and pregnant people, partners and relatives the opportunity to talk about their birth experience. You can share feelings and reflect on your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period, allowing you to discuss the whole experience in a friendly and professional atmosphere, with the aim of clarifying events. Appointments are offered from when baby is 3 months old, to allow time to settle into parenthood, up to 2 years. This time frame is important so that you feel ready to discuss your birth experience and the timing will be different for everyone. However, this is not fixed and can be arranged on an individual basis.
Although women are encouraged to talk through their experience whilst they are still in hospital, sometimes women find they need to have time at home adjusting to life as a family before being able to reflect upon their own experiences.
A Birth Reflection experience can help considerably in obtaining a greater understanding of events surrounding labour and birth, and why possible intervention was necessary. It can also be reassuring to discuss any potential implications for future birth.
Where do Birth Reflections take place?
A Birth Reflection can take place face-to-face in a room situated within the maternity unit or alternatively a room can be booked in the main hospital if you prefer. We can also offer this service by telephone or virtually. Appointments are made at a time that is both convenient to yourself and the midwife completing this for you.
Who completes the Birth Reflections?
Our team of professional midwifery advocates led by one of the labour ward coordinators, all are experienced clinical midwives who have an interest in providing this service to the women of Gateshead.
How do I access the service?
- You can make a self referral via email to [email protected]. We will aim to answer your email within two weeks.
- You can be referred by your community or hospital midwife, GP, health visitor or hospital doctor.
- You can also contact maternity reception on 0191 445 2763 who will pass your details onto the lead midwife.
There is also a list of organisations on the back of this leaflet if you wish to access them.
Further Information
AiMS Helpline
[email protected]
Tel: 0300 650 663
Supports all maternity services.
Information for parents and carers parents.
actionforchildren.org.uk
Talking Therapies can help with people experiencing a range of mental health problems. You can find out more about the service and how they can help on their website, linked below.
Gateshead – (0191) 283 2541
Sunderland – (0191) 566 5454
Website: gatesheadtalkingtherapies.nhs.uk
Talking Changes
Durham – (0191) 333 3300
Group mum’s talk – an eight week course for new mum’s until babies turn 1 year old.
