Community midwives provide care outside of the hospital. Community midwives are divided into small teams of 3 to 5 midwives. You will be cared for by one of these teams of midwives depending on where you live. The midwives provide maternity care for women within the community. Care in the hospital will be provided by the hospital midwives.

We provide care for women in the following geographical areas:

• HU1 – HU17
• Barton
• Goole
• Driffield
• Pocklington
• Market Weighton

This may be in:

• health centres
• children’s centres
• GP surgeries
• your own home

Community midwives work in partnership with other health professionals

• your GP
• health visitors
• social workers
• children’s centre practitioners
• doulas
• mental health services
• physiotherapists
• breast feeding peer support workers
• infant feeding specialist midwives

Booking your appointment

Your first appointment will be with a community midwife at 8-10 weeks of your pregnancy; this will be an opportunity to plan your maternity care depending on your personal preferences and health requirements. A scan will be booked for you following this appointment.

At your appointment

The midwife will check your blood pressure, urine, palpate your abdomen and listen to baby’s heart rate (from 24 weeks). Take blood specimens if required and check results of any tests performed. The midwife will also discuss your general and emotional health as well as any concerns you may have about your pregnancy.

Your Community Midwife will be able to sign forms for:-

• Prescription exemptions (FW8) usually at your 16 week appointment
• Healthy start form for the healthy start vouchers at your 16 week appointment
• Maternity certificate (MATB1) for maternity leave and maternity pay/benefit after 21 weeks of pregnancy,
• Sure start maternity grant form after 29 weeks of pregnancy.

Antenatal Care

Your community midwife will provide care as per NICE guidelines. Some women may need to have appointments at the hospital with a specialist midwife or consultant.

Antenatal appointments

If you are unable to attend an appointment please ring the Antenatal clinic reception to re arrange;

Please call us on 01482 382713

Home births

Please discuss with your community midwife, a home visit will then be arranged to make a birth plan for your home birth.

Postnatal care

Your first postnatal visit will be at home the day after you leave hospital, further appointments will then be arranged these are usually at the health centre or children’s centre.

If you have just found out you are pregnant please contact the direct access team to arrange your first appointment:

• Complete the Maternity Self-Referral Form
• Email us at hyp-tr.direct.access@nhs.net
• Text us on 07825 280822
• Call us on 01482 605304 (weekdays only from 9.00am – 4.30pm)

To contact the community midwives for non-urgent calls:

• Call us on 01482 382658