Prospective parents in Hull will now be able to book classes to help them prepare for the birth of their babies through a new website created by Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Midwives worked with Bonnie Gray, web developer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, to design a bespoke website for new parents.

The website www.hey.nhs.uk/heybaby enables women registered with a Hull GP to book parenting classes after they have had their 20-week scan.

Midwife Melanie Lee, who leads the Hey Baby team, said: “We’ve created an easy-to-navigate website which gives women the chance to book classes online in an area of their choice and at a time to suit them.

“In the past, women were just given a date and told to attend their nearest venue but our new website allows us to be more flexible in our approach to accommodate more people’s needs and wishes.”

Web Developer Bonnie Gray

Janet Cairns, Head of Midwifery, said parenting classes provide the opportunity for couples  to discuss their birth plans with midwives and birth educators, find out more about labour and learn essential skills to help them look after their new born babies in the early days after birth.

She said: “Our new website also gives information about our hugely popular Hey Baby Carousel events, which are drop-in sessions held for women and partners on the last Wednesday of every month.

“Although the website has just been developed, we are hoping to add information to it over the coming months, including details of our staff, our service and need-to-know information to help families through their pregnancy journeys.”

The next Carousel will take place on Wednesday, June 27, between 6pm and 8pm with a range of stalls and displays to guide people through each stage of their pregnancy. People can chat to our team of midwives, birth educators and childcare experts at the event.

Women who bring their hand-held notes can also have the whooping cough vaccine, offering vital protection to their newborn babies, at the event from the team of midwives trained in administering the injection.

There’s no need to book an appointment for Carousel and the Orchard Café will be open to serve snacks and refreshments.