If your maternity care is provided by Princess Royal University Hospital, some of your antenatal appointments may be held here at Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Booking your antenatal care
It is very important to arrange your antenatal booking appointment with one of our midwives early in pregnancy – ideally, by 10 weeks. This can help you and your baby have a healthy start to your pregnancy. You can refer yourself or ask your GP to refer you – see the ‘Referral’ section below. We aim to arrange your first antenatal appointment within two weeks of hearing from you or your GP.
Antenatal care (before birth)
Your antenatal care will be provided by a hospital or community-based midwife, or by your GP or obstetrician. During your pregnancy they will see you regularly to ensure that both you and your baby are well. You can benefit from local antenatal care as well as access to internationally-renowned experts in fetal medicine.
We provide antenatal care at Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington Hospital, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, and Beckenham Beacon. Our community midwives also give antenatal care at local GP surgeries and children’s centres.
Your care includes routine health checks such as blood tests and other screenings. Your screening options are explained in a screening information leaflet, which is produced by Public Health England and available in several languages.
Specialist care
We also offer parent education sessions plus a range of specialist support if you are:
Enhanced 12-week ultrasound scan
You can have an enhanced 12-week ultrasound at the Harris Birthright Centre at King’s College Hospital – an international centre of excellence for fetal medicine. This includes:
To book an enhanced ultrasound, select King’s College Hospital on your self-referral form (see ‘Referral and contact details’ below) or let your GP know you would like to have your 12-week ultrasound at King’s College Hospital. Alternatively, select a regular 12-week ultrasound, which will take place at Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Birth (labour)
You can choose where to give birth. Your options are:
The Labour ward and Oasis Birth Centre are in Princess Royal University Hospital’s Maternity Department, on level 3 of the South wing.
If you think you are in labour
If you pregnancy is overdue
If your pregnancy is overdue you may need to be induced. Induction of labour – post dates (overdue) pregnancies (pdf) leaflet gives you information about the process and explains your choices.
After birth (postnatal)
The most comfortable place for you to be after your baby is born is in your own home, where you can be together as a family. So, if you have given birth at the Princess Royal and everything has gone well, we encourage you to go home within a few hours of delivery. A midwife will visit you the next day and you will be given emergency contact numbers to call if you have any worries.
You can have your postnatal care at one of our hospitals, in the community or at home. It includes regular check-ups for you and your baby and support with breast feeding.
Bexley Maternity Voices MSLC and Bromley Maternity Voices MSLC
Bexley Maternity Voices (MSLC) and Bromley Maternity Voices Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) are groups for people who have had a baby in the past three years and would like to help make a difference to maternity services in the borough. It includes local parents as well as midwives, and hospital, community and council staff. The group oversees services for pregnant women and new parents and recommends improvements where needed.
For more information or to share your views for Bromley Maternity Voices MSLC, email bromleymslc@outlook.com or visit Bromley Maternity Voices’ Facebook or Twitter pages or visit their website.
For more information or to share your views for Bexley Maternity Voices MSLC, visit Bexley Maternity Voices’ Facebook or visit their website.
Referral
Labour and delivery wards
Queen Mary’s Hospital
1st floor main entrance
Women’s services
Frognall avenue
Sidcup
DA14 6LP
First appointment queries: 01689 863800
Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, community midwives: 020 3910 7290 / 020 8308 3091
Email it to kch-tr.br-Oaks@nhs.net