Antenatal care is the term used to describe the care you receive from our team of experienced and dedicated healthcare professionals during your pregnancy.
Antenatal care throughout your pregnancy will be provided by our Community Midwife Team – either in hospital, your GP surgery or at some children's centres in the community.
You'll be offered some screening tests during pregnancy to try to find any health conditions that could affect you or your baby. The tests can help you make choices about further tests and care or treatment during your pregnancy or after your baby is born.
Screening tests offered during pregnancy include:
- Infectious diseases
- Sickle Cell and Thalassemia
- Down’s syndrome
- Physical abnormalities (mid pregnancy scan)
If you choose not to have the screening test for these conditions, it is important to understand that if you have a scan at any point during your pregnancy it could pick up physical abnormalities. The healthcare professional scanning you will always tell you if any abnormalities are found.
Get more information about screening for you and your baby here.
Antenatal classes
Antenatal classes are designed to help you and your chosen birth partner prepare for childbirth and early parenthood.
The classes include information on:
- Looking after yourself during pregnancy
- Preparing to meet your baby - what to expect and how to cope
- Practical advice on caring for and feeding your new baby
- Breast feeding workshop
- Advice on early parenting - coping strategies and bonding with your baby
Your midwife will discuss the options with you and advise you on how to book onto the classes you want to participate in. Some of the sessions available include:
Parents to be
We are offering face to face 'Bump, Birth and Beyond' sessions which cover:
Session 1
- Safer Sleeping
- ICON -Coping with Crying
Session 2
- Home Safety
- Baby Bathing / Nappy Changing
- Early Play and Brain Development
Westgate Neighbourhood Centre, Morecambe, 5.30 - 7.30pm, Wednesdays (attend both dates)
- 14th & 21st February 2024
- 13th & 20th March 2024
- 10th & 17th April 2024
- 8th & 15th May 2024
- 12th & 19th June 2024
Lune Park Neighbourhood Centre, Lancaster, 5.30 - 7.30pm, Thursdays (attend all dates)
- 1st, 8th & 15th February 2024
- 7th, 14th & 21st March 2024
- 4th, 11th & 18th April 2024
- 2nd, 9th & 16th May 2024
- 6th, 13th & 20th June 2024
If you have any further questions or would like to book a place please contact Briony.Norris@lancashire.gov.uk or call 01524 581280.
Aqua-Natal sessions
(Aqua natal currently cancelled due to Coronavirus)
Aqua-Natal exercise is safe, gentle and ideal exercise for pregnant women.
- Thursdays, 7pm – 7.55pm, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre
01524 847540 / www.lancaster.gov.uk/salt-ayre-leisure-centre
Infant feeding workshop (virtual class)
How you feed and respond to your developing baby can impact on his or her short- and long-term health and wellbeing. Whilst you are pregnant is a great time to learn more about feeding your baby and how to get off to a good start.
UHMBT are offering an Infant Feeding Workshop to all parents-to-be receiving maternity care from us.
The workshop includes information on;
- Responding to our babies
- Feeding cues and "full up" cues
- What's in breastmilk and how it is different from formula
- How is breastmilk made?
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Learning how to breastfeed
- How you know your baby is feeding well
- How and why to hand express
- Breastfeeding in special situations
- How partners and family members can help
- Formula and bottle feeding
- Where to access support
The workshop will be virtual and you are welcome to include a partner or family member, and this is encouraged so they can learn how to support you when baby arrives.
To get dates and to book, please call 01539 795375.
Antenatal classes
- 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of every month 6-8pm in the Seminar Room, South Lakes Birth Centre
- One Saturday a month at Greengate Sure Start Children’s Centre, Barrow, LA14 1BG
Please phone 01229 870870 to book FGH antenatal clinic
Aqua-Natal sessions - Dalton Leisure Centre (Dalton in Furness)
Aqua-Natal exercise is safe, gentle and ideal for pregnant women.
- Tuesdays, 6pm
01229 463125 / www.daltonleisurecentre.co.uk
Infant feeding workshop (virtual class)
How you feed and respond to your developing baby can impact on his or her short- and long-term health and wellbeing. Whilst you are pregnant is a great time to learn more about feeding your baby and how to get off to a good start.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are offering an Infant Feeding Workshop to all parents-to-be receiving maternity care from us.
The workshop includes information on;
- Responding to our babies
- Feeding cues and "full up" cues
- What's in breastmilk and how it is different from formula
- How is breastmilk made?
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Learning how to breastfeed
- How you know your baby is feeding well
- How and why to hand express
- Breastfeeding in special situations
- How partners and family members can help
- Formula and bottle feeding
- Where to access support
The workshop will be virtual and you are welcome to include a partner or family member, and this is encouraged so they can learn how to support you when baby arrives.To book, please call 01539 795375.
Antenatal Classes
- Session 1 - birth and labour
- Session 2 - Infant Feeding and Care of the Newborn
Thursdays – afternoon and evening sessions available.
Please phone to book on 01539 795375 (between 09:00-16:30 Mon to Fri)
Aqua-Natal sessions (Kendal)
Mondays: 9am - 10am, Kendal Leisure Centre
Aqua-Natal exercise is safe, gentle and ideal exercise for pregnant women.
Infant feeding workshop (virtual class)
How you feed and respond to your developing baby can impact on his or her short- and long-term health and wellbeing. Whilst you are pregnant is a great time to learn more about feeding your baby and how to get off to a good start.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are offering an Infant Feeding Workshop to all parents-to-be receiving maternity care from us.
The workshop includes information on;
- Responding to our babies
- Feeding cues and "full up" cues
- What's in breastmilk and how it is different from formula
- How is breastmilk made?
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Learning how to breastfeed
- How you know your baby is feeding well
- How and why to hand express
- Breastfeeding in special situations
- How partners and family members can help
- Formula and bottle feeding
- Where to access support
The workshop will be virtual and you are welcome to include a partner or family member, and this is encouraged so they can learn how to support you when baby arrives. To book, please call 01539 795375.