Pregnancy (antenatal)
Maternity information
On this page, you can find information, support and advice from Guy's and St Thomas', and other organisations, about your pregnancy.
We'd also encourage you to look at information for after you give birth. This will help you prepare and know what to expect.
If there's anything that you can't find on this page, please ask your midwife.
- General pregnancy information
- Appointments and your care
- Conditions during pregnancy
- Vaccinations in pregnancy
- Antenatal feeding support
- Giving birth
General pregnancy information
Your Baby's Movements: When Does a Baby Start Kicking? | Tommy's (tommys.org)
Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed.
Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership
Local parents and health professionals working together to improve our services and deliver equitable care, so that every pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience is safe, supportive, and empowering.
Can I take anticoagulant medicine whilst pregnant or breastfeeding? - YouTube
This video explains whether it is safe to take anticoagulant medicine whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pelvic health during and after pregnancy
Our perinatal pelvic health service supports with problems during pregnancy, including urinary tract infections, constipation and back or pelvic pain.
Stop smoking support in pregnancy
You can refer yourself to this service if you're having pregnancy care at St Thomas' Hospital and you smoke, or recently quit.
What to expect during pregnancy
Information about how we'll support you at appointments and in the community.
Your first midwife appointment
Your first appointment can also be called your antenatal booking appointment. You will have this within the first 10 weeks of your pregnancy.
Antenatal scans and appointments
How your appointments work, what you need to do to prepare, how to change them and what happens at scans.
Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome screening
During pregnancy, you can have a blood test at your dating scan around 10 to 14 weeks of pregnancy that screens for conditions.
Information about our regular and specialist workshops, when they are and how to book.
Maternity assessment unit (MAU)
Urgent and emergency care if you're at least 18 weeks pregnant and have a problem.
If you have or are at risk of antenatal hypertension: how it can affect your pregnancy (including the risk of pre-eclampsia), treatment, checking blood pressure, and planning your birth.
Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
Information about being tested for high blood sugar during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). The screening test is called an oral glucose tolerance test.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and your baby
Information for parents and carers whose baby is at increased risk of having low blood sugar including how we care for them and signs of hypoglycaemia.
Low-dose aspirin in pregnancy to prevent pre-eclampsia
How a daily low dose of aspirin can help if you are at greater risk of pre-eclampsia, a high-blood pressure condition that usually happens towards the end of pregnancy.
Specialist clinics in our hospital where you can be seen by a specialist doctor or midwife if this is needed.
Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU)
Urgent and emergency care if you're at least 18 weeks pregnant and have a problem.
Hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy)
Symptoms, when to get help, treatment, and lifestyle changes.
Sickle cell disease and pregnancy
Information for people with sickle cell disease who are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant.
Whooping cough: vaccination in pregnancy programme resources - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A guide to the whooping cough vaccine, which is recommended during pregnancy.
Pregnancy: how to help protect you and your baby - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
GOV.UK guide about the vaccinations that help protect you and your baby during and after pregnancy. Includes information about the flu vaccine, the whooping cough vaccine, and the rubella (German measles) vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination: a guide on pregnancy and breastfeeding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Information about having the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
A guide to RSV vaccination for pregnant women - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Information about the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which is recommended from 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Thinking of Breastfeeding? - The Breastfeeding Network
Preparing for breastfeeding and answering your questions.
How to Express Your First Milk - Global Health Media Project
A video showing how to express colostrum, your first milk.
Why we induce labour and ways of inducing labour, including by softening your cervix using a pessary, gel or balloon catheter, or by breaking your waters or using a hormone IV drip.
Planned (elective) caesarean birth
A guide to having a planned (elective) caesarean birth or C-section. This is surgery to deliver a baby through a cut made in your tummy and womb.
Relationship building with your baby
It's important to understand what you can do to help build a strong, loving relationship with your baby when they arrive. We advise reading our relationship building information while you're pregnant so you don't have to worry about learning it all in the early days after your baby is born.
Last reviewed: March 2024
Next review: March 2027
