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Maternity & Parenting
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
The Doctors and Midwives at Parkbury House Surgery are happy to support you throughout this special event.
Home pregnancy tests are very sensitive and accurate and there is no need to have one repeated by the surgery. Getting started with antenatal care is very important.
Please see below how to refer yourself to the hospital of your choice. For routine antenatal checks after your initial booking visit, we have four midwife run clinics per week on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings for Watford and Thursday afternoons for Lister.
Information on the usual schedules for antenatal care
Please note this can vary with individual pregnancies.
Special note
- If you are taking thyroxine for an underactive thyroid your dose will need to be increased when you are pregnant. Please book a routine telephone call with a doctor for advice about this
- If you are taking any other regular medication such as antidepressants please also book a routine telephone call
- If you are diabetic, on medication for epilepsy or on medication for other chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis hopefully you will have planned your pregnancy and had your medication assessed pre conception. If by any chance not then please also book a telephone call
Local Support
How to self-refer for your antenatal care
When you discover that you are pregnant and once you are 5 to 6 weeks pregnant (calculated from the first day of your last period) you need to refer yourself for antenatal care. Our local service is West Herts where you would deliver at Watford General Hospital but where hospital antenatal visits can be done at St Albans City Hospital. The main alternative is East Herts where you would deliver at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage and where some hospital antenatal visits can be done at the QE2 Hospital in Welwyn Garden City. A few patients choose to go to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
Please note that bloods and scans are organised by your host hospital i.e. if you choose to book at the Lister, bloods and scans cannot be done at St Albans.
It is a good idea to have a look at the websites of these hospitals to help you decide where you would like to have your baby.
The websites below have links to their self-referral forms and telephone numbers.
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
West Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Bedforshire NHS Trust
Important
When you have been for your booking visit you will be designated consultant led care (higher risk pregnancies), shared care (normal risk pregnancies) or midwife led care (low risk pregnancies). For those ladies having shared or midwife led care you will need to book an appointment to see the midwife at 16 weeks here at the surgery. This applies whichever hospital you have chosen to book at.
National Support
There are many sources of information about pregnancy. It is a good idea to buy a pregnancy book and read about what to expect.
Planning To Become Pregnant
Offers advice for women who are planning to become pregnant.
Screening Tests For You And Your Baby
Provides information about the screening tests offered during and after pregnancy.
The Flu Jab In Pregnancy
It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're at. It's free for pregnant women.
Common Health Problems In Pregnancy
Your body has a great deal to do during pregnancy. Sometimes the changes taking place can cause irritation or discomfort, and sometimes you may be concerned.
The National Childbirth Trust
Their mission is to support parents through the first 1,000 days, to have the best possible experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
ICON
Baby crying is normal, you can cope. Please follow the ICON guidance for coping with crying.
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.
TAMBA (Twins and Multiple Births Association)
Tamba is a UK based charity helping people around the world. They were set up by parents of multiples and interested professionals in 1978.
Baby Centre
BabyCentre® reaches more than 45 million mums globally each month in nine different languages, including eight in 10 new and expecting mums online in the UK.