- First visit – with your GP or midwife
- Helpful advice and information
- Appointments with a midwife
- Preparing for birth
- Other baby and pregnancy-related services in Bradford
- Giving birth
- Other useful information
- Abortion or termination
First, visit your GP or the midwife service
It is important to visit your GP or the midwife service as soon as you are pregnant.
Then you can get the right care during your pregnancy, and for the birth.
You can get advice about your health.
If you see your GP first, you can be referred to a midwife or team of midwives, depending on your needs.
So, you can either:
- visit your GP first
- or self refer online: Bradford Maternity Services
- or call the self referral phone line Monday-Friday 1pm – 3 pm Phone: 01274 364 502
If you need a translator, please contact your GP practice.
In England, women have the choice: either to carry a pregnancy through to birth; or to end a pregnancy so it doesn’t result in the birth of a baby. (This is having an abortion, or termination.) If you are pregnant and you need to talk to someone about ending a pregnancy, please go to the bottom of this page for more information.
Helpful advice and information
See the ‘Giving Birth’ section below, plus video of the BRI Maternity Unit
Appointments with a Midwife
Midwives are NHS nurses who work in a maternity care team. They are qualified to care for you and your baby during your pregnancy and when you are giving birth.
The maternity care team in Bradford is run by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Find out more at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk/womens-and-newborn-unit/(opens in a new tab)
You will be invited to several appointments with a midwife.
These start at 8 weeks into your pregnancy. They are called antenatal appointments.
It is really important you attend the appointments as soon as you can.
You will get lots of helpful information about:
- your baby’s health and development
- how to look after yourself during pregnancy
- caring for your baby
- specialist care, if you have certain medical conditions such as diabetes
You will also:
- learn about your care plan (how the maternity team will care for you)
- have ultrasound scans to find out when your baby is due and to check its development
Find out more about antenatal appointments.
Preparing for birth
You will also be invited to antenatal classes which you can attend on your own or with your partner. The classes run at the hospitals and in the local community, to help you prepare for birth and caring your baby. It is really important to go to the classes.
If you are a refugee or asylum seeking woman, pregnant or with children under 2 years old, there is a great place to go called Bumps and Babies, Fridays 1:00pm – 2:30 pm
Baby Buddy app
An app has been developed which offers lots of support during pregnancy and after the baby is born until it is 6 months old. The app has lots of videos and information to support you to care for yourself and your baby. Baby Buddy is available as a website as well an app.
Other Baby and pregnancy related services in Bradford are:
Giving birth
You can choose where to give birth (have your baby).
You can give birth at home if you like, or in hospital:
Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI)
If you choose to have your baby at home, the midwife will support you to do this.
Other useful information
Here is some further helpful information about pregnancy and maternity in different languages:
Screening tests for you and your baby
Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well
Pain relief during the birth
Breastfeeding and formula feeding
Abortion or Termination
In England, women have the choice to either carry a pregnancy through to birth, or to end a pregnancy so it doesn’t result in the birth of a baby.
If a woman chooses not to continue with a pregnancy, she would need to have a medical procedure, called a termination or abortion.
Deciding to have an abortion can be one of the most difficult decisions a person can make.
It is important to know there are safe and legal choices in the UK. You should always speak to a medical professional. They can support you through the process and can be trusted to keep the information confidential.
Abortions can only be carried out in an NHS hospital or a licensed clinic. They are usually available free of charge on the NHS. The procedure is done by taking medications or having minor surgery. You should usually be able to choose how you want it to be carried out. This will be discussed with you.
In England, most abortions have to be carried out in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
To request an abortion, you must tell a medical professional that you choose to end your pregnancy. There are 3 ways you can do this.
- Tell your GP
- Visit a sexual health clinic and tell a medical professional
- Contact an abortion provider directly. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) can help you find a provider
If you request an abortion, the medical professional will keep this information completely confidential.
Find out more on the NHS website.
