What do I do when I'm pregnant?
Wanted Pregnancy
We hope you are pleased to be pregnant.
- Do buy some folic acid tablets from the pharmacy and start them straightaway unless you have already been taking them.
- Stop alcohol and smoking
- For those on regular medications or with long term conditions it is important to contact you GP or midwife as soon as you know you are pregnant.
- Visit the following link for advice on what to do and what not to do in pregnancy. There is a lot of information to absorb about diet, vitamins and living well in pregnancy. The earliest few weeks of the pregnancy are the most critical for the development of your baby so it is best to follow this advice whilst trying to get pregnant too.
You can now self-refer to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) maternity services for antenatal maternity care. To inform them you are pregnant, please use the link below.
Once you've completed the form, a member of the team will be in touch to book your first appointment with the community midwife. It is recommended that you complete this form as soon as you find out you are pregnant; it should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
You can also use this to refer a pregnancy on behalf of a woman.
Badger Notes
Both North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) jointly started using Badger Notes from 26 September 2023. In particular, Badger Notes has replaced the yellow notes folder with an app that provides access to a digital version of your records.
Badger notes allows you to:
- See a week by week timeline of your pregnancy
- Access reading recommended by your midwife
- View your hospital's full library of maternity leaflets
- View booked appointments and information direct from your medical record
Additionally, as you build a personalised care plan with your Midwife, Badger Notes gives you a place to record thoughts and questions about your antenatal care, birth plan, and postnatal care for your Midwife to review with you.
For care purposes, and once they've been granted access to Badger Notes by you, healthcare professionals such as GPs will also have 24-hour access to information.
You can read more information here.
Breastfeeding
We aim to Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding and uphold a woman’s right to breastfeed. Mothers are free to feed in our waiting areas and clinical rooms. We will also do our best to accommodate a request for a private area if you prefer.
Click here to read more on the UNICEF website.
Unwanted pregnancy?
We recognise there may be some times when a positive pregnancy test is not what you wanted and you want to discuss your options. Any of the clinicians at Pioneer Medical Group are here to be consulted and help you manage the situation.
There is lots of helpful and supportive information on the Unity Sexual Health website, including contact numbers and an online form if you wish to book a consultation to discuss your options with MSI (Marie Stopes International).