Sidmouth Maternity Services
Sidmouth has one midwife, Debbie Snelgrove who is based in Sidmouth Hospital. She is responsible for any woman who are pregnant in the Sidmouth area but also works within a wider team to include Honiton and Ottery St Mary. She also works in the Honiton Hospital Maternity Unit.
When a woman first finds she is pregnant, she should see her GP preferably before 8 weeks to arrange the appropriate advice and referral to the midwife.
It is important to
When a woman first finds she is pregnant, she should see her GP preferably before 8 weeks to arrange the appropriate advice and referral to the midwife.
It is important to
-Stop smoking as soon as possible
-Reduce alcohol to a maximum of one unit a day
-Commence folic acid if this was not started before the pregnancy
-Maintain a balanced diet
The midwife (Debbie Snelgrove) will make contact by phone by 8-10 weeks into the pregnancy to arrange a home visit. At this appointment she will give advice and make plans for the pregnancy. She will take a full family, medical and obstetric history in order to assess if the woman requires a referral to an obstetric consultant at RD&E (Wonford). If a woman is fit and well with no relevant history, she will be considered low risk and there will be no need for any hospital appointments except for the two routine scans.
At this initial visit the midwife will discuss the screening of the pregnancy, mainly for fetal abnormality and Downs Syndrome. She will arrange the first scan in RD&E (Wonford)’s First Trimester Screening Clinic (FTSC). Early screening is becoming increasingly sophisticated and increasingly accurate for early detection or reassurance. The scan is performed approximately between 12-13 weeks. Routine blood tests are also taken at this time.
At 20 weeks into the pregnancy a second scan is performed. This is a full abnormality scan looking in great detail at the baby including the main organs, limbs, spine and other structures. The sonographer may be able to give an idea of the baby’s gender should you ask but there are no guarantees!
Throughout the pregnancy you will have regular antenatal appointments with the midwife and your GP. These tend to be monthly at first becoming more frequent as the pregnancy progresses. At each antenatal you will have a blood pressure check, a urinalysis, an abdominal palpation to check the baby’s growth and will listen to the baby’s heartbeat. The clinics are in Sidmouth Hospital on a Tuesday and Thursday morning by appointment. The midwife is able to advise on diet, exercise, smoking, benefits and general health and pregnancy issues.
In addition the midwife also runs parent craft sessions which help to prepare a woman for labour, the delivery and caring for a newborn baby. She works closely with the health visitors and physiotherapists, who contribute to these sessions.
With regard to the birth of your baby, you may deliver either in RDE (Wonford) – the main obstetric unit in Exeter, Honiton maternity unit – a midwife-led low risk unit, or at home. The midwife will help you to make the right decision for you.
Following the birth of your baby, once you are home again the midwife will make frequent visits to you at home to advise and support you in the feeding and caring of your baby.
Contact details
Midwife’s Office: 01395 519919
Honiton Hospital Maternity Unit: 01404 540544
-Commence folic acid if this was not started before the pregnancy
-Maintain a balanced diet
The midwife (Debbie Snelgrove) will make contact by phone by 8-10 weeks into the pregnancy to arrange a home visit. At this appointment she will give advice and make plans for the pregnancy. She will take a full family, medical and obstetric history in order to assess if the woman requires a referral to an obstetric consultant at RD&E (Wonford). If a woman is fit and well with no relevant history, she will be considered low risk and there will be no need for any hospital appointments except for the two routine scans.
At this initial visit the midwife will discuss the screening of the pregnancy, mainly for fetal abnormality and Downs Syndrome. She will arrange the first scan in RD&E (Wonford)’s First Trimester Screening Clinic (FTSC). Early screening is becoming increasingly sophisticated and increasingly accurate for early detection or reassurance. The scan is performed approximately between 12-13 weeks. Routine blood tests are also taken at this time.
At 20 weeks into the pregnancy a second scan is performed. This is a full abnormality scan looking in great detail at the baby including the main organs, limbs, spine and other structures. The sonographer may be able to give an idea of the baby’s gender should you ask but there are no guarantees!
Throughout the pregnancy you will have regular antenatal appointments with the midwife and your GP. These tend to be monthly at first becoming more frequent as the pregnancy progresses. At each antenatal you will have a blood pressure check, a urinalysis, an abdominal palpation to check the baby’s growth and will listen to the baby’s heartbeat. The clinics are in Sidmouth Hospital on a Tuesday and Thursday morning by appointment. The midwife is able to advise on diet, exercise, smoking, benefits and general health and pregnancy issues.
In addition the midwife also runs parent craft sessions which help to prepare a woman for labour, the delivery and caring for a newborn baby. She works closely with the health visitors and physiotherapists, who contribute to these sessions.
With regard to the birth of your baby, you may deliver either in RDE (Wonford) – the main obstetric unit in Exeter, Honiton maternity unit – a midwife-led low risk unit, or at home. The midwife will help you to make the right decision for you.
Following the birth of your baby, once you are home again the midwife will make frequent visits to you at home to advise and support you in the feeding and caring of your baby.
Contact details
Midwife’s Office: 01395 519919
Honiton Hospital Maternity Unit: 01404 540544