Every member of the Maternity unit are committed to making your time with us as comfortable, informative and enjoyable as possible. On this page you will find information on the courses we run and issues we believe are important to you and your baby.

The booklet “Screening tests for you and your baby” provides you with important information about the screening tests that you will be offered in early pregnancy and also screening tests for your baby in their first few weeks.

The link provides more detailed information on the antenatal screening tests for Downs Syndrome and fetal anomaly screening.

Karen Murray is the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Coordinator for the unit and is available in the Antenatal Clinic if further advice on screening is required.

If you are over 28 weeks of pregnancy and would like a look around our maternity unit, why not book yourself onto a tour!

Tours are held every Sunday at 7pm - meet at Maternity reception.

We will show you the labour ward, postnatal ward and the neonatal intensive care unit.

Tours are available by appointment only and can be booked by telephoning 0161 922 6173.

We are now holding a 3 monthly meeting at the hospital to encourage women to have a home birth. We invite parents who have recently had a home birth to come and discuss their experience, and we answer any common concerns regarding home birth. We have a pool inflated to view, and refreshments.

The meeting is held in the antenatal clinic, from 7-8pm.

Any questions please contact your midwife or the M.L.C office (0161 922 4039).

The labour workshop consists of two, 2 hour sessions held over 2 weeks and provides information about:

• Stages of labour
• Pain relief
• Positions for labour and delivery
• Skin to skin
• What happens when things go wrong

If you attend the evening sessions and you would like a tour of the maternity unit, please book this separately. It is best to attend the workshop when you are over 30 weeks pregnant.

After-Birth Workshop

The 'after birth' workshop is aimed at preparing Mums and Dads to be for their imminent arrival. Book your place on the 'after birth' Workshop and learn about life with baby, coping skills and much more, for example:-

• Changing nappies!
• Bathing baby - how and how often?
• Feeding
• Bonding and attachment
• Babies that cry - what to try.
• Baby blues and post natal depression
• Screening tests - hearing test and heel prick screening

The workshops run over two evenings from 7pm until 9pm and is for mums and dads to attend before baby is born.

If you receive certain benefits, you may be entitled to a refund of travel costs. Entitlement rules may be subject to change over time.

The Patients’ Expenses office is situated on the ground floor, Darnton Building and is open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Please bring proof of eligibility. Note: the Expenses office is due to be relocated in late 2013. Please contact the Car Parking office for more information.

* Darnton Building is situated down a steep hill from the main hospital site via a ramp or steps. If you have mobility issues and require help, please contact 0161 922 4081 (Mon to Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm) or visit the enquiries desk at Hartshead South main entrance. For more information visit here.

The midwives now offer drop in clinics for ante natal, post natal care and advice up until the baby is 28 days old. So if you are worried about:

• yourself
• your pregnancy
• your baby

just call in during the following times and places (No appointment is necessary) - :

Tameside Maternity unit is committed to providing support to all women in their chosen method of feeding and achknowledges breastfeeding to be the most natural way to feed a newborn baby.

Helen Howard is the Infant feeding coordinator and lactation consultant for the unit. Helen also provides additional specialist support and advice for women with complex problems.

The Trust is working towards the UNICEF baby friendly initiative and has achieved stage 2 of the assessment process in April 2011.

Contact details for Local Breastfeeding Groups can be found here or alternatively contact:

Please read our information on what effects smoking has in pregnancy, tips to help, and the benefits of stopping.

You can use nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, chewing gum and lozenges whilst you are pregnant so if you want to quit smoking, contact the Stop Smoking Service on 0161 366 2000 or you can email smokefree-tg.penninecare@nhs.net

We can now offer the services of a midwife who specialises in smoking cessation in pregnancy. If you would like her support and advice please email Chris Bassett (christine.bassett@tgh.nhs.uk).

Following delivery, your baby will be placed in skin to skin contact on your tummy and chest. You may not have thought about holding your baby this way but there are many benefits to cuddling your baby in skin to skin.

• Regulates the baby's breathing
• Regulates heart rate
• Provides warmth (helps to maintain baby's temperature)
• Calming
• Helps to prevents infection
• Promotes rooting reflex (important for feeding)
• Encourages first breastfeed
• Builds confidence

We actively support your wishes and needs at this time so please discuss these with your midwife who will endeavour to answer any questions you may have.