Maternity Matters, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire Maternity Services are committed to supporting people throughout their pregnancy journey, to help them understand their options to make informed choices about the care that is available. We are a partnership of organisations, women, pregnant people & families steered by local, regional & national reports & guidelines. Working together, we want to make sure that, in Northamptonshire, all users, their families and babies have the best possible maternity experience. 

About the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS)

Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination

Catching rubella during pregnancy can be very serious for your unborn baby, causing a condition called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). By getting immunised you will not only be protecting yourself but also reduce the risk of passing infections to others – including your new baby who cannot get protection from MMR vaccine until their first birthday. The vaccine will also protect you and your baby in any future pregnancies. Two doses of MMR help protect against measles, mumps and rubella. The vaccine cannot be given while pregnant and would be given at 6 weeks after birth.

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Northamptonshire MNVP

Northamptonshire Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) is a working group made up of women, birthing people and families. The MNVP has been set up to listen to and speak for service users who have accessed local maternity and neonatal services, we want to hear what went well and what could have been done better.
The MNVP welcomes anyone who would like to become a member and support our ambitions and goals. Please feel free to email [email protected] for further information.

Further Information

Maternity Service Wellbeing Walks

This is a manageable and leisurely walk, lasting around an hour, to help you get active and support your mental and physical health. Take some time out for you and your baby, meet other parents and parents to be, have a chat with midwives specialising in wellbeing and if you fancy, grab a coffee for an hour after to stay and chat. Each walk will be in a different location with a different specialist Midwife. Pregnant Mums or new parents, all welcome. Please feel free to spread the word. Other children welcome.

Further information on dates and times:

Whooping Cough (Pertussis Vaccine)

Expectant mothers can help protect their babies by getting themselves vaccinated against whooping cough from 16 weeks. The vaccine is sometimes offered after the mid-pregnancy scan around 18 to 20 weeks. The immunity you acquire from the vaccine will be passed to your baby through the placenta. This will help protect your baby in the frst few vulnerable weeks of its life until he or she is old enough to have the vaccine at 2 months of age. Babies are offered whooping cough vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age as part of their routine immunisations

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RSV Vaccine

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. The vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy (from 28 weeks onwards) to help protect your baby after they're born

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Flu Vaccine

A flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.

Pregnancy changes how the body responds to
infections such as flu. There is good evidence that
pregnant women have a higher chance of developing
complications if they get flu, particularly in the later
stages of pregnancy.

Flu vaccine is free and available to all pregnant people.

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Baby Movement Advice

If you’re a woman or birthing person experiencing
reduced fetal (baby's) movements, it’s important not
to rely on ChatGPT or other AI for guidance. Please
contact your localmaternity unit as soon as possible,
as they’re best placed to support you and your baby.

Further Information

Badger Notes

From 2nd September, Kettering General Hospital is launching a secure and user-friendly app called Badger Notes. The app helps parents-to-be to stay informed and involved throughout their maternity journey. It makes it easier to view appointments, receive updates, to
communicate with their care team throughout pregnancy & beyond. 

Expectant parents will be able to download the Badger Notes
App before their first midwife or GP appointment. Those
already under maternity care will also be invited to use the
app, although paper records will remain in use for a short transition period. 

Find out more...