Maternity Services

If you wish for Southend Maternity Services to provide your care, you can now contact them direct without the need to see the GP. There are many health benefits for you and your baby if you access maternity care as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test. 

To access maternity care you can self reffer via the online referral form by clicking here. A midwife from the pregnancy booking line will then contact you within five working days following receipt to discuss the next steps. Your details will then be passed to a community midwife who will contact you to make a plan for your antenatal care.  This will involve an appointment at your home, ideally when you are around seven to ten weeks pregnant to discuss your birth options.

You can also access the pregnancy booking line by calling 01702 385393. If you call, please leave a short message with your full name, date of birth and a contact telephone number. The pregnancy booking line aims to return your call to discuss your care within 5 working days following your call.

It is recommend that you take folic acid 400mcg during the first 12 weeks and vitamin D 10mcg daily throughout your pregnancy. If you take this in the form of a multivitamin make sure it does not include vitamin A.

You should avoid drinking alcohol and if you are a smoker, we advise you to stop. 

Finally, if you are taking any medication please seek advice from your GP.