West Suffolk Maternity

Domestic violence increases by 26% when England play and 38% if they lose.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of the behaviours that can indicate domestic abuse. If you recognise any of these behaviours from your own life, please speak to your midwife in confidence and they will be able to support you.
Domestic abuse can include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Humiliation
- Threatening behaviour
- Accusing you
- Criticising
- Belittling
- Name calling
- Controlling behaviour
- Financial abuse
- Gaslighting
- Coercion

If you are concerned for your safety, please call 999 and ask for help.

You can also call the National Domestic Violence freephone helpline, which is open 24 hours at 0808 200 0247.

The maternity triage line is open 24/7 if you ever need to speak to a midwife urgently. Please call 01284 712723 at any time of day or night if you need help or support

Did you give birth in January or February 2026? Take part in the NHS Maternity Survey to help us understand what works well and what needs improvement. We would love to hear your feedback.

Find out more: https://www.cqc.org.uk/news/tell-us-what-maternity-care-you-2026

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, check out some of the technology you’ll be offered to help manage your diabetes during pregnancy

Gestational diabetes affects some pregnancies and can develop when your body is unable to effectively manage blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Monitoring your blood sugar, making dietary changes, staying active, and attending your appointments can all help reduce risks for you and your baby.

💙 Diabetes Week 2026 💙

This week we’re raising awareness of diabetes in pregnancy and the support available to help you and your baby stay healthy.

Whether you have type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, or are supporting someone who does, understanding diabetes and knowing where to access advice can make a real difference.

Throughout the week we’ll be sharing information, resources, and stories to help increase awareness and support positive pregnancy experiences.

If you have any questions about diabetes in pregnancy, speak to your midwife or diabetes team.

It’s volunteers week and so we’re shining a light on our fabulous BfN peer support volunteers and saying thank you for all they do!

Each of our peer supporters volunteer 2 hours a week and are mainly based on our postnatal ward. To become a peer supporter they undertake a 12 week course consisting of teaching, coursework and assessments. They then receive regular supervisions and ongoing support from the .

Across 2025, they provided support to a whopping 197 women. And check out this wonderful quote from one of our peer supporters too 🤗

Our maternity triage team have been reporting they’re meeting more and more women who are telling them they’ve asked AI prior to seeking midwifery care. For this reason, we’re resharing this infographic from tommys

The information you receive from AI about your care may be unreliable, outdated or incorrect. We would always much rather you called us with your questions - and our triage team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’re never “bothering us”, it’s never “a waste of our time” - all common expressions we hear. For any questions or concerns about you or your baby, please give us a call on 01284 713755

Drop-in Vaccination Clinic dates for June! 💉

Flu season might be over, but our vaccination team are still hard at work ensuring you’re able to get your pregnancy vaccinations to protect your baby.
We can give you:
✅ Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, ideally between 16-32 weeks
✅ The RSV vaccine from 28 weeks

Our vaccination team is in Birch House at West Suffolk Hospital — no appointment needed, just pop in!

While it’s lovely to finally have some lovely weather, please be extra cautious if you’re taking anti-depressants. Certain types of anti-depressants make you more likely to overheat or become dehydrated - in particular, ones referred to as SSRIs, such as sertraline, citralopram and fluoxetine. These are often prescribed during pregnancy when it’s especially important to ensure you are safe in the sun.

Signs of overheating or heat exhaustion can include:
☀️ Dizziness
☀️ Nausea
☀️ Decreased urine output
☀️ Headaches
☀️ Weakness
☀️ Extreme sweating
If you notice any of these signs it’s important you seek medical attention