Useful leaflets and information
Find useful information about every stage of your pregnancy, including preparing for labour and birth, and going home with your baby.
On this page
We've set up a playlist of short films providing you and your partner with some information on your pregnancy, birth and the early days with your baby.
Early pregnancy
Having your baby in Gloucestershire
Antenatal and hypnobirthing classes
Fetal anomaly screening in early pregnancy
Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Healthy eating and vitamin supplements during pregnancy
Emotional health in pregnancy and after giving birth
The whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
Exercise during pregnancy including pelvic floor
Reducing the risk of venous thrombosis during pregnancy and after birth
Looking after your back during pregnancy
Dental health during pregnancy
Information for fathers and birth partners
Relationships during pregnancy
Kicks count: home doppler leaflet
FGM - information for families
Covid vaccination in pregnancy
COVID vaccination: childbearing page, currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Blood Groups and red cell antibodies
Looking after your back and pelvis in pregnancy
Vaccines in Pregnancy leaflet
The leaflet is in English here for other languages please see below:
Mid to late pregnancy
Your baby's movements during pregnancy (Tommys)
Fetal anomaly screening in your 20 week scan
Gestational diabetes/pregnancy diabetes
Oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) in pregnancy
Breech baby at the end of pregnancy
Ferinject iron infusion in pregnancy
Preparing for birth
Giving birth in a midwife-led birth unit
Waters breaking before labour starts
Maternity hypnobirthing leaflet
Information for women and their partners about the induction of labour
Vaginal birth after caesarean section
Magnesium Sulfate in pregnancy
Perineal tears and episiotomies
Considering giving birth without the assistance of a midwife (freebirth)
The use of essential oils and massage to help with your labour
You and your baby
Screening test for your and your baby
Postnatal exercises and pelvic floor exercises
Emotional health in pregnancy and after giving birth
Sex and contraception after birth
Perineal tears and episiotomy in childbirth
Recovery after your caesarean section
Special care: ill or premature babies
The Lullaby Trust: safer sleep for babies and support for families
The Lullaby Trust's parents' guide to safer sleep for babies
Third and fourth degree tears following childbirth
Feeding your baby
Twins or more
If you have suffered a loss
Surgical management of miscarriage
Maternity bereavement support service
Information and support following the loss of your baby before completion of 24 weeks gestation
Information for parents who have suffered a stillbirth or neonatal death
Information and support about stillbirth
Taking your baby home following their death
Information to help guide and support you through the loss of your baby
Information in other languages
You can find pregnancy health information in other languages from the following national organisations:
- MAMA Academy provide essential information about pregnancy
- Public Health England provide information about screening tests for you and your baby
- Tommy's provide information on monitoring your baby's movements
- Labour Pains provide information about pain relief for labour and information about caesarians
- Action on pre-eclampsia provide information about pre-eclampsia
- UNICEF provide information about breastfeeding, formula feeding and sterilising feeding equipment
- The Lullaby Trust provide information on safe sleeping for babies
If English is not your first language
Please speak to the staff who can arrange for an interpreter to help you. Alternatively please contact us for further advice.
For BadgerNet guidance, you can access this in 10 different languages
If you have a visual or hearing impairment
To help us provide the best care and for our staff to understand your needs, if you are coming into hospital and you have a hearing or visual impairment, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you are staying overnight, with your permission our staff could display an eye or ear pictogram by your bedside. This will help those who are caring for you understand your communication needs.
British Sign Language interpreters can also be arranged to support you during your visit or stay.
In partnership with Gloucestershire Deaf Association (GDA) we launched Deaf Communication Cards in 2017. For more information or to obtain your card, please contact admin@gda.org.uk or call 01452 372999.
Having a baby if you're LGBT+
NHS UK has new information about starting a family if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or non-binary
Free prescriptions in pregnancy and MATEX maternity exemption certificate
You may be eligible to receive free prescriptions while you are pregnant via a Maternity Exemption certificate (MATEX) if at the time of your application:
- you’re pregnant
- you’ve given birth in the last 12 months.
Your midwife, GP or health visitor must complete an application for you.
They can complete an FW8 application form or use the digital maternity exemption service.
Home-Start Gloucestershire
Home-Start Gloucestershire’s trained volunteers help to support families with young children through their toughest times by visiting them once a week in their homes. We also offer the following support groups:
Antenatal groups covering a range of subjects, such as bonding with your unborn baby, emotions during pregnancy, and baby development in the womb.
Postnatal groups for parents with babies up to six months old, focusing on topics like supporting early relationships and development, sleep, and first aid.
Perinatal mental health peer-to-peer groups, offering reassurance and support to mothers who are impacted by their mental health.
Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester https://homestartsd.org/
Home-Start Cotswolds https://home-start-cotswolds.org.uk/
Home-Start North and West Gloucestershire https://homestartnwglos.org.uk/
Please get in touch if you would like support. If you are unsure which scheme covers the area where you live, please check the map on this page https://home-startgloucestershire.org.uk/locations/
Support our maternity services
The Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity raises funds to make a real difference for our patients, their families and the staff who treat them.