Labour and birth

Antenatal classes

Antenatal classes can help you to prepare for your baby's birth, giving you confidence, information and the opportunity to make friends with other parents who are expecting babies around the same time as you. These friendships can help you through the first few months with your baby, and can develop into lifelong friendships for both you and your baby.

At antenatal classes you can learn how to:

• Look after and feed your baby
• Stay healthy during pregnancy
• Make a birth plan, considering the different arrangements for labour and birth and the choices available to you

Please speak to your midwife for more information.

Labour and birth

When preparing for the birth of your new baby, you will have lots of questions about labour and birth, such as:

What happens during labour and birth

• Preparing for the birth 
• Find out how to get ready for the birth including making a birth plan

Signs of labour 

• Read about how to tell if you're in labour

What happens in labour and birth 

• Find out what happens during labour and birth

After the birth 

• All you need to know about what happens after the birth

It is important that you speak to your midwife about any concerns you have. 

Further information is also available on the NHS website.

Services

• Maternal Mental Health - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust
• Antenatal Care - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust
• Growing Healthy Sunderland, Single Point of contact telephone number: 03000 031 552.

Community Midwives

Use the contact numbers below to reach the NHS South Tyneside and Sunderland Community Midwifery teams:

• Sector 1, South Tyneside - 0191 283 1288
• Sector 2, Ryhope Health Centre - 0191 502 5918
• Sector 3, Springwell Health Centre - 0191 502 7340 / 0191 502 7405
• Sector 4, Galleries Health Centre - 0191 502 6892

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Use the contact numbers below to reach antenatal departments of Sunderland Royal Hospital:

• Antenatal Day Unit - 0191 569 9181
• Antenatal Clinic - 0191 569 9036
• Delivery Suite - 0191 569 9777