Antenatal services
Antenatal care is the term we use to describe the care you receive from our team during your pregnancy.
This care is mainly provided by the midwifery teams working in the community. Antenatal care will also involve coming to the Centre for Women's Health for ultrasound scans.
Women with underlying medical conditions or who develop complications with their pregnancy are usually seen by an obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in women's health) and/or midwife in the outpatients’ clinic.
More about us
Your GP surgery can provide you with the community midwife team telephone number in order to make the first appointment called the booking appointment. During your pregnancy, your community midwife will see you regularly to make sure you and your baby are well. A schedule of routine care will be discussed at your booking appointment.
At these routine midwifery appointments, you will be offered various assessments to check you and your baby’s wellbeing. This may include a blood pressure check, urine testing, carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring and a general health and wellbeing check of you and your baby.
You will be given a Personalisation Journal by your community midwife. In this journal we encourage you to write down what matters to you about your pregnancy, birth or postnatal care. Please bring this journal to any appointments that you have, to share with the health provider. This will help us to discuss your choices and plans and personalise your pregnancy and birth.
The antenatal screening service is coordinated by the screening coordinator midwives. Please see the leaflet Screening tests for you and your baby for further information.
The Fetal and Maternal Assessment Unit (FMAU) is an outpatient antenatal unit, offering planned appointments for additional maternal and fetal assessment and screening in pregnancy. FMAU is open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm.
Some women might need to come to the antenatal care ward before the birth of their baby. This can be due to problems arising with your pregnancy or for induction of labour. There is an open visiting policy on this ward.
Where to find us
D&E Wonford, Barrack Rd, Exeter EX2 5DW
- Maternity Triage, Level 2
- FMAU Clinic 1, Level 1
- Antenatal/Postnatal Ward, Level 2
Contact us
Maternity Triage: 01392 406616
Fetal and Maternal Assessment Unit (FMAU): 01392 406540
Antenatal/Postnatal Ward: 01392 406684
Supporting you
Women’s Health Counsellors are part of the team providing care in The Centre for Women’s Health. We offer emotional support for women accessing the services of Maternity.
Pregnancy referrals for counselling support include:-
Ante-natal decision-making when considering whether to:
- continue a pregnancy
- decide between choice of treatments or method of delivery
All pregnancy loss: stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and termination. Patients need to contact the service:
- within 4 months of the loss or
- if required during a subsequent pregnancy
Contact 01392 406678 or rde-tr.cwhcounsellors@nhs.net
Patient information leaflets
We produce a wide range of leaflets which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital.
We also produce these in different formats including large print, please contact the department you are visiting for more information.
Useful videos
We have a wide range of videos which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital.