Pregnancy & Birth
There are hundreds of books covering this subject, so we’re not going to cover general information. Here, we’re going to look specifically at what’s available locally and what others have found useful (in terms of services and practitioners). We’ll also talk to local experts to get their views and recommendations.
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B&NES information links
The Royal United Hospital is one of the largest providers of maternity care in the country: you can see more on the RUH website or click here.
The Bath Fertility Centre is based at the Bath Business Park in Peasedown St John – more info at www.bathfertility.com.
Women in B&NES can choose from: the RUH, Paulton Maternity unit, or the community team (at home). Around 10% of our women also access Bristol services, St Michaels or Southmead or in Cossham, the new midwifery led unit (birth centre) in South Glos, a few access Somerset – Yeovil / Frome or Wiltshire Chippenham / Trowbridge. All units should welcome mothers and their partners to come and visit the units to have a tour to familiarise themselves with the unit and help make their decision about where they feel most comfortable to birth their babies.
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Local contacts
NCT (formerly National Childbirth Trust) is the UK's largest charity for parents. They offer support networks, antenatal classes, nearly new sales, breastfeeding counselling, social events etc. There are two local branches:
- Bath & District – www.nct.org.uk/branches/bath
- North Somerset – www.nct.org.uk/branches/north-somerset
Bath Mums – a great site for local families. Includes a good 'Mums Chat' forum. See www.bathmums.co.uk
Bath Pregnancy Massage – see www.bathpregnancymassage.co.uk
La Leche League (LLL) – the Bath branch of this charity offers help with breastfeeding and runs a monthly breastfeeding support group: www.laleche.org.uk/supportgroup/la-leche-league-bath
Yoga Bodhi – has various classes for pregnancy and mummy & me, as well as baby massage courses: www.yogabodhi.co.uk
Bright Blue Yoga – has pregnancy and post-natal yoga classes in Weston: www.brightblueyoga.co.uk
The Bath Shiatsu Practice – Heidi Armstrong works with pregnant women and also offers birth preparation, post-natal treatment and baby shiatsu: www.bath: www.heidiarmstrong.co.uk
Fertility Acupuncture – there are various therapists in the region, including Holly Woodward: www.hollywoodward.co.uk
Hypnotherapy for Chlldbirth – Teresa Lamb at Bath Hypnobirthing Centre offers this: www.bathhbc.co.uk
Pregnancy Massage – Polly Field at The Bath Massage Company: www.thebathmassagecompany.com
Reflexology for fertility and maternity – Elena Wilde: elenawilde@yahoo.co.uk
Therapies for fertility, maternity and post-natal – The Practice Rooms: www.practicerooms.co.uk
Bath Homebirth Group – meetings to discuss birth choices: bathhomebirthgroup@yahoo.co.uk
Pregnancy Yoga – also at Bath Iyengar Yoga: www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com
Other local breastfeeding support links – www.sirona-cic.org.uk/health-care-services/child-health/maternity/breastfeeding-support-services/ and www.facebook.com/thebabyfeedinghub
