Maternity Services
If you find that you are pregnant, it is important to make yourself known to the Somerset Maternity Service (provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust) as early as possible.
You can do this using their online form: Badger Notes – Self-refer your pregnancy to Somerset.
For further information about the Maternity Service, please visit Maternity – Maternity (somersetft.nhs.uk).
Midwife appointments are provided by Somerset Maternity Service on Monday mornings at Bruton Surgery. Your midwife will arrange appointments with you.
General Information about NHS pregnancy support
For information about how the NHS supports your care during pregnancy please visit: Your NHS pregnancy journey – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Emergency call
If you become unwell or have any concerns about your heath, including your baby’s movements, we advise you to call your local hospital as soon as possible for advice.
Please do not wait until the situation becomes serious, we want to be able to see you early and ensure you get the care and support you need.
These support lines are 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Musgrove Triage: 01823 343985
Yeovil Triage: 01935 384350
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccinations
Babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk of Whooping Cough (Pertussis). Whooping Cough can be serious for babies and may lead to complications resulting in hospitalisation and even death. Sadly between January and March 2024, five infants died from Whooping Cough.
If you are pregnant, you can protect your baby by getting the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine. Vaccination during pregnancy boosts your antibodies which are then passed to your baby to help protect them from the day they are born.
You will normally receive your whooping cough vaccine around the time of your mid-pregnancy scan (usually 20 weeks) but you can receive it from 16 weeks. If you have reached 20 weeks of pregnancy and have not yet been offered the whooping cough vaccine, please ask you midwife or GP surgery.
Vaccination in pregnancy provides very high levels of protection against serious whooping cough disease to your baby at least until they can have their first vaccine at 8 weeks of age. It is recommended in every pregnancy to boost the antibodies you pass to your baby.
To give your baby the best protection, you should have the vaccination before 32 weeks but if you have missed out you can still have it later. You can even have it after you give birth, to reduce the risk of spreading whooping cough to your baby.
You can access a whooping cough vaccine from your GP surgery and through some antenatal clinics and you may be offered the vaccination at a routine antenatal appointment. For further advice on getting your whooping cough vaccination please speak with our Reception Team or your midwife.
